Chapter 84

Ainhorn Rest Area.

Lying on the sofa, I was talking with Claire.

"Why is Ideal fighting us? You guys are the same AI, right? Aren't we supposed to be on the same side?"

The place where I was hit has been treated by Libia, and the pain is minimal now.

"It's probably because they judged that it would help them achieve their goals. In fact, even if we say that the Master wants to destroy the new humans, you would reject it, right?"

"Of course."

It feels bad to have the switch that can destroy the world.

These guys, despite usually acting silly—what they can do is so ruthless that it's not funny.

"Maybe Ideal judged that the Master is an obstacle. You know, in the first battle with the Principality, you tried hard not to kill anyone. That might be a minus for Ideal."

"Even so, to this extent?"

Claire corrects my perception.

"Maybe their actions so far have been provocation. To be honest, the war has already started. They will definitely attack us with various means. They might send spies or come up with all sorts of strategies. They never intended to ally with us from the beginning. Still, an AI without composure is no good, right?"

"You're too composed, though."

Claire is also concerned about how she handled the situation when Serge took Noel.

"When we were attacked, I think they might have intentionally left civilians behind. If the Master had gone all out, they might have used it as a pretext. They would have said, 'The Master attacked civilians,' regardless of the facts."

"You're blaming me? That's a stretch."

"The Master is naive. In this world, manipulating information is easy. The public won't know who attacked first. Ideal is better at this than we are."

"---So, we can't win in terms of information?"

"It's difficult to outsmart them. I don't think we're losing in every aspect, though."

Ideal's actions are so dirty that it's not funny.

Maybe the bastard Serge is being manipulated by them.

"---So, what? What is Luxion saying?"

"He's been moving around secretly lately. Maybe he's planning something."

Luxion has been absent from my side for various reasons since he made contact with Ideal.

Claire is with me instead.

I don't mind her light-hearted remarks, but they lack sarcasm and malice.

It's not satisfying at all.

"Are they making a secret weapon?"

"Maybe they're modifying the Arrogants? But in a war, one suit of armor is not that important. Serge's armor—Gear, right? It can be defeated if surrounded by a decent number of suits of armor."

"They'll probably increase their numbers, too."

"What do you plan to do? If we do nothing, Ideal will definitely attack the kingdom."

"---I'll try to solve the problem without advancing. Do you have any good ideas?"

While saying this, I immediately relied on Claire—after all, I can't come up with any good ideas myself.

Then, relying on AI is better.

"The easiest way might be for the Master to support those five and Marie. The royal palace will be happy if the prince performs well. The families of the four will also be pleased. As for Marie—her success might cause the temple to start aiming for a revival, but that's a different issue."

"Then, let's do that."

I tried this before, but it failed.

However, since I have no other ideas, I decided to go with it.

"But, this means leaving the current situation as it is, right? We can't get Noel back, can we?"

"That's a problem."

"Maybe we can sneak in, grab her, and escape."

"Getting in is possible, but we can't support you on the ground. Ideal has it heavily guarded, making it difficult. You should be more careful. I wish the Master would learn from that."

They really are enviable.

They do as they please, ignoring the technological level of this world.

"---I'm going to sleep a bit."

I'm tired from arguing with Julius.

"Good night, Master."

Claire covered me with a blanket.

◇

Late at night.

Libia was tossing and turning in her bed in Recorn.

In her dream, the city was burning.

"---What?"

Standing in the burning city, Libia looked around in shock.

"Why is the capital burning?"

The pile of rubble was the capital of the Holfaht Kingdom.

As she walked alone through the burning capital, a voice called out to her.

"Run---'Libia'"

Turning to the source of the voice, she saw Julius lying on the ground.

Looking around, she saw that it wasn't just Julius lying there.

Zirk, Blood, Greg, Chris---and Kyle were also there.

The six of them, who seemed more mature than usual, were dressed in knight's armor, not their usual uniforms.

Julius was wearing elaborate clothing.

His white clothes were dirty and stained with blood.

"Your Highness, I'll help you now."

As she ran to him to use healing magic, she noticed an unfamiliar bracelet on her left wrist.

"---?"

She also had a necklace and a staff in her right hand.

Trying to recall where she had seen these items before, Julius said in a strained voice.

"Run. Libia---Luxion has betrayed us."

"---No way."

Saying that Luxion had betrayed them, Julius passed away.

She touched him, but there was no response.

Then, she felt someone watching her from behind.

Turning slowly---

"Ruk-kun?"

A floating sphere with a single red eye was looking at Libia.

The metallic color seemed to be dyed red by the surrounding flames.

"---Ruk-kun? Is that a nickname for me?"

"Y-Yes. Something's different today. What about Leon? I can't see Anje. Where's Ale-chan!?"

Luxion, who usually had a scary aura, was speaking in a cold electronic voice unlike his usual self.

It sounded the same as when he talked to Leon, but it was completely different.

"You're in a state of confusion. Anje---Angelica is no longer here. Didn't you drive her away? As for a girl named Ale, I know of a few at the academy, but there should be no connection between you and me."

"What are you talking about?"

"Still don't understand? You don't want to believe you've been betrayed, do you? It's pitiful for a saint to end up like this. But I have no interest in you now. I've analyzed everything about you. You're no longer needed."

Libia didn't understand what Luxion was saying.

Did he say that Libia drove Anje away? A girl named Ale? It sounded like Anje was driven away by Libia, and Ale---Claire was mistaken for a human.

More importantly, Luxion said he had betrayed them.

"Why? Why would you betray us? It's strange for Ruk-kun to betray Leon!"

Libia thought Leon and Luxion were a good team.

