Chapter 79

Alberk was receiving a report in his office.

"Serge took the troops out?"

The subordinate's face was pale.

"Y-Yes! He said he was going to bring back his friend."

Alberk slammed his fist down.

The loud sound echoed through the office, signaling Alberk's intense frustration.

"Foolish. Even if the Respinas family were to be revived now, it would be meaningless—. Bring him back immediately! We cannot afford to have any more conflicts with the kingdom."

As the subordinate rushed out of the office, Alberk clutched his head.

"Serge, why can't you understand?"

◇

The sky was illuminated by a spotlight.

Lukseon reported to me.

"Master, the main body of Idear is waiting in the sky."

Looking up, I saw a color that blended into the night sky.

The blue, box-shaped transport ship was the same type of spacecraft as Lukseon.

It made no attempt to hide its massive hull.

"You don't intend to hide, do you?"

Serge responded to my mutter.

"I don't like hiding and doing things sneakily like you. Still, it's just as I heard. Is it Arrogance? The motif of the Seven Deadly Sins—sounds like a case of middle school syndrome gone wild, doesn't it?"

The Seven Deadly Sins?

Confused by what he meant, I looked at Lukseon—

"Arrogance means pride. It's one of the Seven Deadly Sins."

"You could have told me this earlier!"

—How was I supposed to know it had such a meaning?

But, I found myself a bit drawn to it.

Is Arrogance cool?

"It wasn't asked."

While keeping an eye on the surroundings and shielding Noel, something was launched from the main body of Idear and landed on the ground.

The blue machine, though slim and highly mobile, was larger than a regular suit of armor.

Holding a spear, it bore many similarities to Arrogance, despite not looking alike.

Could it be because they were both created by the same AI?

"I named this one Gear. Do you understand the meaning?"

Glancing at Lukseon,

"Greed."

"You treat others as if they have middle school syndrome, but you're the same, aren't you!"

Serge spread his arms wide.

"I prepared this especially for you. To knock down your pride and joy. Come on, get in. I'll show you the difference in class."

Noel stepped in front of me.

"Serge, wait! Leon isn't a bad person. Why are you doing this?"

"You should shut up. Besides, you're being deceived. He's not the kind of good person you think he is. Right—Mr. Upstart Earl?"

Noel turned to look at me.

I didn't answer.

"No, it's a lie. Leon is kind and—"

The sub-unit of Idear, emerging from the cockpit of Gear, explained in detail.

"Heretic Knight. That's his nickname. If you investigate, you'll find plenty of actions that live up to the name of a heretic."

"Lies, all lies!"

Lukseon looked at Idear.

"Did you investigate the kingdom's information?"

"There are people who fled to the republic during the kingdom's turmoil. We learned a lot from them."

Those people—nobles who fled the kingdom.

There are many who would hate me.

Noel's eyes were trembling slightly.

"Leon, answer me. You're just a bit of a smart mouth, but you're really a kind person, right?"

If I could just say "yes" honestly, but I hesitated.

—Am I a good person? Ha, that's a joke.

Good people don't kill others.

I, who have killed in war, am undoubtedly a heretic.

The best thing would be to pretend to be a good person and get through this, but I didn't want to lie here.

"I told you. I don't lie. What the blue one said is true. I am a heretic. Not a good person."

Noel lowered her head, and Lukseon was looking at Idear with a red single eye.

"You're quite dirty, aren't you?"

"Dirty? Isn't that you, who prioritize your own country's interests by infiltrating others? Your goal was to get close to the Respinas family's priestess from the beginning, wasn't it?"

Noel looked sad.

"So, you wanted the priestess's power too, Leon?"

I closed my eyes.

Lukseon was trying to defend me.

"That's not true. Master—"

Serge was running his hand through his hair roughly.

"Idear, you said it was pointless to talk to someone like this. Instead, let's see how strong this heretic is. You defeated a famous knight, right? Show me your skills."

As Serge got into his armor, Lukseon advised me.

"Master, it's difficult to escape from here. Buy some time. My main body will come to the rescue. Once it arrives—"

I rejected the suggestion as I got into Arrogance.

