Chapter 22

The envoys from the duchy came onto the deck.

Their fine attire indicated their high status.

Their attitude towards us was clearly arrogant, and while stroking his well-groomed beard, he declared,

"We will save the children of families above the rank of baron. We have no interest in the children of lower-ranking knight families or their half-human slaves. Of course, we don't need this airship or its crew."

Most of the people present wore expressions of despair, while the upper-class students looked relieved.

The half-human students seemed to want to complain.

One of the girls said,

"H-Hold on! Save my personal servant!"

The envoy answered her with a contemptuous attitude.

"Then you should sink with your lover. We don't need hostages with their slaves. Well, if you want to show your noble spirit, it would be better to sink here. But, of course, you are just a spineless noble of the kingdom."

At that moment, Angé stepped forward. I had a bad feeling.

"What is this little girl?"

Angé's attitude was bold.

"...Redgrave. Angélica Rafa Redgrave. You should know my family name, at least."

The duchy family is very famous.

Even the envoy was surprised, but he soon smiled.

"I didn't expect the daughter of a duke to be on board... The kingdom is truly foolish. To send such an important person on a journey without any escort."

The envoy spread his hands.

"Well, why did such a noble person step forward? Did you think we would bow to your name?"

Angé exhaled softly at the envoy's indifference to her family name. When I tried to step forward, the boys behind me held me back.

"L-Let me go! Do you even know what you're doing!"

I struggled, but they held me down.

The envoy tilted his head.

"Who is this?"

Angé answered.

"...My friend."

"Very loyal to your friends. ...Silence him, he's being noisy."

When I tried to get up, punches and kicks flew at me.

"Y-You guys!"

"Are you going to waste Lady Angélica's kindness? Be quiet!"

I was hit by Angé's followers and my mouth was cut. The taste of blood spread in my mouth.

If you knew this would happen, you should have stopped me...

As expected, Angé said,

"You can't say that the daughter of a duke has no value, can you? Take me as a hostage and save everyone else."

The envoy stroked his beard.

"Good intentions. Well, let's talk about the rest when we return."

Then Olivia called out.

"Angé!"

The half-human students around her held her back.

"L-Let me go. Angé, don't go!"

Olivia was the only one who reached out. Angé, who was being taken away, turned back and smiled. Her legs were trembling slightly.

"---Liv, thank you."

With those words, she was taken onto the boat the envoys had arrived in and left.

I was kicked hard and rolled on the deck.

When I clutched my stomach, Olivia ran to me and shielded me.

"León!"

The boys and personal servants who looked down on me... This is bad. I've made too many enemies.

"It's all your fault that everything was almost wasted."

"You stupid noble."

"Hey, sailor. Lock this guy up in the brig."

The sailors gathered and surrounded me.

...These bastards.

◇

On the duchy's airship, in a VIP room built on a monster, Angé was surrounded by knights.

Facing her was Princess Heltrude.

"Angélica, should I say it's been a while? Well, we've only exchanged greetings."

Angé smiled slyly.

"Do you really intend to wage a serious war with the duchy's power? This incident won't be a minor skirmish."

There is a significant difference in power between the kingdom and the duchy.

Angé knew this but was a bit anxious inside.

(What is their goal? Have they obtained something to bridge the power gap?)

Heltrude answered with her eyes downcast.

"Well, it doesn't matter. Did you not see the outside?"

"You had monsters under your control. Do you think that's enough to defeat the kingdom?"

"...We will win."

Then, a dignified-looking person next to her interrupted Heltrude.

"Your Highness, what about that luxury liner?"

"Oh, right."

Angé glared.

"You were supposed to let them go in exchange for my surrender."

"I considered it... Angélica, did the envoy say he would save them?"

Angé closed her eyes at Heltrude's words.

(...As expected, they intend to take hostages from families above the rank of baron, as initially planned.)

However,

"I considered it, but isn't one person enough?"

"---What!"

Surprised, Angé was surrounded by knights with their swords drawn.

Heltrude spoke calmly.

"When you were taken, only two people resisted. How heartless the children of the nobility are. They lack the spirit and justice of a noble. Are such people necessary?"

"W-What are you saying---"

"Angélica, I want you to see everything. The fall of the kingdom from here---"

The envoy was sent to the airship carrying the academy students to convey this.

◇

Thrown into the brig, I sat and looked up at the ceiling.

On the other side of the iron bars, Olivia was crying.

Even when she begged to be let out, it was no use, and now she was sobbing while clutching the bars.

"Stop crying."

