Chapter 34

Taking a deep breath.

One of the rooftops in the palace.

I was watching the sun rise.

The cold air made me shiver as it entered my body.

The cold woke me up.

Airships were coming and going from the capital, continuing to evacuate the residents.

"Master, Partner is ready."

"Alright, I'm ready to fight now."

The capital, where evacuations continue—

If the duchy attacks now, it would be a problem.

"I hope everything goes according to plan."

"...Due to the approach of the ultra-large, communication conditions are worsening. If the main body moves to the other side of the continent, I can only provide minimal support to you, Master. Are you sure about this?"

The spherical eye is a subunit of Luxion's main body.

If the link with the main body is cut, the performance inevitably drops.

With the communication conditions worsening, reconnaissance that was previously possible is no longer feasible.

I don't know the duchy's movements.

All I know is that the ultra-large is slowly moving towards the capital.

"Rivia and Anje will be fine. They'll blow away the monsters with the power of their love."

"Love? If love could solve everything, what would all the love in the world be for?"

"I don't know. We can think about that after we win."

"More importantly, are you really okay with this? You've been avoiding them since then, haven't you?"

I found out that they were in love with each other through a joke item.

I don't need to interfere with them.

"Even I couldn't say anything because it was too unexpected."

"They were looking for you after that. —Master!"

Luxion looked up at the sky.

◇

A room in the palace.

There, the master was present.

He was preparing tea and serving it to two women sitting opposite each other.

The two women facing each other early in the morning were Mileine and Heltrude.

"Princess, can't you stop this war?"

"It's impossible. The duchy has endured for decades for this day. This time, it's your turn to be trampled."

Seeing the faint smile, Mileine closed her eyes.

"I understand your feelings that the kingdom is evil. But—"

"Oh, are you trying to threaten me? It's too late. The magic flute that child possesses calls the duchy's guardian deity from the sky and sea. Once ordered, it won't stop until the task is completed. It's too late."

Negotiations using me would be meaningless.

When Heltrude said this, Mileine shook her head.

She placed a rather old document and a book on the table.

"What is this?"

"Read this first."

The document Heltrude read was from the early days of the duchy's independence. It detailed the compensation for the atrocities committed.

The compensation for the atrocities committed by the duchy, not the kingdom.

"You're lying. The duchy fought against the kingdom, which treated them unfairly for independence! This is a forgery, right?"

Mileine looked at Heltrude with exasperation.

"You were raised hearing only the good. As a puppet, you're a wonderful princess. Do you think the country runs on good intentions alone?"

The book detailed the history between the kingdom and the duchy.

The duchy, led by the Grand Duke, had allied with countries hostile to the kingdom and attacked it multiple times.

They plundered the invaded territories to the fullest.

The military power of the Grand Duke's family was formidable, and the kingdom was at a loss.

While it was easy to crush the Grand Duke's family, the kingdom couldn't use its full strength because it was surrounded by enemy countries.

Therefore, they placed a border lord to guard the border.

"Military facilities were prepared, airships were assembled, and floating islands were moved to serve as fortresses. At that time, a huge amount of funds, materials, and labor were consumed."

Angered by the Grand Duke's family, the kingdom treated them as an enemy country, not a vassal.

The Grand Duke's family, now calling themselves the duchy, could no longer plunder, leading to a temporary decline.

As a result—trying to rebuild their military power, they attacked inhabited floating islands to obtain floating stones, destroying them with artillery.

The duchy's army was defeated by the enraged kingdom and the border lord.

After making them promise compensation, the document was signed.

"After that, the duchy continued to attack the kingdom. The damage decreased after the border lord was placed, but the resentment remained. When the duchy invaded previously, those who boarded were people who had lived in the lands the duchy had plundered."

While the kingdom is not absolutely right, Mileine confronted Heltrude with the facts.

"Really, the duchy loves to plunder from the kingdom, don't they?"

"No! The duchy fought for independence. It's because the kingdom signed unfair treaties!"

"They only demanded compensation. At the time, they had no intention of paying. Now, they blame the kingdom for their hardships after losing and reluctantly paying?"

Heltrude's face turned red as she tried to pick up the cup, but the master quickly moved.

"The tea has cooled. Let me brew it again."

Heltrude glared at the master in frustration, but Mileine seemed to be saying that she was talking to her.

"You have a duty to know. Indeed, the kingdom plundered the duchy's territory. But I can't have you forget the circumstances that led to it."

Heltrude was confused, but the master suddenly looked out the window.

The siren sounded, alerting that the enemy had arrived in the capital.

Mileine stood up.

"Earlier than expected."

The master looked at Heltrude.

"Is it to rescue the princess?"

