Chapter 52

After finishing the fourth chapter, I was letting my guard down.

I forgot to post it, it was a mistake.

I'm sorry.

We defeated the boss.

Mr. Narcissus, standing in front of the sapling of the Holy Tree, was speaking excitedly.

"I've never seen a sapling of the Holy Tree before. Isn't this divine presence amazing? However, unfortunately, if left alone, it will wither. Even though we've obtained it, all the previous ones have withered, but now that we have this sapling, we can try cultivation methods we haven't tried before and perhaps—"

I dug around the sapling, pulled it out, and placed it in a special case I had brought.

I put the sapling in a transparent square case and closed the lid.

Mr. Narcissus, seeing my actions, shouted.

"What are you doing!?"

To me, it just looked like a slightly glowing houseplant.

But for Mr. Narcissus and the others, it was an object of faith.

"Ah, sorry. This is what I wanted."

Mr. Narcissus was opening and closing his mouth.

"You see, the sapling of the Holy Tree is crucial for the future of this country—what are you doing! Listen to me for a moment!"

Looking around, I saw Julius and the others digging up exposed magic stones.

"This purity and size are perfect."

"Marie will be pleased, I'm sure."

On the other side, Chris was digging up metal, but it was too large and she was having trouble.

"How am I supposed to carry this back? But with such a large piece of metal, it will surely fetch a high price if sold."

In this place, we could dig up magic stones and metals one after another.

It must be a place rich in magical energy.

"You guys!"

When I raised my voice to the three of them, Mr. Narcissus looked at me with hopeful eyes.

"S-Sure! This is where the sapling of the Holy Tree was discovered. We need to preserve it carefully. You should follow Leon's example—"

"Leave my share. And there won't be any problem transporting it. I've arranged for a pick-up."

A small boat descended from the ceiling.

Julius was surprised.

"A small boat? Why does Baltfalt have one?"

I lied.

"I brought it down from Einhorn. The Oath of the Holy Tree? It didn't apply to that."

"Is that so? Then you could have come down directly."

"If I had gone down every time I found a hole, it would have been too noticeable."

Mr. Narcissus agreed with my opinion.

"There's also a communication problem here. You should have done it yourself... Wait, Leon, how did you contact them?"

"…It's a secret. You guys, hurry up and load it!"

Chris started digging up the metal with enthusiasm.

"Right! Then we can bring back more."

Zilc was the same.

"Your Highness, can I borrow a shovel?"

"No way. I want to search more."

The two of them were fighting over the shovel.

Mr. Narcissus was looking dejected.

"...Adventurers from the kingdom are terrible."

I decided to collect all the magic stones and metals in this place.

When I boarded the small boat that had descended, there was a note prepared, though it was unmanned.

I confirmed it and put it in my pocket.

◇

The academy.

While attending class, Leila was growing increasingly anxious.

As she investigated, she realized that detailed information about the kingdom was not reaching the republic.

The republic, with its absolute confidence, had little interest in other countries.

Leila had never thought the republic would lose.

(What should I do? I don't want the current balance to be disrupted. The suspicious ones are that inconspicuous boy and the short, slightly annoying girl. They are clearly suspicious.)

Leila only thought of Leon as the inconspicuous boy.

As for Marie, she found her gestures, which appealed to boys, slightly annoying.

(I didn't want to get involved with students from the kingdom.)

Leila, who wanted to maintain the current situation, had not anticipated that the reincarnated students would come as exchange students.

She was somewhat wary but did not think they would be deeply involved.

(Normal people don't aim for a reverse harem. Are they crazy!)

In this world of a dating sim, the world's crises kept happening.

Leila thought no one would aim for a reverse harem to destroy the original story.

Her thoughts were completely off, and she was only growing more anxious.

She wanted to talk to them quickly, but the students from the kingdom had not come to school since the Pierre incident.

Even if she went to them, they were on guard, and she didn't know what they were doing.

Clement, who was teaching, warned Leila.

"Leila, focus on the lesson."

"Yes!"

When Clement resumed the lesson, a girl sitting next to her spoke.

"What's wrong? Did you have a fight with your boyfriend?"

"No, I didn't."

Leila would never fight with Emile.

Emile was kind, and if it came to a fight, he would back off.

He wasn't a strong personality.

