Chapter 32

"Are you serious?"

Having successfully managed to talk to Lady Mileine, I pleaded for command authority. Of course, Lady Mileine's expression was one of exasperation.

It's not sane to make a sixteen—no, seventeen-year-old boy the supreme commander, and it's only natural for her to be suspicious of my request.

"I'm serious. I want command authority. Can't you please grant it to me?"

Lady Mileine showed a different face from before. Her calm expression seemed to have lost all the gentleness it once had.

"You lack both trust and a track record. If I recommend you, people will doubt my sanity."

"To win. We can't win like this. If you don't want to, I'll just run away."

Lady Mileine, with her head bowed, muttered, "This must be the result of past actions coming back to haunt us."

"The royal family plans to attack the principality and defeat the user of the magic flute that summoned the super-large monster."

"That won't work. We'll be wiped out, so it's a waste of time."

"...Leon, not everything is decided by ability alone. Even if you are more wonderful and capable than that king, people will believe in the king. That's just how people are. If I make you the supreme commander, no one will follow you."

Though her words had a slight edge towards the king, I ignored it and continued negotiating. I noticed that my evaluation in Lady Mileine's eyes was quite high.

"I can't win if I leave it to someone else. We need the royal family's ship. It has special power, right?"

How do you know that? When Lady Mileine made that face, I cornered her against the wall and placed my hand on it.

"! Do you know what that ship is? It is—"

"The driving force that built the kingdom. The royal family's trump card... right?"

"Yes, that's correct. It's not something that can be lent easily. It's a Lost Item."

Though it's a different Lost Item from Luxion, it's absolutely necessary.

Lady Mileine and I are very close.

"Please lend it to me. I need it."

"But it won't move. Even the king and I couldn't make it move."

"I'll use Julius and Marie. Please gather the other four as well."

"But the Holy Maiden—Marie—is facing execution."

Marie is absolutely necessary.

If Marie dies, it's not certain that Revia will be recognized as the Holy Maiden immediately. The temple might cause more trouble. Therefore, we need a surefire method.

To move the airship and utilize the Holy Maiden's power, we need Marie and the others.

After that, we just need to have Revia on board.

"Luxion, explain to the queen."

"Yes."

When Luxion appeared, Lady Mileine, surprised, said, "Is this—the familiar you reported about?"

Then, upon hearing that the super-large monsters were moving to encircle the land from the sky and sea, the queen despaired.

"Is that true?"

"It's a fact. Since the appearance of the two super-large monsters, communication has become quite poor. We should assume that communication will be almost impossible as we get closer to the enemy."

The queen was pressing her left hand against her face.

"The more I hear, the more troublesome it seems. ...Leon, can you win?"

"I will win. For that, I need—"

"—the Holy Maiden and the royal family's ship. I see, you want the position of supreme commander."

Lady Mileine's face tightened, and she looked me in the eye.

"If I make you the supreme commander, there will be resistance. From the marquis faction. We need to suppress them. Also, there won't be many knights or soldiers willing to cooperate with you. It will be difficult to gather forces."

Luxion, looking at me, nodded with one eye.

"I don't mind."

"...Honestly, even though it's your own doing, if the other knights had the same loyalty as you..."

Loyalty? I don't have much of it.

"Do I have high loyalty? And what do you mean by 'your own doing'?"

"It's the current situation where you've imposed burdens on some men. I'll explain when you return safely. Make sure you win and come back. Understand?"

I nodded, and Lady Mileine blushed and made a cute cough.

"Then, could you please step back?"

Oh, right. I took a step back, and Lady Mileine took a deep breath before looking at me.

"I owe you a lot, Leon. I'll do the groundwork on my end. But you really don't have many allies."

"It's fine. I have some plans for gathering forces."

It's not a problem.

Now is the time to use the power of bonds.

◇

The capital was in chaos.

Among those trying to flee were the figures of nobles.

Sadly, many nobles and knights were abandoning their duties, thinking they couldn't fight for such a kingdom, and fleeing with their mistresses.

Incidentally, the official wives... or rather, the main wives, were being left behind. Knowing the reason made me feel quite complicated.

When I arrived at the academy from the palace, I doubted my eyes at the unusual scene.

"Wait! Take me with you!"

A girl clinging to a boy was roughly pushed away. The boy was the heir of a border baron.

"Don't come to me now. You ignored me all this time."

A male student leaving the academy.

On the other side, a wealthy viscount living in the capital was clinging to a girl.

"Are you going to abandon me? After all I've done for you!"

"If you stay here, you'll just die! If the capital is gone, you'll be worthless!"

A scene where the positions were reversed from usual.

It wasn't a pleasant sight at all.

