Chapter 47

The mansion where Marié and the others live.

In the kitchen, Marié, Carla, and Kyle are preparing dinner.

"Pasta, pasta! Just boil a ton of it and make up for it with quantity!"

Carla, who is preparing bread and soup, asks Kyle.

"Can you bring it to the table, Kyle?"

It's a dinner for eight.

Carla doesn't say anything about their different statuses, and Kyle, being a slave, doesn't mention it either.

If Marié could say, "That's not allowed!" it would look good, but there's a different reason.

...Cleanup is a hassle.

It would be troublesome to prepare separate dinners and have everyone move around afterward, so they all eat together for efficiency.

There's no time to say, "It's not right to separate meals based on status!"

Kyle is exasperated.

"If only the other two could stay until evening."

Even though they have servants, one is a gardener, and the other is a woman who has a family and leaves before evening.

Because Julius is there, they can't have anyone other than those with solid backgrounds from the kingdom around them, which is causing problems.

They never expected a royal like Julius to come as an exchange student.

Complaining to the embassy only results in, "We're in trouble too."

Everything was decided in a hurry, and things haven't been handled properly.

When Kyle brings the food, Greg is waiting at the table.

"Is the food ready yet?"

Kyle gets irritated at Greg, who is slumped over the table.

"If you want to eat quickly, help out."

"I can't move; I'm hungry."

As Kyle sets the food, he asks about the others.

"Where are the princes?"

"Julius is preparing for tomorrow's class. Jilc is coming back a bit late. He wants to look at some tea sets."

Kyle checks the clock.

"I hope he comes back before dinner."

"Who knows. Also, Chris is outside, doing some practice swings."

"Doesn't he do that whenever he has free time?"

"He does."

Hearing Greg's answer, Kyle thinks to himself.

(You look pretty idle too, you know.)

"Then, go get Chris."

"You do it. I'm hungry."

Greg, who is tense outside, is relaxed and in a bad state inside the mansion.

At the academy, he is surprisingly serious due to his position as an exchange student and a noble from the kingdom.

But in the mansion, he is too relaxed.

As Kyle finishes setting the food and heads back to the kitchen—

"Hey, where's Brad?"

Greg looks up.

"Now that you mention it, I haven't seen him. Maybe he's being followed by girls. He likes being fawned over, so he might be having fun."

Brad, a narcissist, loves being praised.

Kyle, imagining Brad surrounded by girls and enjoying himself, gets even more irritated.

(I want to skip his dinner. I want him to eat quickly so I can clean up.)

Then, Jilc returns to the mansion in a hurry.

"It's bad! Really bad!"

◇

Marié, wearing an apron, runs to the mansion's gate, where she finds Brad tied up with plant vines.

He is in a terrible state, covered in severe injuries.

His face is swollen, and his teeth seem to be broken.

Sitting next to Brad, waiting for Marié and the others, is Pierre.

His followers are also present, holding wooden swords.

"What do you think you're doing! What did you do to Brad!"

In response to Marié's anger, Pierre acts innocent.

"Oh, this guy is Brad? He attacked me, so I defended myself."

His followers laugh.

"How are you going to settle this?"

"What will the people of the Holfort Kingdom do to make amends?"

"We're injured too. Show some sincerity!"

Hearing that Brad made the first move, Marié finds it unbelievable.

"Stop lying! Brad wouldn't do something like that. If he did, there must be a reason!"

Carla and Kyle, who are watching from behind Marié, stay back while Greg and Chris step forward.

"Move away from Brad."

Greg glares, but Pierre laughs.

"It doesn't matter what you say."

Chris narrows his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

Pierre smirks.

"You're in Alzelle, and you're outsiders. If I say I was attacked and defended myself, that's the truth. Got it?"

Julius and Jilc run out of the mansion.

"What happened!"

Marié explains the situation to Julius.

Understanding the situation, Julius says to Pierre,

"I understand. But Brad is from the kingdom and has a certain status. I need to take him back."

Julius prioritizes Brad's treatment and plans to investigate later, but Pierre spreads his arms.

"Want him back? Let's play a game."

Marié and the others look at Pierre, thinking, "What is he talking about?" and are genuinely irritated.

"What are you saying in this situation? Just give Brad back!"

Pierre yells at Marié.

"Stop your blabbering! Just play the game. If you do, I'll give you this trash back!"

It's a deadlock.

There are reasons they can't easily fight Pierre and his followers.

Julius confirms the game Pierre is talking about.

"If we play your game, we can get Brad back, right?"

"Sure, I'll give him back, win or lose. But there's one rule before we start. 'Swear by the Sacred Tree'—you have to do this."

Hearing "Sacred Tree," Marié becomes suspicious.

(What are they—oh no!)

Marié recalls the game knowledge she had forgotten, but Julius is already—

"Fine. I'll swear by the Sacred Tree. Let's get started. Brad needs treatment—"

Marié's face turns pale.

"No way!"

But Pierre starts laughing.

"Too late! Under the name of the Sacred Tree, this match is officially recognized!"

A distinctive magic circle appears on the ground beneath Marié and Pierre.

Seeing the magic circle, Marié remembers.

(The Sacred Tree—right, the name of the Sacred Tree is sacred to them.)

It's not just about faith.

The Sacred Tree is also a very important entity in practical terms and dominates the land of Alzelle.

Julius looks at the ground.

"What is this!"

Pierre and his followers laugh.

