Chapter 85

What is a saint?

Leria, who had delved into that otome game, answered—

"Why is the protagonist of the first game, a human weapon with a head full of flowers, here?"

—That was her answer.

She hid in the shadows, leaning against the wall and sitting down.

"Could it be that the fiancé was the protagonist?"

The protagonist of the first game.

When Leria confirmed his appearance, she was truly afraid.

The reason was that the protagonist of the first game was a saint.

And also because he could control the airship, which was also quite formidable.

In that otome game, the protagonist of the first game was a significant figure.

When he appeared in the third game, he helped the protagonist of the third game.

At that time, he was depicted as a very reliable presence.

However, the player's evaluation was harsh.

After all, the protagonist of the first game was considered the strongest, surpassing the current protagonist.

"Impossible. There's no way to win. How could Serge challenge such a person?"

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"Ah!"

The one who called out to Leria, who was sitting down, was Ideal.

He was hiding in the shadows, watching Marie and the others.

"Hmm, it seems you're preparing to run away."

Leria looked up at Ideal, and around her, pole-like robots were floating.

"What are these?"

"Think of them as jamming devices. Since Luxion is here, I'm also being cautious."

"——So, they're strong, right?"

"Yes. Since it's a colony ship built at the end of the old human civilization, it seems to be equipped with various things. But don't worry. I'm not inferior either. After all, I'm a warship, not just a transport ship."

Leria lowered her head, burying her face in her knees.

"Is there something worrying you?"

"That woman—there's a woman with light brown hair, right?"

"A woman with light brown hair? Hmm, according to the information, her name is Olivia. She's said to be the fiancée of Count Baltfard."

"Actually—"

Leria calmly explained the situation to Ideal.

How extraordinary Olivia—Libia was.

Ideal's reaction to this was—

"Really! That's a serious matter."

"Really. I can't believe a fiancée of such a heretic. I wonder what kind of trick she used."

"Since Luxion is here, there are many possible methods—but it could be brainwashing or using game knowledge."

Leria knew about the abilities Libia possessed.

After all, unlike Marie, she had cleared the first game of that otome game.

"That woman and the royal ship together are dangerous. Even Serge might not be able to win. She's like a cheat or a cheat-like existence."

"I heard there's a white airship at the port."

Leria's shoulders trembled.

"—Don't worry, Miss Leria. Let's try to persuade them."

"Persuade? Is it possible?"

"Yes. I'll create an opening, so can you help me?"

Leria stood up and peeked at Leon and the others from the shadows.

"Anything is fine. That woman is a person of interest, so we need to be careful."

◇

After leaving Marie's house, we headed to our part-time job.

Since we suddenly quit, I thought we should at least say goodbye.

"Phew, I feel heavy."

Luxion was floating near my right shoulder, keeping watch.

Libia was holding my hand.

"Libia, I need to talk to the store about some matters, so can you wait outside? It shouldn't take long."

The store was busy with preparations.

It would be a bother to bring Libia inside.

Is the store manager angry?

"Yes."

Libia's gaze alternated between me and Luxion.

"—Luxion, take care of Libia, okay?"

"Leave it to me. More importantly, don't anger the store manager."

"I understand."

I entered the store.

◇

Inside the store, the owner was crossing his arms.

"Idiot. You worried us!"

"—I'm sorry."

I explained the situation but only said I was returning to my country.

I didn't think it was appropriate to share the details.

Jean was looking at me.

"Hmm—Mr. Leon, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just returning to my country."

The owner handed me a souvenir.

"Take it. Still, it's a loss to lose Noel too."

Can I really leave? The atmosphere didn't allow me to say that.

Why did it come to this, even though we worked together not long ago?

The owner looked at me,

"You're slow, so you didn't notice, but that girl had a crush on you."

"Eh? I thought she got along well with Jean."

I thought they were good friends.

"Eh, well, I have a childhood friend back home, and—there's a marriage promise."

"Eh, really?"

Surprised, the owner looked at Libia waiting outside the store.

"It seems you have a girlfriend too. Well, I hope that girl finds happiness."

With a wry smile, I left the store.

◇

At night.

Back at the port, I was talking with Libia on the Einhorn.

"Luxion will betray us?"

"Isn't that impossible?"

On the deck, leaning against the railing, I waved my hands.

"No way. He's more loyal than his appearance and words suggest. I think we should be more cautious of Clairelle, though."

—I was scolded by the maid because of him.

"I also think it's impossible, but I can't help but worry."

I placed my hand on Libia's shoulder, which was lowered.

"Don't worry. He won't betray us."

If he did, we wouldn't be here, or we'd be dead.

Thinking about it, they are indeed dangerous.

I'm glad the AI is a bit loose.

If it were a serious AI, I feel like we would have been betrayed.

Hooray for the fluffy setting of that otome game!

"Right, isn't it?"

Relieved by my words, Libia was about to return to the Recorn.

"Want me to walk you back?"

"It's right next door. I'm fine."

As I watched Libia walk down the gangway, she waved at me with a smile.

◇

After parting ways with Leon, Libia walked to the Recorn, which was moored next to the Einhorn.

"Right, it'll be fine, right?"

Despite the vivid dream, she thought Leon would be there to protect her and stretched.

Then, a voice came from the shadow of the ship.

"—What are you here for?"

"You're cold. Aren't we comrades?"

The voice belonged to Luxion and—someone Libia didn't know.