"—No. If you and Idear fight, this area will be destroyed."

"Based on performance, Arrogance is inferior to Gear. Without Schwert, Arrogance is at a disadvantage."

Annoyingly, it's built ignoring the technology level of this world.

While Lukseon and I have been careful about the technology level, they ignored it.

"I'll make up for it with skill."

"Based on the opponent's strength, I predict you will lose."

"Even if it's a lie, you should praise your master."

"If you expect me to have that function, give up. It's an unnecessary function."

Does this guy really hate me that much?

He should learn a bit from Idear.

As I flew into the sky, Gear followed.

Serge's voice came through.

"Let's start, shall we?"

I frowned.

"—Damn brat."

◇

The two suits of armor soared into the sky, colliding fiercely with each other.

Approaching Noel, who had collapsed on the spot, was Reira.

"Reira, why are you here?"

"Now you see. That man was deceiving you. He's a terrible heretic in the kingdom. Just hearing the rumors makes me want to vomit. The materials Idear prepared and the stories from the soldiers I interviewed were too cruel to describe."

Noel, who was hugging a paper bag, looked down.

It contained skewers, still warm.

"But, this way, we don't have to go to the kingdom. My sister can be saved by Serge. If he's there, all problems will be solved."

Noel shook her head.

"Do you understand? The Raulet family hates us. It's strange to rely on such a family. After all, the current head of the Raulet family and my mother—"

"Yes, that's right. Mother and Alberk were engaged. She chose someone else as the guardian, so they hate us. But, Serge will protect us."

"Why do you trust Serge so much? Reira, you have Emile. Why don't you rely on Emile?"

Reira showed discomfort at the mention of Emile's name.

"Huh? Don't connect everything to romance. This has nothing to do with Emile. Are you still not over it? That's why you were deceived by that man."

Noel shook her head.

"That's not it. That's not it at all. Leon is really a kind person. Reira is the one who's strange. After all, it wasn't Serge's family that destroyed our family!"

Leon took care of our dog while Jean was in the hospital.

If he were truly terrible, he would have abandoned the dog.

On the other hand, Serge's family had once tried to kill us.

Noel found Reira's judgment hard to believe.

If it were Emile, she could understand.

"Besides, they're not bad people. You know that from being with them, don't you?"

Reira raised her right hand and slapped Noel.

The slap was clean, and Noel was knocked back, dropping the paper bag.

She held her cheek and looked at Reira.

"—Reira."

"I'm frustrated. You don't know anything, yet you cause trouble! This is all your fault!"

Noel looked down.

"M-my fault?"

"If you and the seedling and the priestess were there, the republic would have no problems. They can't be good people if they try to take them away!"

"What are you talking about? I was chosen by the seedling, but not by the holy tree. What's the point of me staying in the republic—wait, you just said!"

If the seedling and the priestess are there—this means they also went to retrieve the seedling.

The movement of Arrogance in the sky changed as it heard this conversation.

◇

"—You went to Angel and Rebia's place too!"

"What's the problem? They were originally ours. You took them, didn't you!"

I clenched my teeth at Serge's words.

—Did it again.

I let my guard down again.

Gear's spear pierced the already damaged arm of Arrogance.

The cockpit was filled with continuous alerts.

"Performance has decreased by another five percent. It's still declining."

Lukseon's report was becoming annoying.

"This is what it means to go all out."

"Idear—It's not just a supply ship. It has absorbed several other ships."

"Scrap? —!"

Gripping the control stick, I blocked Gear's kick.

The impact was different from any armor I've fought before.

"Since the Black Knight, I haven't fought anything like this."

—Thinking about it, despite having a cheat, I've been struggling.

Is this the result of my carelessness?

Arrogance—indeed, that's fitting.

A perfect name for me.

Gear crushed Arrogance's left arm.

"You're weak. Too weak! Acting cool at this level!"

I was kicked and fell to the ground, then stepped on.

Lukseon's red eyes were looking at me.

"Master, you have a wound on your forehead."