That's why Leila had chosen him.

(I need to make contact and convey the situation as soon as possible.)

As she was thinking this, a teacher rushed into the classroom.

"Mr. Clement!"

"Oh, what is it? We're still in class."

The flustered teacher hurriedly led Clement out of the classroom.

"It's an emergency meeting. Please hurry."

"That can't be helped. Everyone, study on your own until the next class. Make sure to read the textbook."

As the teachers left the classroom, the students started to murmur.

"A meeting?"

"Did something happen?"

"That panic seems unnatural. They could have waited until the class was over."

Leila felt a sense of unease.

(Could it be...?)

She was worried that the exchange students were involved.

◇

The conference room.

I was looking at the sapling in the case.

It sparkled and was very beautiful, but this case was specially made to store the sapling of the Holy Tree.

The faculty, who didn't know this, warned me.

"Baltfalt, put the sapling on the table! What if you drop it?"

I showed a grin.

"If I drop it? It's my property, so I'll clean it up."

"That's not what I mean. If the sapling withers—"

"If it withers, that's the end of it."

It was mine, and I refused to give it up.

The principal tried to negotiate with me.

"What do you want? We'll provide what you desire."

I said to the school,

"Give me back my property. Can you tell that scumbag to hand over the airship? If you do, I'll consider giving this to you."

The principal had a difficult expression.

"That's... impossible. The airship is already the property of the Feveur family. We can't interfere."

I held the sapling up to the light again.

"Then it's impossible. Don't underestimate us. We have your treasure. You need to think about that carefully."

The faculty, who couldn't stand up to the six great noble families, were in a bind.

Mr. Narcissus looked at me.

"...I'm afraid the sapling can't be taken out of the country. The council will never allow it."

They couldn't let the treasure leave the country.

I understood that, but—

"You stole the airship from me with a surprise attack. Do you think I'll just hand it over? Don't get cocky. Bring the important people here quickly, or bring Pierre here."

Mr. Clement stood up from his chair.

"Leon, what are you thinking?"

"I'll duel for the sapling. If I win, I'll give it to you. But what I'll stake is my Einhorn and Arogants... I won't give them back unless you return what you stole."

The principal said to me,

"It will become a diplomatic issue. Are you trying to put the Kingdom of Holfaht in danger?"

Absolute confidence.

No, it's natural.

If I were in their position, I wouldn't doubt the republic's victory. I would be absolutely confident.

"The one who started the fight was your student. Bring that scumbag Pierre here. If not, this sapling will wither."

The sapling of the Holy Tree, also known as a legendary sapling.

There are many records of it, and it is undoubtedly the sapling of the Holy Tree that I have.

"Don't misunderstand. All you can do is bring that scumbag Pierre here. How about preparing a place for the duel?"

The faculty's eyes were scary.

Do they think I'm a third-rate noble?

...They're right!

The Kingdom of Holfaht is definitely a third-rate country.

I guarantee it.

But just because I'm in such a country, I don't want to be underestimated.

I... am a man who retaliates when attacked.

◇

A few hours later, a sullen Pierre arrived.

After moving from the conference room to the reception room and waiting for a few hours, Pierre was even more sullen than I was.

He glared at me.

"Did you call me? You don't seem to understand your position."

I placed the case in front of him.

His eyes changed when he saw it.

"...The sapling of the Holy Tree. Is it real? Hey, punk. If you hand it over, I might forgive you this time."

It seems the sapling of the Holy Tree is valuable enough for him to forgive someone. Or, if this is the sapling of the Holy Tree, Pierre can't do anything?

Either way, I'm not the type to sell cheap.

"Save your nonsense for bedtime. You owe a lot to Brad, so don't think you can get off scot-free, scumbag."

Veins were popping on Pierre's forehead.

A crest was floating on the back of his right hand.

It was the crest of the Holy Tree.

The reason the six great noble families have such absolute power is because of the blessing of the Holy Tree.

"Are you going to destroy the sapling of the Holy Tree here?"

Using the sapling as a shield, even Pierre, who is usually so arrogant, was silent. As expected, he couldn't use forceful means with the sapling present.

He was grinding his teeth.

"What do you want? Your ship is definitely not coming back."

He seems to think it's already his.

What a cute guy.

"Let's have a duel. Stake what you stole from me."

"What?"

