Chapter 1

Always procrastinating until the last minute, my habit of never taking action unless forced to, in the end, never changed.

In the rain, Luxion and I entered a cave to rest.

This is the floating island where a lost item is said to be located.

I had left it alone until now, thinking it wasn't necessary, but now that it's needed, I'm here to retrieve it.

In front of the campfire, I was looking at the lost item I had retrieved.

"What do you think of this rifle?"

The silver rifle has a rather old-fashioned design, but the engravings on the barrel make it seem like an excellent piece for display.

"It's made with rare metals and abundant magical technology. If properly maintained, it should be quite usable."

"That's good. So, how much will my chances of winning improve with this effort?"

"---It's within the margin of error. The win rate remains at thirty percent."

"Even a slight increase in the win rate is fine."

I thought this was a world with a fluffy setting for a dating sim.

I thought I had been reincarnated into the world of that "dating sim" with a unique setting, but unfortunately, I ended up being dragged into an ancient feud and ended up at war with the empire.

The Holy Magic Empire.

It possesses a larger continent than the Holfaht Kingdom and has superior national power.

I don't want to go to war with such a country, but normally, with Luxion, the cheat battleship, I would be unbeatable.

That's right, I would be unbeatable.

The empire, however, obtained a massive fortress called "Arcadia."

If Luxion is the cheat weapon of the old humans, then this is the cheat weapon of the new humans.

Unfortunately, even with Luxion, the win rate isn't high.

Looking outside, the rain was pouring heavily.

I couldn't see anything beyond a short distance.

"---I should have retrieved the lost items earlier."

When I grumbled, the usually quiet Luxion tried to console me.

"If Arcadia didn't exist, these lost items would be unnecessary tools for you. There would be no need to retrieve them."

I was riding high with the cheat battleship, but the enemy brought out an even more powerful cheat fortress.

Thanks to that, I ended up risking my life in battle.

I really don't like it.

"Still, the war between the old humans and the new humans wasn't over. That dating sim really has a lousy setting."

Laughing, I said this, and Luxion asked me a question.

It's something I've been asked many times.

"Do you really intend to fight? Can't you escape with your family and acquaintances on board?"

"---Stop asking me the same thing. My answer hasn't changed. Besides, you're being too passive. Say you want to annihilate the new humans like you always do."

Luxion, who dislikes the new humans, also hates the weapons they left behind.

So, she should want to destroy them immediately---but she's telling me to run away without fighting.

"There's no reason for you to risk your life."

"---There is a reason."

If I could escape, I would have already boarded the spaceship, Luxion's main body, and fled.

But---unfortunately, it's impossible.

This war---if we lose, the people of the kingdom, who are on the side of the old humans, will eventually perish.

Many will die.

"Still, the old humans are quite stubborn. They're willing to make adjustments for the future if they can't survive in their current environment."

In the past wars, this planet became uninhabitable for humans.

To be precise, it wasn't a livable environment for the old humans.

The new humans, however, could survive in the harsh conditions, and the war ended with a narrow victory for the new humans.

But the old humans didn't perish.

While some chose to abandon the planet and escape, those who remained implemented a plan relying on magic rather than science.

The Holy Tree was involved in this plan, or rather, it was utilized.

The Holy Tree absorbed the magical elements from the atmosphere, reducing their concentration.

The old humans, thinking that the magical elements would eventually disappear or become very thin, decided to transform their descendants into new humans.

The reason Luxion doesn't understand how the new humans came to be is because there are beings like us, who were created by genetic modification.

And this plan was designed to activate in the future.

"When the concentration of magical elements drops to a certain level, the old humans, adapted to that environment, will revive. If the concentration of magical elements is low, the new humans would have perished even if left alone."

That's right.

In the future, when the concentration of magical elements becomes insufficient, the new humans won't be able to adapt to the environment and will perish.

So, the old humans used magical adjustments to ensure they would revive at that time.

---And now, the concentration of magical elements has dropped, and the old humans' adjustments are starting to take effect.