"It's possible. Don't let the magic flute fall into their hands. Where is Leon?"

"Partner has already launched. Mystillion must have gone to intercept them. He's very reliable."

Heltrude's legs were shaking.

The master made them lie down on the floor.

"Excuse me."

Immediately after, an explosion echoed in the sky above the capital.

◇

Arogant landed on the rooftop of the palace.

I immediately boarded and received a situation report from Luxion.

"We've been hit. It was a surprise attack from above."

"Your radar isn't much good, is it?"

"I said the communication conditions were bad. I want to be praised for noticing it before the attack. Partner, emergency launch."

Seeing Partner launch to protect the capital's sky, I gripped the control stick of Arogant and ascended into the air.

Sirens were sounding in the capital.

"How many?"

"Thirty. Airships are descending. They're also dropping bombs."

"Shoot them down."

As Partner started attacking, bullets were scattered in the sky, hitting the bombs. When they exploded in the air, gray smoke covered the capital.

The sky, which was beautiful with the morning sun, suddenly turned cloudy.

"Master, the kingdom's army is seeking instructions. The interception forces are delayed."

"Prioritize evacuation. Until our allies take to the sky, you and I will deal with them."

"The enemy has launched armor."

Gripping the control stick, I took out a rifle from the container on Arogant's back and aimed.

Picking up the voices of the pilots in the duchy's armor descending rapidly, the communication was noisy and hard to hear.

"Here they come! It's the heretic knight!"

"Captain, a huge armor is approaching at an incredible speed!"

Aiming at the captain's machine, I aimed the rifle and pulled the trigger.

"No problem. He's a coward who can't even kill a person—what?"

I shot through the abdomen, and the armor exploded, causing the surrounding armors to panic.

"Captain!"

"He's not the non-killing knight, is he!"

Aiming the rifle at the enemy, I gripped the control stick tightly.

What non-killing?

I adhered to non-killing because, at that point, the situation could still be salvaged.

But now—non-killing is no longer an option.

There have been too many sacrifices.

"It's you who have driven me this far. Don't blame me."

Dodging bullets, and deflecting those that hit, Arogant moved.

Holding a battle axe in the left hand, I deeply slashed one as we passed by. Kicking away the other armor that approached, I aimed the rifle at the airship's engine.

Pulling the trigger, the airship erupted in flames a moment later.

The duchy's soldiers fleeing in the sky.

I watched their figures on the monitor.

"This is the worst. If you hadn't come, I wouldn't have to do this!"

"You could have run to avoid the fight?"

"Then it would have been even worse! I hate the kingdom, but I hate the duchy even more! This is better than worrying about matchmaking!"

Suppressing my nausea, I operated Arogant as the enemies gathered around.

The armor heading towards Arogant.

"Stop him!"

"This heretic!"

It seems "heretic" and "heretic knight" are my nicknames.

What heretic?

The heretic is you, making me do this.

"Don't attack out of spite!"

Destroying another one, I aimed the rifle at the airship again.

◇

The sky over the capital, now a battlefield.

Julius was running through the palace corridor.

"Jilc!"

He found his best friend, Jilc, who was wearing a pilot suit.

"Are you alright, Your Highness!"

Approaching Julius, he looked up at the window with a regretful expression.

"What are the duchy's people thinking? What reason do they have to attack the capital now?"

Jilc, suspicious of the duchy's army coming alone without monsters, stated his thoughts.

"Perhaps they are trying to retrieve Princess Heltrude and the magic flute?"

Julius hit the wall with his right hand, not hiding his frustration.

"What is Baltofalt doing!"

"Intercepting. Your Highness, please retreat."

"No nonsense. I'm going out too."

At that moment, Mileine, Heltrude, and the master, protected by guards, appeared.

Mileine, with a strong tone, said to Julius,

"That's not possible."

"Mother?"

Turning around, Julius tightened his face and pleaded with Mileine to let him launch. He couldn't stand by and watch in such a situation.

"I'm going out. Mother, please evacuate immediately."

"You don't have the power to fight. Your job is to survive."

"Jilc is fighting! Are you telling me to run away?"

"Yes, that's right. You can only run."

"I'm not asking for an airship. If you prepare one armor for me—"

"There's no one to prepare armor for you, Julius."

Julius was surprised and wondered why Jilc was changing into a pilot suit.

He shouldn't have any armor, just like me.

"I asked my family to prepare one. The other three did the same. Your Highness, please leave the rest to us."

Julius weakly shook his head at Jilc.

"Why? Why are you betraying me! You said you would cooperate. You said you would protect Marie together! Was that a lie?"

Blaming the bowed Jilc, Mileine intervened.

"Julius, the palace no longer has any armor or airships. You don't have the power to fight. Please evacuate with us."