"But... Angé... It seems like Angé is being sacrificed. León is hurt, and I can't do anything."

If I were my old self, I might have thought, "Stop being such a whiny brat." In my past life, I would have disliked such a character.

But isn't it amazing that someone can cry for others?

Chris came to this place.

With a pained expression, Chris came to the front of the cell, ignored Olivia, and spoke to me.

"Valtfalde---The envoy just came. One hostage, Angélica, is enough. He said to be prepared."

He also said they would attack again in an hour and that we should make a grand final show.

The students, sailors, and half-humans were apparently in despair.

"...So? What do you want me to do?"

I had a bad feeling.

Still, to hand over Angé... I think her followers should know shame.

Chris took off his glasses.

"I need your help. There are six suits of armor on this ship. I want to buy time until the ship can escape."

I laughed through my nose.

"No way."

Chris narrowed his eyes but didn't blame me.

"Please, I'm begging you. We can't all die here. You can be the ship's guard. I'll stay here."

That won't hold them. No matter how many suits of armor, they can't fight against thousands of monsters. Chris must know that too.

"...León."

Olivia was looking at me, as if I could do something.

Her pure, beautiful eyes were scary. It felt like she could see through everything...

"Stop looking at me like that. What do you expect from me? To save the students who abandoned Angé? That's a joke. Plus, they beat me up. Let's all sink."

When I cursed, Chris surprisingly agreed.

"Yeah, that's right. We might as well sink into the sea rather than the earth if we can't do anything. But even so, I want to ask you. This is the only way. Please... help us."

Seeing Chris bow, I slowly stood up.

"---No."

Chris looked up sadly.

"...I'm sorry. I disturbed you."

As Chris was about to leave, I called out to him.

"Idiot. Listen to me until the end. We can't escape even if we're surrounded. If you stay, you'll just be surrounded and that's it. You haven't learned anything from our battles."

Strategically speaking, it's like starting in a checkmate position.

Chris turned around.

"Then what? What can you do in this situation? If you plan to escape alone, go ahead. I won't stop you."

...You're too stubborn.

I'm not the smartest, but it's sad to be less capable than me. Should I cry for you?

Putting that aside,

"You can't fight alone, and neither can we two. We have to do it together. The idiots who abandoned Angé have to take responsibility. Understand? I'm not that kind to help someone who does nothing."

"...It's impossible. Everyone is in despair and can't even stand up. Besides, I came to you, Valtfalde, in this situation. You understand, right?"

What Chris means is, "The others are useless."

I strongly agree, but we have to make even the scum work.

I leaned my face close to the iron bars. Chris also came closer, and our noses almost touched.

"We can't disperse our forces any further. If we can unite, a frontal assault is the best."

"Frontal? You're the fool."

"Yeah, I'm a fool. But I think it's smarter than just waiting to die. Understand? We should take their flag and break through the encirclement boldly."

Chris, whose sweat was running down his cheek, gasped.

"You protect the ship. This is where you show off your famous swordsmanship."

Chris said with a twisted smile.

"I don't remember boasting."

"Your actions are the same as boasting to the world. Show the results of your efforts. Think of today as the day for all your hard work. I don't plan to die. Do you want to live?"

At those words, Chris looked down in thought and then raised his head.

"...Yeah. I want to see Marie's smile."

...He had to add that at the end.

Are you guys really brainwashed?

What's so good about her?

When Chris unlocked the cell with a key, I stepped out and reached out to Olivia, who was sitting on the floor.

"I need your help."

"Y-Yes! I'll do my best!"

Wiping away her tears, Olivia stood up with a determined expression. She seemed determined to save Angé.

...Definitely, this is better than Marie.

Chris, you should wake up too.

Thinking that, I saw Chris put his hand on his chest and mutter.

"Marie, I will see your smile again. For that, lend me your strength."

In his hand was a charm.

"That?"

"This? I got it at a festival. It's supposed to bring good luck in battle. Now that I think about it, it was a good omen."

A small charm with a shield and a sword.

I laughed. I was happy that the item had gone to the person who needed it most.

"Yeah, it suits you. You're the luckiest."

"S-So? I feel embarrassed when you say that."

...No, don't blush. It's confusing.

◇

In a room where Chris had called the student and sailor representatives.

When I entered the hall, I was holding a shotgun I had bought from a sailor on the way.

Many of them were looking down in despair.

Checking the shotgun shells, I watched Chris, who was giving a speech from the middle of the stairs in the hall.

Sitting on the stairs, I looked at the faces of the gathered crowd.

