The bustling Laurlt manor.
Relia was searching for her older sister
«Where the hell are you wandering off to at a time like this?!»
Someone called out to Relia, who was striding down the hallway with longer steps than usual.
«Relia!»
When Relia turned around, she was shocked to see who had called her.
«Emil! What are you doing here?»
Emil, who had run down the hallway, was equally puzzled to find Relia there.
«I’m here to join the fight as a member of the Prevan family. So, why are you in the Laurlt manor?»
«I… I’m basically just accompanying my sister.»
«—I see. I was worried since I hadn’t heard from you.»
Seeing Emil’s somewhat gloomy expression, Relia felt a pang of guilt.
«Sorry, I’m in a rush. Anyway, are you fighting too? Wouldn’t it be safer to stay back?»
«I’m part of the Six Great Nobles, you know. I’ve been training since I was a kid. I can’t beat Erik or—Serge, but—»
Relia didn’t know what to say to Emil’s dark look.
«Well, it’ll be fine. Serge’s there—ah.»
When she mentioned Serge, Emil’s face clouded over.
(He’s probably still thinking about Serge… No need to compare. Serge’s a combat specialist; Emil’s a support type. Men are such kids.)
«—Relia, I like you. You chose someone like me.»
«I… I like you too.»
Emil smiled downcast.
«—Thanks. I’m glad we could talk before we head out.»
«Yeah, me too.»
«Listen, Relia—when this battle’s over, there’s something I want to tell you.»
Emil seemed unusually nervous, a little weary.
«Later? Yeah, okay.»
«Then I’m off.»
Emil left Relia’s side.
For some reason Relia felt his back looked lonely.
(What could he have wanted to say? A confession, maybe?)
She squinted, lowered her gaze, and a bad memory resurfaced.
She realized somewhere inside her she couldn’t fully trust Emil.
(—Fine. I’m not expecting anything.)
◇ The room where the sapling of the
‘—As I thought, I can’t make it myself.’ What Ideal really wanted wasn’t the sapling but the special case that protects it.
The case solves the problem that the sapling would wither because of the Sacred Tree’s presence.
Ideal also has a function to produce supplies from resources.
But as a former military officer, Ideal isn’t good at cultivating plants;
‘Now we can grow the sapling while keeping the Sacred Tree intact. The plan can move to the next stage in a few years.’ Ideal couldn’t prepare a special case on his own.
‘A multi‑function migrant ship— I knew about it from intel, and you’re still here. Even I, just a transport ship, can keep the «promise.»’ Cooperating would be the proper route. He knows that, but— Ideal wasn’t allowed to accept it.
‘There’s no time. We have to get Luxion’s main unit right now.’ Because Ideal simply didn’t have time. Cooperation wouldn’t cut it.
If they kept cooperating, they’d protect neither the Republic nor the Sacred Tree or this continent.
‘Master, everyone. It took a long time, but I finally can keep my promise. I will definitely keep it. —Ideal is freed from lies.’ ◇ An Einhorn soaring over the Republic’s sky.
In the hangar, Jilc and three others, plus Erik, waited in the cockpit.
Jilc felt something off about the pilot suit Luxion had prepared.
«The suit’s thick, it hides my body shape. Feels a bit lacking, and the neck area’s too tight.»
All five hurriedly checked the controls.
The chest hatch was open, revealing faces— except for Arogantz’s, which remained hidden.
«The performance gap is huge. No wonder we can’t beat
«This Arogantz monster can’t be beaten even with all this armor.»
«This looks battle‑ready. Erik, are you really okay? You’ll end up fighting your own family…»
When the four eyes fell on Erik, he lowered his head and spoke.
«—Honestly, I’m hesitant. But the Alzel Republic can’t stay like this. Living with Sister,
Greg turned his face away.
«I can’t trust anyone who kills allies. So I don’t trust you.»
For Erik, both the Republic and the Kingdom are allies. Choosing a side is painful.
Thus Greg said, «Your job is just guiding the way. Don’t fight—don’t kill allies.»
«Greg—»
«Don’t misunderstand. You hesitating is getting in the way. We’re serious. We might even kill your acquaintances. Don’t feel any gratitude.»
It was Greg’s twisted kindness, perhaps.
‘When will you all stop talking? The welcome party’s arriving soon.’ Rion’s voice echoed from Arogantz, and everyone’s expression soured.
«Can’t read the room—just like Count Bartfort himself.»
Jilc rolled his eyes as the Einhorn shook violently.
«The battle’s begun.»
Rion’s chosen tactic was a straight frontal assault.
◇ On the route toward the Laurlt manor.
The Republic fleet waiting in ambush was composed of upgraded airships.
Facing the incoming Einhorn, the Republic soldiers were tense but morale was high.
«Take down the horned ones and reclaim our pride! All ships, prepare cannons!»
Even without showing the side like an Einhorn, they could now fire head‑on.
The Republic’s airships, now with a wider tactical range, lined up before the Einhorn.
The admiral— the one who’d previously been defeated— raised a forearm and then brought it down.
«Fire!!!»
New cannons roared, shells raining onto the Einhorn.
Hit rate, range— everything far beyond what they’d had before.
«Keep pounding! Show the Kingdom the Republic’s might!»
The admiral’s captain followed.
«The enemy’s after the Sacred Tree sapling. We’ll protect it with our own hands! This battle decides the Republic’s future!»
Their morale surged, fighting for the sapling.
No one really knew how Serge had gotten his hands on the sapling. Ideal’s info‑war had painted Rion’s crew as the villains trying to steal it, while in truth they were just defending their own.