Luxion guided me.

"Master, this way. Everyone seems to be gathered and discussing something."

"Great! Luxion, go to Revia and Anje. You must save them both! Also, if you see any acquaintances, let them know."

"Is it alright for you to go alone, Master?"

I'm fine.

My friendship with everyone—Daniel and Raymond and the others—is genuine!

"Don't worry. Everyone will definitely cooperate."

◇

"No, it's impossible."

"Yeah, it's impossible."

The meeting place for the border baron's heirs—people in a similar position to me—was the academy's conference room.

They had been hiding from the girls who had suddenly turned their backs on them.

Those whose families had come to pick them up had been passing the time.

When I offered to cooperate, Daniel and Raymond, like the others, said "No" and "It's impossible" and refused to help.

"Why not!"

"The royal army is almost wiped out. Can two hundred airships really fight against monsters that can't be touched?"

Raymond's calm judgment wasn't wrong.

"Leon, why don't you give up? You were falsely imprisoned, right? You don't need to push yourself this far. If the kingdom loses, you can just submit to the principality."

Daniel also lacked motivation.

The lords who had floating islands as their territories were just following the stronger country.

If the kingdom lost, they would look for a new master.

Everyone around had similar reactions.

"Right? Hey, did you know that in the principality, men have a higher status? Women are the ones who are anxious about marriage."

"Really? I'll swear allegiance to the principality!"

"Me too!"

...I can understand your feelings, but you guys need to have more loyalty!

Well, I don't have much either!

Everyone was passing the time playing cards. After all, if they returned to their territories, they would be safe. Even if the continent sank, the independent floating islands would be fine.

We might have to fight the principality later, but our true feelings are that we don't want to fight for the kingdom.

In fact, the nobles and knights in the capital were fleeing, and the noble lords were hesitant to send reinforcements.

The "past actions" the queen mentioned must be this kind of thing.

I took a deep breath.

The conference room was filled with a masculine smell.

I took out a document from my pocket.

"Look at this, guys."

Raymond, with his glasses, read the document.

"This is a contract for the sale of an airship. What's so special about it?"

"You've already received the airships. The crew training should be underway, right?"

Daniel nodded.

"Yeah. They were really happy with how easy to handle and powerful they were."

Everyone was delighted to have such excellent warships, but Raymond alone turned pale.

"Leon, this—"

"That's right. The airships you have can only be maintained at the factory in my father's territory. Try taking it to another factory? You won't get perfect maintenance. It's full of new technology, and if you neglect maintenance, it will eventually stop working."

The contract states that since it's equipped with new technology, maintenance must be done at our factory.

These are the people who sold their used airships and bought new ones from me.

If the airships they now have stop working, they won't be able to do anything.

"I'm going to fight the principality. What will happen then? The principality might ravage my territory and my father's territory. The factory could be destroyed. Besides, I've already fought the principality and been hated. You guys are associated with me, right? No, I'll even emphasize your connection to me!"

Everyone started yelling at me.

"That's dirty!"

"Hey, let's grab Leon and hand him over to Heltrude!"

"That person was taken to the palace!"

I took out a pistol and fired it at the ceiling.

Everyone fell silent.

"Calm down, idiots! Do you really think the principality will accept your submission? They hate the kingdom. You might lose your territories and be treated as slaves."

After everyone considered the possibility, I spoke gently.

"Cooperate with me. It's fine. You just need to hide behind me. If you survive, I'll maintain your airships at a service price. And you'll be heroes. Just firing cannons from behind, you'll be making a fortune as heroes!"

Everyone looked at me with regretful faces.

"Trust me. I'm fighting because I can win. Have I ever fought a battle where I was at a disadvantage? I only fight battles I can win."

Daniel was very troubled,

"...You're always a cheater."

"Hey, is that a compliment? Don't worry. A cheater like me is on your side. Isn't that reassuring?"

Raymond ran his hands through his hair,

"Thanks to that cheater, we have to fight the principality. This is the worst situation!"

Everyone seemed to have given up—no, made up their minds.

They said they would follow me.

This is the power of our friendship!

"Thank you, everyone! Let's be friends forever!"

Everyone glared at me, saying things like "This is a joke," "You devil!" and "That contract was a trap, wasn't it?"

Well, such complaints are trivial in front of the final boss.

—Now, let's move on to the next.

◇

Luxion arrived at Revia's room.

"Leon is going to fight the principality's army?"

Revia was surprised, while Anje was exasperated.

"Even as a viscount, it's unheard of to make a student the supreme commander. Will it be the king or Prince Julius who nominally leads?"

Luxion shook its single eye from side to side, negating the suggestion.