"...To save everyone, I've decided we have to fight. Everyone, lend me your strength."

The response to Chris's words was a chorus of insults.

"Don't get too cocky, first-year!"

"You're not that strong, why are you acting so high and mighty!"

"You lost to that scum!"

I glared at the boy who called me scum, and he hid. But I remembered his face and would get back at him later. Definitely!

With students from third year to first year in this situation, and the possibility of dying soon, the usual hierarchy means nothing. Some were openly showing this attitude. The ordinary class boys were laughing.

"Fight? The upper-class boys are so full of themselves. Do they think everyone will listen to their orders?"

"Acting all high and mighty."

"Besides, he's been disinherited and has no authority, right?"

The girls were the same. But the personal servants were arguing with the girls.

"Hey, follow the orders!"

"Shut up, brat! Why would we follow your orders now?"

The room became noisy, and I stood up from the stairs.

Shouldering the shotgun, everyone's gaze turned to me.

"You guys are so noisy, scum."

The audience fell silent in front of me with a weapon, and the gazes directed at me were filled with fear and hatred.

"Listen up. I'm a knight with a formal baron title. Plus, I'm fifth in rank---higher in position than the teachers leading us. Got it?"

The teachers averted their eyes.

The teachers, who are usually overshadowed, are still nobles. However, their status is not high.

The headmaster might be in a higher position than me... but the rest are in a lower position.

Maybe the master? Who else is in a higher position than me?

Well, I respect that person as a human. Even if I'm in a higher position, I can't look up to him.

"I'll give you orders. Fight. If you don't want to die, fight."

Naturally, someone objected to my words.

"H-Hell no! You fight!"

I shouldered the shotgun.

"Huh? Of course. I'll fight. Because I'm a noble. Do you know? Nobles are descendants of adventurers who once excelled."

Everyone knows this, but they whispered and mocked me.

"Did he hit his head?"

"That's obvious."

"Look, he's an idiot. He just found out and wants to show off to everyone."

The girls were irritated.

"Eh? Did you know? Liar. If you knew, you wouldn't be trembling in fear, right? Maybe you knew but were in despair here? ...Aren't you embarrassed?"

Everyone had a look of "What is this guy talking about?"

The unrelated personal servants and sailors looked up at me.

"After a perilous voyage, we found land. Sometimes we ventured into dungeons to obtain treasures, and many died. The descendants of adventurers who have always been in battle, can't they move at this level? Aren't you ashamed of your ancestors?"

Some complained, but I ignored them.

"Ah, sorry. Everyone is a coward. That's what the envoy from the duchy said. Expecting anything from you is pointless. But your ancestors must be sad, right? No, maybe they're laughing!"

I made a gesture of laughing.

"Sure, 'My descendants are so weak, lol'!"

"WaLol" is an internet slang term from my past life. It originally meant "laughing" and gradually evolved into "WaLol," but of course, it means nothing to the people in front of me.

But---sometimes, it's more important to convey your attitude and passion than words.

I want to convey this mocking feeling... not with words, but with this passionate feeling!

"Struggling to become a noble, but your descendants are cowards and unworthy adventurers. They must be laughing more than crying in the shadows!"

The nobles in this world are proud of being descendants of adventurers... that's the setting. The academy teaches this, and some respect their great ancestors.

Originally, the nobles in this world admire the position of adventurers.

...What will happen if I stir them up?

"D-Don't mock me! My ancestors are much greater than you!"

I laughed mockingly.

"Ah, great. But that greatness belongs to your ancestors, not you. What do you think about that? Come on, tell everyone. Put your hand on your chest and think. What would your great ancestors think of you now? Come on, everyone, put your hand on your chest! Can't you hear it?"

Some didn't, but many put their hands on their chests. Among them were sailors and personal servants.

"Can you hear the laughter? Or are they sad? Are they shrugging their shoulders in disappointment? Aren't you ashamed? The descendants of great adventurers giving up at this level?"

Few could retort.

Well, if they did, I would laugh at them.

"Our target is the enemy's flag. We'll kidnap that princess and escape. Those who will fight, take up your weapons. Those who won't fight here, sink to the bottom of the sea and let your ancestors laugh. If you survive, regret it for the rest of your life. ...Is there no one who will show their pride?"

A boy shouted.

"Shut up, you bastard! I was fighting even without you telling me! Hey, give me a weapon!"

Then, other boys showed their pride.

"Don't underestimate us who earn money in dungeons. You were the one slacking off!"

"I'll do it. I won't die here!"

"I'll outshine you!"

When the boys started moving