Erika was frail because her old human genes were strongly expressed.

In other words, the people of the Holfaht Kingdom---tracing back their origins, they are on the side of the old humans.

And the empire represents the new humans.

If this situation continues, the new humans will perish.

To prevent this, the emperor of the empire revived the floating fortress "Arcadia" to produce and spread magical elements.

However, if that happens, the old humans, whose adjustments have been activated, will eventually perish.

---So, there's no choice but to fight.

If one side suffers a disadvantage, both sides might survive, but no one wants to be at a disadvantage.

It's not just my problem.

My family, friends, and acquaintances will also suffer.

"Master, are you still determined to fight?"

To Luxion, who tells me to stop fighting, I talk about a recent event.

"Jenna---my sister is pregnant."

"Yes, it's confirmed to be a boy."

A nephew is about to be born.

"I feel bad thinking about the suffering of that child, his children, and the children to be born in the future."

I feel bad whether I fight or run away.

It's the worst.

After all, this is more of a survival competition than a war.

If I run away, the old humans will surely perish.

"I think that's a weak reason to fight for the old humans. Why not take your sister's child and run?"

"If I had no power, I could make excuses in my heart, saying that my efforts alone wouldn't make a difference. But I'm your master. I have the power to fight."

I can't make excuses for myself. In my heart, I keep thinking about running away.

"No one wants you to fight, Master."

"That's a lie. The Fakto agreed."

"They're just using you."

"Then it's fine. I'll use them too."

When I said that, Luxion slightly lowered her red single eye.

It looked like she was depressed.

"Are you going to run away? I won't stop you."

Without Luxion, there's no hope of winning, but if I force her to fight, she might run away, and I can't stop her.

Luxion raised her red single eye and looked at me straight.

"Without me, you can't fight, can you?"

"You're back to your usual self."

"I will follow your orders, Master."

"---I'm sorry."

I feel bad about what I'm doing to her.

After all, this current thirty percent win rate---is based on me and Luxion risking our lives.

"Still, you have bad luck. To have someone like me as your master."

"I won't deny that."

"At least lie and deny it."

While we were talking, the rain stopped.

I extinguished the fire, stood up, and stretched.

"Well, let's go. There are many more items to retrieve."

Luxion looked at me.

"Are you not returning to the kingdom?"

"---It's pointless to return. Besides, it would be a betrayal to everyone. I don't want to face them right now."

Ange, Livia, Noel---I would be betraying them.

But I don't regret it much.

"Besides---this is for the best."

"What's for the best?"

"Having a reincarnated person like me in this world is no good. Besides, if my life has any meaning, it's to risk it here, isn't it?"

Originally, the empire---no, the new humans, would have won without anyone knowing.

But with my existence, I can oppose the new humans.

There are also reincarnated people on the side of the new humans, so I can't say they're all evil.

"My life had meaning. It's just---or rather, quite a heavy responsibility."

"Are you going to fight alone?"

"---Who would believe such a story? I wouldn't. Besides, even with their help, the win rate wouldn't improve much."

"You said earlier that even a slight increase in the win rate is fine. Also, the empire is sending an army. If we can deal with that, the win rate will be even higher---"

"Are you asking for cooperation in a survival competition? I would be suspicious. Besides, you've seen how the kingdom is. It's a waste of time to expect anything."

It is a waste of time.

So, I don't expect anything.

"That's how you're carrying everything alone. If participating in this war is a duty for reincarnated people, then Marie and Erica should also participate. The republic is on our side, so Lelia and Serge should---"

"Stop saying that. I'm enough on my own. Besides, can you really count on Marie and the others?"

I don't expect anything from Marie and the others.

Erica is still asleep.

And Lelia and Serge are not combat-effective.

Thinking about it, there are no good reincarnated people on the side of the old humans.

"Come on, let's go."

"---Yes."

Just as we were about to move, Luxion suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?"

"Master, Clairelle reported that Marie has retrieved a lost item."

◇

The student dormitory of the Holfaht Kingdom.