"Master is expected to be the supreme commander. Currently, the force consists of about twenty ships, including Partner. We don't know how many airships the royal army can prepare. The temple's forces can't be relied on."

Anje held her head.

"Are you really going to challenge the principality with that? What about the generals? What about the fleets of the lords?"

"The royal army depends on Mileine's groundwork. The noble lords are busy with their own battles. Multiple countries are moving simultaneously, but the lords who can send forces are waiting to see what happens."

Revia looked at Anje.

"Why? Why won't they help?"

"...Do you understand why the lords follow the kingdom?"

"Um... because they've sworn loyalty, right?"

"No. It's because of the kingdom's power. The lords around the kingdom follow because of the military strength. Many lords think that if the kingdom loses, they can find a new master. Besides, the kingdom has neglected the lords."

"Huh?"

Luxion thought,

(Indeed, that's the case. I found it strange. I stopped thinking because it's a dating game, but it makes sense when you think about it.)

The duke's family has strong ties to the royal family.

Anje's view of the lords reflects how the royal family views the lords.

"The lords have been kept weak. The skewed marriage relationships are part of that. This will eventually—"

Anje shook her head and stood up.

"I'm going to my father. I'll get the duke's fleet moving."

"Is that alright?"

Anje smiled meaningfully.

"If Leon says he'll do it, there's a chance of winning. ...I believe in him."

Revia looked a bit down but stood up to follow Anje.

Luxion said,

"If so, please hurry to the palace. The duke is there."

Anje smiled.

"Thanks. Let's go. Revia, what about you?"

"I'm going too!"

The two of them—and Luxion—rushed to the palace.

◇

The floating island near the capital was busier than usual with airships coming and going.

The crowd made it difficult to walk.

There, waiting for me was Nicks—my older brother.

"Leon, you're safe!"

Near Nicks, who was happy to see me, was my sister—Jenna.

"Did you escape from prison?"

Near her was our personal servant, Mior, who looked at me with a wandering gaze.

"Good timing. Get on. Father has come to pick us up."

My older brother pointed to the airship Father had come in.

"Perfect timing."

I entered the airship and asked the crew where Father was.

"Where's Father?"

"He's in the bridge. What did you do this time, young master?"

"It's not me. It's Mior's fault. Don't let that guy on board!"

I couldn't leave the one who betrayed me—Mior—near my sister.

My younger sister was making a fuss, but I ignored her and ran down the corridor.

When I entered the bridge, Father was discussing with the captain.

"Lord, people are demanding to be taken on board."

"Once the children are secure, take on as many as you can and leave! We can't stay in this place any longer. Oh? Leon!"

I thought Father was happy to see me, but his expression quickly turned stern.

"What did you do this time? I heard you were thrown in jail!"

"Sorry, Father... I need your help."

"Huh? What did you—"

I explained the situation. The reason I was arrested, and everything else—telling on Mior for his actions.

Father's face gradually turned pale... and I felt a bit sorry for him.

"...You're still an idiot."

"I'm going, but I need your help, Father."

"Why didn't you run when you had the chance? You're a real idiot."

The airship I gave Father—the warship—was larger and better than the others. The crew should have been trained. I needed Father's help.

As Father was hesitating, my older brother and younger sister entered the bridge. Behind them, I could see Mior.

My older brother reported hurriedly.

"Father, Zora and the others are demanding to be taken on board. I don't know what's going on, but they've brought a lot of people."

Father sighed and left the bridge, dragging Mior by the head with one hand.

"Wait! Why are you being rough with Mior! Let him go!"

My younger sister protested, and Mior resisted, but Father held on with one arm.

"Let me go. I haven't done anything!"

"Shut up, traitor! You have the nerve to show your face in front of me!"

Father glared at my younger sister for the first time, and he was really angry.

"Don't let this scum who betrayed Leon on my ship! Nicks, you stay in the bridge. Jenna, you go to your room and stay there. Someone, take her away!"

As the crew took my younger sister away, I headed to the airship's entrance with Father.

There, noblewomen and their slaves—Zora and her close associates—were pressing in.

Zora was yelling at Father.

"Balkas! Take us on board right now! Then, land in the capital and collect all the property from our mansion. Got it?"

In the noisy port, Father pushed Mior away.

"Wait! Let me explain—"

"Shut up."

Then, he drew his sword from his waist, cut off Mior's head with one swing, and kicked the body. Mior's head and body fell separately from the floating port.

Father glared at my older brother—Lutoart, who was hiding behind Zora and trembling.

"We're going to war. Lutoart, you're coming. Experience your first battle."

"No! Don't order me! You country lord barbarian!"

As I remained silent, Zora and the others gradually