Chapter 46

### The Girls' Dormitory of the Holfaart Kingdom

Revia and Anje received the letter that Cléare had delivered, and they became worried upon learning about Leon's recent situation.

"Mr. Leon, it's good that he's keeping Noel as a pet, but has he made any friends?"

The letter stated that the academy in the republic was a terrible place, and also mentioned that learning a foreign language is faster when done in the country where it is spoken. However, most of the letter detailed Noel's condition.

"Seventeen years old is quite old for a dog. It says he's a cute female, but... wouldn't he need to provide care for her?"

Cléare added:

"It seems Master is worried about that too. After school, he immediately goes back to take care of her. And... he still hasn't made any friends."

Revia's shoulders drooped in sadness.

"Mr. Leon, it's so pitiful."

Anje seemed to agree with her.

"While I think it's important for him to make friends with the local students, I'm concerned about the republic's attitude. The embassy seems to be too weak."

Revia was also worried.

"I've heard that the kingdom has lost to the republic twice in the past, but even so, isn't the republic being too aggressive?"

Anje looked annoyed.

"They seem to have a lot of confidence in themselves. The queen also mentioned that their attitude of provoking and creating enemies is concerning."

The republic's strength is well-known among neighboring countries, as they have won multiple defensive battles. This is why Queen Mirene is taking a cautious approach.

However, the weakness of the local embassy is also a problem.

Revia, placing her hand on her chin, thought:

"Considering how strong they are, it's not strange that they haven't expanded their territory, right?"

Anje explained the disadvantages of expanding territory.

"Ruling over a vast area is difficult. They haven't launched any attacks from their own country for years. Although, they aren't invincible outside of defensive battles."

Anje believes that the republic doesn't launch attacks because they are weak in offensive battles.

In fact, they have lost in the past when they did invade.

"It's a mysterious country."

Anje nodded in agreement with Revia's comment.

"Yes. But, Alzer worships the Holy Tree, which is located in the center of the continent. There's a rumor that they don't want to leave their continent because it is considered sacred. Should we ask Leon to confirm?"

Anje thought it would be a good idea to have Leon investigate this.

Revia was interested in the Holy Tree.

"The Holy Tree? Does it have any special meaning?"

◇

"The Holy Tree is like a mass of energy."

Marie and I were talking in a narrow space behind the stairs, hidden from the five meddlers who have been particularly annoying lately.

They can't stand that I'm taking care of Marie.

Do they understand that if they were more responsible, I wouldn't have to take care of Marie? Or that I'm indirectly supporting them as well?

At the request of Anje and Revia, I'm investigating the Holy Tree.

When I asked Marie, who has game knowledge, about the Holy Tree, she said it's a mass of energy.

"But isn't it a plant?"

"I don't know. I don't care about the settings; I only know what was explained in the game. And it's been over ten years, so I've forgotten a lot."

"Do you know how to use the energy?"

"Maybe? Like... free energy?"

Like a perpetual motion machine?

In my previous life, it was considered occult or something similar, but it's the ultimate form of energy that humans dream of.

"The Holy Tree continuously produces energy, huh?"

"Right. No need to worry about power."

The Alzer Republic, where there are no energy problems.

I understand the secret of their strength.

"Also, there seems to be some kind of contract. The Holy Tree has roots in Alzer's land, and the contract has some kind of binding force."

"Be more specific."

"I've forgotten."

I gave Marie a reward of bread, which she happily accepted and ate.

This guy is more food-obsessed than our Noel.

"The Holy Tree and the priestess. There are various settings for that too."

Marie, who had finished eating the bread, licked the cream off her fingers and asked me:

"Is everything okay on your side? Are you getting along with the easy option?"

"Stop calling him that. ...It feels like watching a young couple."

"Is it really just a feeling, or are they a young couple?"

The protagonist, Reia, is fine.

She ignores the popular five students and focuses on Emile.

This single-mindedness is what makes her the protagonist.

I wish some foolish reincarnated person would learn from her.

Like Marie, who is happily eating bread in front of me.

"The protagonist is doing well. Just watch and let things progress. Don't interfere."

"Why are you telling me this!"

"Think about it. Whose fault do you think it is that you're in this situation?"

Marie, looking regretful, left the place, her stomach full.

I decided to go home and take care of Noel.

◇

Leon's house.

Rukusion was taking care of Noel.

"I have prepared a perfect nutritional meal for you. Eat it."

Noel obediently followed Rukusion's command and ate the meal.

It seemed like she still wanted to live strongly.

"...Your master is currently in a critical condition, but don't worry. I am supporting his treatment from behind the scenes, and Master is providing financial support."

Noel looked up and licked Rukusion.

Rukusion looked at Noel's face.

Noel, who had resumed eating, finished her meal and wobbled back to her bed.

She immediately fell asleep after eating.

"Good girl. If Master were this obedient, he would be cute... Oh, I'm receiving new information."

After confirming the information from the drones, Rukusion immediately left for Leon's place.