A grand house was prepared for Leon.

Marie, dressed in tattered clothes, was showing Clairelle the bottle she had retrieved.

It looked like a wine bottle.

The contents were visible, a liquid inside.

"How about it! With this, big brother's power-up is guaranteed!"

Clairelle opened the bottle and checked its contents.

"Game-wise, it's a 'buff item.'"

A buff---an effect that enhances abilities.

In other words, drinking the liquid in this bottle will enhance one's abilities.

"I tried to retrieve it before, but I got lost and gave up. But the effect of this is amazing. Game-wise, it significantly boosts all stats! It will make it easy to defeat the boss!"

Marie, proud of being useful to Leon, was boasting with her chest puffed out.

Clairelle's blue single eye nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, it has a wonderful effect."

"Right! With this power-up, big brother---"

There was no doubt about its effectiveness.

Then, the door opened, and Leon and Luxion entered.

"Big brother!"

"Marie, did you retrieve it?"

It was an important item, enough for Leon to rush back.

"Amazing, right? It took a lot of effort."

When Marie said that, Leon patted her head.

Her hair became messy.

"Good job! By the way, you look terrible. Why don't you take a bath?"

Seeing Leon's usual light-hearted banter, Marie felt relieved.

(Good. It's the usual big brother.)

Until a short while ago, he had a terribly cornered look.

Marie couldn't bear to see him like that.

So, she retrieved the lost item for Leon.

She thought it would definitely help her brother.

"How about it? Have you changed your opinion of me a little?"

"Yeah, you're the best. I had forgotten where it was and was about to give up on finding it. Clairelle, how is the content?"

Leon immediately asked Clairelle about the item's condition.

"The effect is even better than expected. If we improve it for Master, it will be even more effective. However, there are only three doses."

Normally, it would disappear after one use, but it seems to be usable three times after being enhanced.

Marie was delighted to hear this.

"Three uses? What a bargain."

Clairelle agreed.

"---Yes."

Leon was also overjoyed.

"This will improve our win rate. Thanks, Marie."

"Hehe."

The atmosphere was warm, but Luxion ruined it.

"---Master, Angelica and Olivia are coming this way."

"Did you tell them?"

"Yes."

"You really went and did it."

Leon left the room to meet the two.

But Luxion stayed behind.

She was looking at the item Marie had retrieved.

"What's wrong?"

When Marie asked, Luxion explained matter-of-factly.

"We initially assigned priority to the items we should retrieve. One of the items Master really wanted to retrieve was this medicine."

"I can be useful sometimes, you know."

To the confident Marie, Luxion's voice was colder than usual.

"---I didn't want to retrieve it. I didn't intend to let you retrieve it."

Saying that, Luxion left the room and headed to Leon.

"What's with you? You could have praised me a little more."

When Marie complained, Clairelle, who was having the robots carry the medicine, explained Luxion's attitude.

"She doesn't want you to die, Master."

"---What? What do you mean!?"

Clairelle's words made Marie panic.

"Why would big brother die? We have an item that will make him stronger!"

"Marie, do you know what that medicine is?"

"It's a stat-boosting item---"

"Realistically, it's 'doping.' And if it significantly boosts abilities, it means it's a very strong drug, right?"

Marie's face turned pale.

"Wait. Don't use it on big brother."

"It's no use. Master has decided to use it."

When Marie tried to retrieve the medicine from the robot, other robots stopped her.

"Let go! Clairelle, are you saying it's okay for big brother to die!?"

"---This is Master's wish. He's the one who's abnormal."

Luxion knew where the medicine was but didn't tell Leon.

The reason was that using such a strong drug would not be without consequences for Leon's body.

---And Marie delivered it to him.

Marie collapsed to her knees and sat on the floor, stunned.

"I---I did it for big brother."

"Yes, you were useful for Master's victory. Marie, you're not to blame. You look tired, so you should rest now."

Clairelle and the robots left the room.

Alone, Marie hugged her head and cried.

"Why is it always like this? I just wanted to help big brother."