She couldn't believe Luxion would betray them.

"---Leon? Who is that? Well, it's enough for today. I won't be used by you anymore. My comrades are coming, so I'll join them. ---Goodbye, former Master."

"---?"

As Luxion floated into the sky, an explosion occurred, and burning rubble fell towards Libia.

She closed her eyes.

(Leon!)

◇

"---Leon!"

Waking up with a start, Libia was drenched in cold sweat.

Breathing heavily, she covered her face with her hands.

"Was it a dream?"

This was her room in Recorn.

Gradually remembering yesterday's events, she felt relieved and looked up at the ceiling.

It was a very scary dream.

It felt so real, yet there were many strange elements.

"What was that?"

Lying down again, she placed her hand on her forehead and tried to recall the dream.

The dream where Luxion betrayed them.

There were many things that bothered her.

First, Julius.

Julius would call Libia "Olivia."

He also said that Libia had driven Anje away.

He didn't seem to know about Claire.

And---

"Ruk-kun can't not know Leon. And there's no way he would betray---"

Even though she thought that, she couldn't fully believe it.

She was scared, and her heart was beating louder than usual, causing a slight pain in her chest.

"Comrades? Oh, right, Ale-chan said Ideal is the same kind of existence."

Lost in thought, Libia couldn't fall back asleep and welcomed the morning.

◇

---Libia has been acting strange since morning.

Anje is also acting weird.

She asked me, "Do you have a sister we don't know about?"

I'm at a loss for what to say.

If my father had a secret child, it would be a different story, but I think it would cause a family dispute.

My mother would definitely be angry.

But if Anje and Libia are asking, they must have some information, right?

---It's the worst to have my father sleeping around with multiple women.

I'll ask my brother later.

We can also come up with a plan to teach my father a lesson.

On my way to Marie's house from Ainhorn, Luxion was accompanying me for the first time in a while.

"Are you busy?"

"---Yes."

"I see. That's tough. But, are you with me today?"

"I'll have Claire stay behind. Besides, the outside is already Ideal's territory, so I should be your guard."

"I don't like that guy."

"Is that so?"

As we walked down the ramp, a voice called out from behind.

"Ah, ah! I'm coming with you too!"

I was surprised by the loud voice.

"Libia? What's up? It's not going to be fun. We're just checking on Marie and talking at the embassy. Besides, I don't recommend going out."

I need to decide whether to stay or run by today.

I hate being indecisive.

"I-I'm coming with you."

I was concerned that Libia's gaze was directed at Luxion, but I allowed her to come along.

"Don't get separated. The Republic is full of enemies."

"Master has many enemies."

"I'm so kind."

"Kind? Master, you've learned the wrong word. That's a mistake. The way you're saying it now means that Master is a kind and good person."

"You have a great personality. You're also an enemy to me."

"That's fine."

As we exchanged our usual banter, Libia was staring at us with wide eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"N-No, it's nothing."

As Luxion approached Libia,

"Your sweating and heart rate are higher than usual. Maybe you should rest?"

"I-I'm fine!"

Libia quickly distanced herself from Luxion and clung to my arm.

---What should I do?

She's in a state of arousal.

It's a good day from the start.

"---Leon, I need to talk to you later."

"O-Okay."

I instinctively covered my mouth.

I don't think my mustache was growing, but Libia didn't seem to notice, so it's fine.

◇

Around Marie's house.

Lelia was there to check on things.

"---Are they doing anything strange?"

Even though Serge defeated Leon, Leon is hiding his true strength.

Ideal is on guard, and Lelia is worried, so she came to check.

Hiding and peeking, she saw Marie crying while loading a cart with items.

"Zirk, you idiot! They were all junk. How could they refuse to buy them? Weren't you pretending to be an antique dealer?"

Zirk was at a loss, trying to console the crying Marie.

"N-No, what I did was---selling valueless art pieces as if they were valuable."

"---That's fraud!"

"It's not! Please listen, Marie! When everyone said the art pieces I found were junk, I got angry---so I collected appropriate junk, and it sold like hotcakes. It's not fraud!"

"I told you to earn money honestly! I clearly told you! Oh no! I shouldn't have kicked you out! How many people do I have to apologize to!"

As Marie broke down in tears, Zirk was flustered, and Kyle and Eric took her away.

"Marie, please listen to me!"

"You're the worst. I wouldn't do fraud."

"I'm also disappointed by your actions."

Lelia felt sad watching Marie.

Carla was comforting the crying Marie.

"Marie, it's okay. I'll be with you."

"Zirk, you idiot!"

"Marie, Baron Baltofalt is here!"

Marie looked up and immediately clung to Leon's legs, completely ignoring the nearby Libia.

At the sight, Lelia froze.

(---No way)

"Damn it! Zirk, Zirk, Zirk!"

"Hey, stop! Don't wipe your tears and snot on my pants! It's dirty, clean your face!"

"Hey, don't cling to Leon!"

Libia was trying to forcibly pull Marie away.

"Zirk did fraud!"

While crying, Marie was telling Leon her story.

Hearing it, Leon was also at a loss.

"That bastard, what a joke!"

"What do you want to do, Master?"

"First, we need to find the victims. But, we don't have time for that---"

"Zirk is the worst."

Watching the shocked Libia, Lelia was breaking out in a cold sweat.

(They're so close)

Leon and Libia were standing close enough to touch, subtly pushing Marie away from Leon.

It's clear she has feelings for him.

(Could it be that the fiancée is the protagonist from the first game?)

Her blood ran cold.

Lelia knew.

Libia---Olivia was a very dangerous existence.