The palace's armor and airships were all dispatched.

There was no armor to give to Julius.

But Julius remembered.

"There is! The duke's airship should still have spare armor. I heard they were recruiting knights. If I go there immediately—"

"—What have you done to the Redgrave family? They are no longer your supporters. Jilc, the duchy's army is descending. If you're going to launch, do it quickly."

"Yes! Your Highness, I will take my leave."

Mileine said, "I wish you good luck," and Julius ran from the scene.

◇

In the chaotic palace.

Anje was running, holding Rivia's hand.

Looking out the window, Rivia seemed anxious.

"To not notice until they approached the capital—"

"The communication devices are noisier than usual. If Luxion can't detect them, we can't do anything. We need to move to the royal ship."

Looking out the window, Anje saw Partner.

He was defending the capital's sky alone.

(Where is Leon?)

After being recognized by the royal ship, Leon disappeared.

According to the story, he was depressed, but the two, who were busy, never got to see him.

Rivia looked down.

"Have we worn out his patience?"

"I don't think so—but yes, we were wrong. But I didn't think he would disappear without a chance to apologize."

After that, Luxion's arranged robots came and started preparing the royal ship.

It was a big commotion when they forced open the door, entered, and started the preparations.

Gunfire and explosions could be heard continuously from the capital's sky, and the sound of something falling into the capital could also be heard.

(Father and brother are not here. The timing is too bad.)

In the sky above the palace, airships that had launched for protection were visible.

Three of them were airships the duke had left for Anje, prepared in case of an emergency to help her escape.

They were also part of Anje's forces.

In front of Anje and the others, a breathless Julius appeared, looking out the window and approaching Anje when he noticed her.

"Your Highness, what are you doing here?"

Anje, suggesting they escape quickly, was bowed to by Julius.

"Anjelica, I have a request. I want to borrow your forces—the duke's fleet."

Rivia was flustered.

Anje, surprised for a moment, quickly calmed down and shook her head.

"They are my guards, not my subordinates. Only Father, brother, or Leon can command them."

Hearing Leon's name, Julius's regret showed on his face, but he still pleaded.

"I'm not asking for an airship. Even one armor would do. I don't want to be a coward."

Anje shook her head again at Julius's words, not wanting to flee from the battlefield.

"No. Your Highness, please evacuate with us."

Anje's words made Julius look up.

"Do you hate me for betraying you?"

So, is that why you won't lend me your forces? Anje realized.

(What is it... I no longer feel hatred or regret.)

The desire for revenge was weaker than the concern for Leon's safety. At the same time, she wanted to see his face soon.

"I did hate you. But now, I—like Leon."

Smiling, Anje made Julius slightly flustered.

Seeing this, Rivia asked Julius,

"Is something wrong?"

Julius was self-deprecating.

"It's the first time I've seen Anjelica smile like this. ...That's all."

Hearing Julius's words, Anje worried about Leon.

(Leon, please be safe.)

◇

On the flagship of the duchy's airship.

Gerald was in the bridge, looking down at the capital from high above, biting his thumbnail.

"Are you going to interfere again, heretic knight! I volunteered for the surprise attack, thinking you would definitely come to the main force."

The kingdom, taking a desperate gamble, was expected to challenge the duchy's main force. Gerald thought the vanguard would be Leon, or that the kingdom's upper echelons had taken the airships, preventing him from launching.

In either case, the probability of him not coming was high.

"I have to retrieve the magic flute before the main force arrives!"

The main force was moving with the ultra-large, known as the guardian of the sky.

Due to the long distance from the capital and the slow movement speed, they had not yet arrived.

"That magic flute is a valuable item that calls the guardian of the earth. I can't afford to lose it—"

What Gerald wanted to retrieve was not Heltrude but the magic flute. It was a treasure of the duchy, and losing it would affect his future.

Therefore, he insisted on "rescuing Heltrude" and borrowed thirty airships from Heltrauda to launch a surprise attack.

A nearby soldier reported to Gerald.

"Lord, ten have already been sunk. The armors are being shot down one after another."

"I can see that! That heretic knight, giving up non-killing shows no pride as a knight! If he comes here, I... I can't die here!"

Gerald decided to retreat immediately, but it was too late.

In front of the airship's bridge, Arogant appeared.

A voice came from the armor.

"Is this the flagship?"

Facing the gun, Gerald covered his face with both hands.

A container on Arogant opened, and the missiles inside were launched at the airship.

"Here!?"

The moment Arogant pulled the trigger, Gerald's consciousness faded.

◇

One of the evacuation sites in the capital.

Clarisse was protecting the people boarding the airships.

She was boarding and giving instructions