"What's wrong? Are the great nobles of the six families too scared to fight a third-rate country's count? You're not much."

With just a little provocation, Pierre's face turned red.

This is better than his unhealthy complexion.

"...I'll definitely kill you."

Mr. Clement tried to stop him.

"Wait! Leon, do you understand what a duel means in this situation?"

I smiled and provoked Pierre.

"I understand. If Pierre looks like he's about to die, I'll go easy on him."

Pierre, who was raging, moved as I expected.

"I'll crush your skull and send it to Holfaht. Get ready. You third-rate country, you're no match for Alzer!"

"Ooh, scary, scary. So, you'll accept the duel?"

I don't care whether he accepts or not.

I don't mind either way.

"Fine. ...I'll accept. Hey, you creepy guy and Narcissus, you be the witnesses."

Mr. Narcissus, who had been listening silently, sighed and explained.

"...Let's decide the method of the duel. The school will provide the location. First, let's confirm the conditions, but there's an important confirmation before that. Will this duel be sworn to the Holy Tree?"

Pierre showed an ugly smile.

"Of course, I can't trust this guy."

"You don't trust me. I'm a serious person. Do I have to swear too?"

Mr. Narcissus nodded.

"A duel in the republic is bound by a pledge to the Holy Tree. What kind of duel will you have? If I'm to be present, I won't allow a pledge that puts one side at a disadvantage."

Pierre answered immediately.

"A duel in armor."

He seemed unwilling to budge. Arogants seems to have been favored by him. ...Convenient.

So I also set a condition.

"Right... Let's prohibit the use of the Holy Tree's power you possess."

Pierre hesitated for a moment but nodded.

"I don't mind. What we're staking is the sapling of the Holy Tree for you, and what you stole from me for me, right?"

"Right. Make sure to 'return' it to me. Understand? 'Bring' it to me. Arogants and Einhorn—everything inside. If I win, return everything to me properly."

I need to make sure to say it clearly.

"Say it after you win. But with this, I'll get the sapling of the Holy Tree. I can even take the head of the family from my brother."

He seems to be thinking about what will happen after he wins.

...Enjoy it while you can.

Mr. Narcissus confirmed the conditions and said to us.

"Then, both of you, swear to the Holy Tree."

Pierre's right hand glowed, and a magic circle appeared under us, the same crest as when Marie and the others were present.

"I swear to the Holy Tree."

I also smiled and said,

"I swear to the Holy Tree."

While Mr. Narcissus and Mr. Clement were worried, I was trying my best to hold back.

◇

The Holy Tree Temple.

Young head Fernand was working in his office.

But when he heard the report, he stood up from his chair, causing the pile of documents on the desk to collapse.

"The sapling of the Holy Tree was found!"

The servant who brought the report had run, and was quite out of breath.

"Yes! The exchange student, Count Leon Fou Baltfalt, found it in the dungeon. He claims ownership and says he will duel if you want it."

"Duel?"

"Against Pierre of the Feveur family."

Fernand slammed his fist on the desk.

"That brat!"

It was directed at Pierre.

Fernand took out the report on Leon that he had the desk investigate.

It stated that he single-handedly repelled the principality's fleet and led the fleet to victory in a critical situation.

(That's not even in the story.)

The reporter also wrote in the preface, "These are facts. It's true!"

A report that sounds like a lie.

No one would believe it.

But if it was made possible by a lost item, it would be different.

(The lost item seems to have been lost in the war with the principality, but it's not impossible that there's still a hidden one. What is that idiot son of the Feveur family doing with such an opponent?)

"...So, he's trying to get the airship back through a duel?"

"Yes. He demanded the return of the airship and the armor."

The airship and armor of the Feveur family are so excellent that they would normally not want to stake them, but with the sapling of the Holy Tree, it's a different story.

The nobles are so eager for the sapling of the Holy Tree that they would do anything to get it.

"It would have been better to make a straightforward deal. You've caused unnecessary trouble."

Seeing the servant who brought the report looking troubled, Fernand said,

"I'll go to the school. Prepare the ship."

"Yes!"

And so, Fernand headed to the school.

Clare (○) "Master is so lively. A volume where you can see Master's active performance is now on sale. That's it for the promotion. I have preparations to make, so I'll take my leave."

??? (●) "..."