◇

Behind the school building.

Brad, called by Pierre, was standing in front of a group of boys, feeling exasperated.

"Stop this nonsense. I have my own position to consider, you know?"

Brad, who had come to the back of the school building, hadn't expected this to happen.

(What should I do?)

The other party was also a noble from another country.

He had come, thinking that they wouldn't call out a foreign student, especially a noble, and assault them.

However, the wooden sticks held by the henchmen were for practice.

Pierre had a sly smile on his face.

"You're an eyesore. Don't you think you're mistaken about being welcomed here?"

The boys around him seemed unsure of what they were doing.

Brad spoke calmly.

"This could become a diplomatic issue. Wouldn't that be a problem for you too?"

Pierre's henchmen laughed.

"A diplomatic issue?"

"This guy still doesn't get it."

"Maybe he thinks he's on par with Alzer?"

Brad had heard about the situation at the embassy, but he hadn't expected it to be this bad.

Pierre leaned in close.

"Sure, a diplomatic issue. Do you think the Fauve family, one of the six great noble families, would be scared of a bunch of Holfaart nobodies? You're overestimating yourselves."

Brad was internally panicking.

(What's with these guys? They know what they're doing and are still doing this? It's like they really want a war.)

When Pierre said "Go," the henchmen attacked Brad.

"An adventurer like you!"

Unlike the Holfaart Kingdom, where adventurers can become nobles, the nobles of Alzer look down on adventurers.

Brad, who is not good at close combat but is skilled in magic, responded:

"Is that all you've got!"

He dodged the attack, knocked one of them down, and took the wooden stick.

He quickly knocked down another one, and Pierre's henchmen backed off.

(Are they weak?)

Brad, who had defeated two of them, was surprised by the different feeling.

Brad is good at magic and not at close combat.

These henchmen only had the strength to be defeated by someone like Brad.

Pierre was frustrated.

"What are you doing? Finish it quickly!"

The henchmen aimed their palms at Brad.

"Fireball!"

The henchmen cast magic.

Brad couldn't believe it.

"Using magic in a fight!"

He discarded the wooden stick and used magic.

He touched the ground, and a wall formed around him.

The fireballs were deflected by the earth wall and disappeared.

Brad then cast a low-lethality spell.

"Water Whip!"

The water whips knocked down the henchmen, leaving them drenched.

Pierre's face was twisted.

Brad stood up.

"Sorry, but I'm better at magic."

Brad, who is not weak by human standards, is usually overshadowed by Julius and others.

Pierre covered his face with his right hand.

"...You're really useless."

One of the henchmen, standing up, apologized.

"S-Sorry, Pierre."

Brad, on guard, noticed a faint light on the back of Pierre's right hand.

(What is this?)

The light grew stronger, and a pattern, resembling a crest, appeared.

The green crest glowed.

Pierre, removing his hand from his face, was smiling.

"You're overestimating yourselves, you nobodies."

From the ground around Pierre, pointed wooden roots began to grow.

They wriggled and pointed at Brad.

Brad tried to create an earth wall with magic, but—

"What!"

The magic didn't work, especially earth-based magic.

It was as if it was being rejected.

He tried to escape, but the wooden roots pierced the ground.

Pierre, with a grotesque smile, said:

"I told you, don't underestimate the Fauve family."

Brad prepared the next spell.

"If earth doesn't work!"

Flames appeared in Brad's hands, but they were weaker than usual.

(Why? It feels like something is interfering—)

He tried to burn the wooden roots, but the power was insufficient, so he aimed directly at Pierre.

A fireball from Brad's hand hit Pierre, but—

"What, is that all?"

Water spurted from the ground, forming a wall that extinguished the fireball.

Brad couldn't understand.

(He doesn't seem to be using magic. What's going on?)

Brad, who is knowledgeable about magic, couldn't understand what Pierre was doing.

Pierre didn't seem to be using magic himself.

Brad quickly thought of his next move but felt something odd in his feet.

"Damn!"

Looking down, he saw plants wriggling and wrapping around his ankles.

When he tried to break free, more plants grew and entangled him.

Pierre approached.

The henchmen, holding weapons, surrounded Brad.

"...You're really overconfident."

Seeing Pierre's smirking face, Brad gritted his teeth. He was in a crouched position.

Pierre kicked Brad's head with his thin leg.

"Ugh!"

Pierre then repeatedly stomped on Brad.

"What happened to your earlier confidence?"

Brad, being beaten, glared at Pierre.

Pierre, looking down, pushed his bangs back, revealing his forehead.

He was sweating even from a slight movement.

"You nobodies can't beat a real noble, blessed by the Holy Tree."

—In the Alzer Republic, nobles are those blessed by the Holy Tree.

This is the difference between the nobles of the Holfaart Kingdom and the Alzer Republic.

Pierre ordered his henchmen.

"Go."

The henchmen, holding weapons, approached Brad and raised their weapons.