"The rules are simple. You kill each other. When half of you are left, you win. Otherwise, you lose. Your airship and its contents will be mine."

Chris's eyes widen.

"What do you mean! We didn't agree to this. Besides, Einhorn belongs to the Baltfort Kingdom. We don't own it!"

Pierre and his followers dismiss this.

"It's a match sworn by the Sacred Tree. If you break it, you'll face the consequences. And it's a good deal for you to kill each other."

Pierre laughs, saying, "Come on, show me the killing."

Julius says,

"Can we do that! You're being unreasonable—"

Suddenly, vines from the magic circle wrap around Marié and the others' necks.

Marié sits down without resisting.

Greg tries to pull the vines off but fails.

"It's no use. I can't get them off!"

Jilc pulls out a gun and shoots the vines, but it doesn't work.

"What's the point of this?"

Jilc is in pain.

When the vines release, a thin green mark appears on everyone's neck.

Pierre laughs.

"It's the mark of the loser. If you try to take back the airship or its contents, the Sacred Tree will kill you without question."

Julius and the others are stunned.

"Do you think you can get away with this?"

Pierre and his followers laugh.

"It's your fault for swearing by the Sacred Tree. You didn't know, but it's too late. You're going to get your airship back."

Pierre and his followers, who had been sitting next to Brad, start heading to the port.

Marié holds her head.

"What do we do? I—I need to tell Leon."

She doesn't say "big brother" because others are around, but she is terrified of what Leon will say.

Kyle, touching his neck, runs off.

"I'll go tell him!"

Chris also goes with him.

"Wait, I'm coming too. You guys, get Marié and the others inside the mansion!"

Amid the chaos, Marié is just in shock.

"...I'm going to be killed."

◇

I was taking care of Noelle at home.

"Noelle, you're eating a lot. I love energetic kids. Try to eat a bit more."

I was feeding her and watching her.

Lukseon is looking at me.

"Master, the necessary items are already prepared in the basement. About Noelle's meals—"

Suddenly, there's a loud knocking on the door.

"Talk later. Hello!"

I open the door to find Chris and Kyle, out of breath.

Chris is shirtless and holding a wooden sword.

"...You should be more careful about your appearance."

"Baltfort, this isn't the time for jokes. Your ship!"

"You mean Einhorn?"

Kyle, wiping his sweat, says,

"It's not just that. Aroghants was also taken! The ship and everything on it were stolen by Pierre, a noble from this country!"

I narrow my eyes, and Chris invites me to the port.

"They're at the port. We need to hurry."

Kyle shows me the mark on his neck.

"They made us swear by the Sacred Tree and put some kind of curse on us. Be careful. They're not normal."

I lend Chris my shirt and head to the port.

◇

The port is lit by streetlights.

There, Pierre, the villain, stands in front of Einhorn with his arms spread wide, welcoming us.

"About time. You're late."

He seems to have taken Aroghants out of the ship and tested it.

"Nice armor, isn't it? It looks bad, but it's powerful. If we could mass-produce this, we could crush your country easily."

Pierre and his followers fondle Aroghants.

Chris yells at Pierre.

"That belongs to Baltfort. We can't just bet it in a game!"

Pierre runs his hand through his hair.

"You don't get it. That doesn't matter. It's mine now. Look."

The ship and Aroghants have green emblems floating on them.

"That's proof that the Sacred Tree recognizes it as mine. Get it? Your logic doesn't apply. But I'm not a monster. I'll give you one more chance to fight that loser."

Hearing this, Chris and Kyle look at me anxiously, but—

"...I won't fight. Do what you want."

Hearing that I won't fight, Chris looks regretful and bows his head.

Kyle gives me a doubtful look.

Pierre laughs.

"What? No pride in a fake noble?"

His followers laugh, mocking me.

"Imagine a count like this. The kingdom is doomed!"

"Really stupid. Swearing by the Sacred Tree for a game!"

"At least you learned something. Good for you~"

They're annoying.

...I've memorized their faces.

Then, Lukseon, floating on my right shoulder, approaches Pierre.

"What is it?"

Lukseon introduces himself to Pierre.

"I am the AI managing the airship. Due to the change in ownership, I will serve you as my master from today."

Pierre and his followers look curious.

"Is it a familiar?"

"Managing the airship?"

"I remember, there were no crew members. Does this thing manage everything?"

Pierre spits on my face as he approaches me.

"How does it feel to be betrayed by your familiar? Tell me."

I smile at Pierre.

"...It's the worst."

◇

I was taking care of Noelle at home.

"Noelle, you're eating a lot. I love energetic kids. Try to eat a bit more."

I was feeding her and watching her.

Lukseon is looking at me.

"Master, the necessary items are already prepared in the basement. About Noelle's meals—"

Suddenly, there's a loud knocking on the door.

"Talk later. Hello!"

I open the door to find Chris and Kyle, out of breath.

Chris is shirtless and holding a wooden sword.

"...You should be more careful about your appearance."

"Baltfort, this isn't the time for jokes. Your ship!"

"You mean Einhorn?"

Kyle, wiping his sweat, says,

"It's not just that. Aroghants was also taken! The ship and everything on it were stolen by Pierre, a noble from this country!"

I narrow my eyes, and Chris invites me to the port.

"They're at the port. We need to hurry."

Kyle shows me the mark on his neck.

"They made us swear by the Sacred Tree and put some kind