Shell after shell struck; the Einhorn was swallowed by black smoke.
«Admiral, splendid work.»
«Ha, no need to fear the horned ones.»
But as the Einhorn emerged from the smoke, the admiral stopped mid‑sentence.
«—W‑what are you doing! Keep firing!»
«Continue the barrage! Shoot it down here!»
The admiral and captain shouted, the fleet kept firing, yet the Einhorn wouldn’t stop.
The admiral’s eyes widened.
«Why won’t it stop! Its power is incomparable to before!»
Facing the unstoppable Einhorn, the old fear of defeat resurfaced.
The captain, now close enough, launched the armor units.
«Deploy the knights! If we board and destroy it, that ship should sink!»
Republic armor units surged forward.
When the cannons ceased and armor tried to board, a red‑clad armor swung its spear, blasting three units away.
‘Hey, get out of my way!!!’ Next came a blue armor, wielding swords in both hands, slashing through the enemy armor.
‘Don’t think Bartfort’s the only kingdom knight!’ Seeing unlisted armor appear, the admiral narrowed his eyes.
«Surround and hammer them. Use the time to regroup.»
Immediately, the flagship’s bridge caught fire.
All eyes turned as a green‑clad armor brandished a massive rifle, picking off the airship’s vital systems one by one.
«Stop it!»
A communications soldier shouted, «Can’t get close! Another unit’s in the way!»
Looking closely, Republic armor tried to approach the green armor but kept getting knocked down. Purple spear‑like things flew everywhere.
«What the hell are you doing to just four units!»
The admiral roared, the captain yelled, «Admiral, forward!»
Ahead, a black armor stood before the Einhorn, its shape different from before.
«—Heretical knight.»
In the next instant, the flagship’s bridge exploded.
◇ Reports kept coming in as the Einhorn headed for the Laurlt manor.
«The horned enemy won’t stop. We’ve lost thirty percent of the fleet.»
«—Why won’t it stop!»
«Wasn’t it supposed to be winnable?!»
In the chaotic war room, Serge crossed his arms, irritated.
He vented at Ideal, who floated nearby.
«Why can’t I get out there?»
‘Master, you’re the acting commander, so you must stay put.’ «Being a commander is just a hassle. If you went out, it’d be over instantly.»
Serge’s remark prompted, ‘No way. Luxion hasn’t shown its full power yet.’ «Huh? Then why can’t you stop it?»
‘It’s enough to stall. Luxion’s master personality won’t go all‑out until the last minute. And if you bring out the main unit, we’ll profit. We’ll get better data.’ Serge felt something off.
«You used them as bait, didn’t you? Just to see Luxion’s core?»
‘No, that’s not it. Even if the master wins, we can’t teach them reality that way.’ If Serge easily took down Rion, the Republic’s nobles wouldn’t be grateful.
Ideal watched the situation unfold.
«—I hate that idea. I’ll go. You go too.»
Ideal shook his head once.
‘Understood—Master.’ ◇ Alberk’s prison cell.
Noelle was listening.
She heard about her parents—and what Alberk had been aiming for—and felt crushed.
«—So, what your mother and father ultimately wanted…»
«To destroy the Sacred Tree they couldn’t control. They were doing all sorts of experiments. The documents said, ‘The current Sacred Tree is gone mad.’ So they planned to destroy it. They knew what would happen if they did.»
Father had never let Alberk meet mother.
Noelle, even as a daughter, sensed the reason.
(Father didn’t want mother to meet Alberk.)
If it were pure jealousy, there might still be hope. But she realized her father’s true motive.
«Dad probably didn’t want to tell us the nation would fall.»
«Right. If the Sacred Tree is lost, the Republic collapses. Destroying it equals the Republic’s ruin.»
Which side was worse, the Respinas family or the Six Great Nobles?
Noelle wrestled with her thoughts, clutching her head.
«To you they’re your parents. Hate me.»
«There’s no such thing. Then we—»
Before Noelle could finish, a guard’s thud sounded outside.
«—Eh?»
Alberk whispered, «Hide now. Quickly!»
Noelle slipped into a storage box in the corner, and the door opened.
Alberk was tense— but there was no one on the other side of the door.
The presence faded away.
«Did they come to assassinate me?»
When the door swung open, fallen guard soldiers were visible.
Alberk, clueless, told Noelle to stay still and stay alert.
◇ Libya’s confinement room.
Lambert entered.
As the head of the Fevel family, he had a reason to come to Libya’s cell.
«You’re that kid’s fiancé, right? The one that perverse knight’s after!»
«—Yes, that’s right.»
His eyes bloodshot, a pistol in hand.
He grabbed Libya’s arm.
«Come! I’ll make you a hostage for that kid.»
Libya tried to resist.
«P‑please, let me go!»
Lambert looked at Libya and said, «Fine, look, I’ll dress you up nicely for that kid. Let’s have a little fun.»
A vile grin spread as Lambert stripped his pants; Libya turned pale.
«St‑stop!»
«The sound a kingdom woman makes when she screams— I can’t wait to hear it.»
Beyond the door, soldiers were trying to close it but didn’t stop Lambert.
When Libya tried to fight back, «Did you think that’d be enough?!»
Lambert’s crest glowed, nullifying Libya’s magic.
«—No.»
«This is reality. Come on, enjoy it. I’ll make you forget that kid.»
Libia shivered at Lambert’s words, filled with revulsion.
Lambert licked his lips.
«No. Let me go! Rion, help me!»