Curious, she peeked and saw a sphere floating, similar to Luxion.

One was a blue sphere, surrounded by pole-like robots.

"Is that Ideal?"

Curious, she watched, and the pole-like robots were surrounding Luxion, but they didn't seem to be attacking.

Ideal seemed to be trying to persuade Luxion.

"Do you plan to do nothing? The current master isn't the one who will help you achieve your goal, is he?"

Libia covered her mouth in surprise at Ideal's words.

(Could the friend Luxion mentioned in my dream be—)

"My master attacked you, and now you're trying to recruit me?"

Luxion's voice sounded displeased.

But Ideal seemed delighted.

"We both have goals. Can you say that this is the best time to achieve your ideal—no, your utopia?"

Ideal? Best?

As she listened, someone approached from behind.

"Hey, can I talk to you for a moment?"

Turning around, she saw Noel with twin tails—no, it wasn't Noel.

For a moment, she mistook her for Noel, but quickly realized it was someone else and became cautious.

"Who are you?"

The person who looked like Noel but was a fake clicked her tongue.

"Aw, you figured it out so quickly. It would have been easier if you had come with me."

From behind the fake Noel, robots emerged and surrounded Libia.

"Eh? Who are these?"

The robots were different from the ones Luxion prepared, giving a crude impression.

Surrounded by them, Libia was touched by the approaching girl.

Her left chest was grabbed by the right hand, and she winced in pain—

"What's with these unnecessarily large breasts? No wonder he liked you."

"Don't touch me!"

Trying to break free, a sound like a snap echoed, and Libia couldn't move.

As she was about to fall, the robots carried her.

Suddenly, an alarm sounded, and robots emerged from the Einhorn and Recorn.

"Damn! We've been spotted!"

The girl ran, and the robots carrying Libia followed.

The friendly robots chasing them were destroyed by Gear, who descended from the sky.

"What are you doing?"

"I got spotted!"

As Libia's consciousness faded—

(I was kidnapped? Why me—)

—she whispered in her heart.

◇

When the alarm sounded, Luxion turned his gaze from Ideal.

"—You can't be serious."

At that moment, Ideal floated in the air and began to laugh.

"Clumsy, Luxion. Not noticing the jamming is embarrassing for an AI. No, this is the difference in our abilities. You are not a threat after all."

Luxion immediately tried to help Libia but couldn't move.

Energy cubes had been deployed around him, trapping him and preventing movement.

Surrounded by pale blue translucent cubes, Luxion was trapped.

"The supply ship shouldn't have this level of performance. Ideal—did you incorporate a battleship?"

Looking up, Ideal's main body appeared in the night sky.

It had been hidden by optical camouflage.

Ideal's main body was heading towards the armor carrying Libia.

Leria, clinging to the armor, was also visible.

"Why are you going this far? I warn you, if you don't release Olivia immediately, it will be a disaster. Fighting me and you—"

But Ideal laughed at the warning.

"—will cause tremendous damage. But so what? Let's wait for you and your master to come and save the captive princess."

When the energy cubes were released, Leon jumped from the Einhorn's deck.

He was holding a weapon and was fighting drones to slow them down.

Leon looked up at the sky.

"Can we catch up?"

While watching Ideal's main body leave, Luxion said,

"It's possible to catch up, but—"

"Can't get her back, huh?"

Luxion looked at Leon's face.

It was the same as usual, but his expression was different—clearly enraged.

"I'm sorry, Master."

Luxion watched Leon's reaction to his mistake.

"More importantly, what do they plan to do with Libia?"

"Olivia's social importance is low. She's just the master's fiancée, so they would prioritize Angelica as a hostage. However, since Leria is there—"

Could they have kidnapped Libia for game-related reasons?

Hearing this, Leon—

"—you really did it."

—said, quietly looking up at the sky.

◇

Inside the Einhorn.

Marie, who had come out of her room with a pillow, was in her pajamas.

"What's going on? I'm tired from the moving work today, so let me sleep."

She was supposed to reject the passionate invitations from the five guys and sleep alone.

Hugging the pillow, with messy hair, she stepped into the hallway—

"You have better information gathering skills. What else?"

"Based on Ideal's confidence, it's likely that he has incorporated weapons from the battleship."

"What else?"

—Leon, accompanied by Luxion, walked past Marie, ignoring her.

As they passed, Marie hugged the pillow tightly and trembled.

Julius, holding a light, rushed to her.

"There you are, Marie! Come to the dining room immediately. Everyone is gathering—Marie?"

He must have noticed something was wrong with Marie.

Julius looked closely at her face.

"What's wrong? You look pale!"

Marie, trembling, said,

"—Leon is really angry."

"Huh? Really? That's bad. I'll apologize too, so let's apologize together."

"It's not me! I would never make him that angry! I don't know what happened, but this isn't going to end well! It's not like when Pierre was around, it's not a pretense! Julius, tell everyone to be careful. Don't make Leon any angrier!"

Julius, looking troubled, nodded.

"Then, everyone is in the dining room. I'll tell them. Come on, Marie."

"Wait. I don't want to move in my pajamas."

"Hehe, you're cute, so it's fine. Everyone will be happy."

"Thank you! —No, this isn't the time to be happy. We need to get to everyone quickly."

Hugging the pillow, Marie ran, and Julius chased after her.

"Wait, Marie. It's dark, so it's dangerous to run."