"This is nothing. More importantly, collect the data—"

Gear kicked me like a soccer ball.

Arrogance crashed into a building, and Serge's voice came through.

"What's wrong? Is this all you've got? You called me a brat, but you're just a weakling. I wasted my time being cautious. In a kingdom without enemies, you acted like the king of the monkey mountain!"

As I was stepped on, the cockpit shook—

"Master, permission to attack."

"No. Don't ask again."

If I call Lukseon, there will be a fierce battle with Idear.

I don't think I'll lose.

But, what about the people around here?

From what I've seen, they haven't been evacuated.

"Preparation is lacking. Think about your methods, you damn brat."

Serge raised his spear, aiming at the cockpit.

"You're ruthless."

Rough and untroubled, I envy him.

But, more importantly.

"—Why?"

As the spear was about to come down, Noel stood in front of the fallen Arrogance, spreading her arms.

"What are you doing, Noel?"

"Don't do anything worse to this person. If I go with you, you have no complaints, right?"

"Do you know how much of a heretic he is? Idear investigated, and this person shouldn't be alive."

He's saying whatever he wants.

Lukseon muttered in a low electronic voice.

"—You really did it, Idear."

Reira ran to Noel, looking at me with a very cold gaze.

"Sister, stop it! What if you get hurt!"

"Serge—if you kill this person here, I'll die here too. That would be a problem for you, wouldn't it?"

Noel's expression was hidden.

Why is she protecting me, who was called a heretic and didn't deny it?

Is this the protagonist's intuition?

Completely—being saved so many times makes me feel embarrassed.

"—Do as you please. I don't care what happens."

As Serge said this, he flew into the sky and returned to the main body of Idear.

I felt my consciousness fading, possibly from a head injury.

"Lukseon, get me some painkillers or something to keep me conscious. I'm at my limit. If you don't have any, use that. I don't want to lose consciousness."

"The strain on your body is too great. I don't approve. Just lose consciousness."

"You're really a frustrating guy."

Then, on the cockpit monitor, I saw Noel's face as she turned around.

She approached Arrogance's head and leaned in.

"Thank you for everything. Take care of those two."

As I watched Noel being led away by the gathered soldiers, the remaining soldiers started kicking Arrogance.

"Looks like the kingdom's knights aren't much."

"With Serge, the republic is the strongest. Got it, trash?"

"Hey, there's some garbage over there. Let's decorate it properly."

The soldiers were doing as they pleased.

For a moment, the scene of Julius and the others being beaten up flashed before my eyes.

Is this how they felt?

"Lukseon, protect the mansion at all costs. This is an order—"

Lukseon's response seemed to come from far away.

"Claire is there. She should be able to handle it."

◇

The Marié mansion, surrounded by Raulet family soldiers and airships.

Marié, who was trembling—

"There's never enough manpower when you need it!"

—was crying.

Part of the reason was that she had chased away those five, and Leon's absence made her feel insecure.

Erik was trying to comfort her.

"Don't worry, sister. If anything happens, I'll protect you!"

"You were disowned and kicked out of the house. I don't trust men like that. Don't overexert yourself; prioritize your safety."

"—Ugh."

Erik, feeling his own weakness, lowered his shoulders, and Angel looked at Claire.

"Most of the people in the mansion are non-combatants. Some can fight, but there's no chance of winning. If Leon were here, it would be different, but whether we can hold out until then—"

Claire disagreed with Angel's thoughts.

"No good. At this rate, Master is falling behind. More importantly, their demand is for the seedling, right?"

Rebia was holding a letter.

The paper with the soldiers' demands, which they had thrown in, stated that the seedling should be handed over.

"They say they'll guarantee our lives if we hand it over. They promise not to use force. But, if we don't, they'll take appropriate action."

Angel narrowed his eyes.

"Attacking without warning. They have no sense of nobility."

"Winning is the goal, right? I don't understand nobility."

"True. Winning is the goal. But, that's all it is."

Claire looked at the seedling.

"Then, should we just throw it over the wall?"

"Eh!?"

Marié exclaimed in surprise.