Chapter 87

Across the iron bars, the person facing him was the daughter of someone he once loved.

Alberk spoke to her, Noel, as if confessing.

"I was supposed to become a Guardian."

Noel listened silently.

"I was to marry your mother and become the Guardian who protects the Holy Tree—so I was told by your grandmother, the previous generation."

Alberk had been engaged to Noel's mother.

However, Noel's father was a commoner—not even a noble, let alone one of the six great noble families.

"I heard that my mother chose my father as the Guardian."

"Yes. And because of that, the Respianus family lost their crest from your mother's generation, angering the Holy Tree."

Hearing this, Noel murmured, "I see, just as I thought."

Alberk realized from her reaction that Noel had already known.

"Did you know?"

"I knew that my parents were hiding something. It was strange that we, with the crest of the priestess, were inferior to other families."

Alberk felt a pang in his chest as he recalled those days.

"She broke off our engagement and chose the man she loved. In trying to make him the Guardian, she lost her qualifications as a priestess. We were deceived for a long time."

However, Noel's mother announced that her husband was the true Guardian.

If that was the will of the Holy Tree, the people of the republic and the nobles accepted it.

"The news of the broken engagement came as a shock to me. I wanted to talk to your mother, but I wasn't even allowed to meet her."

At that time, Alberk was ridiculed by the nobles.

He was treated as a man who had been abandoned by a priestess.

Noel looked sad.

"My mother—she seemed arrogant to me."

"She had her gentle moments, and her radical ones too."

Noel's mother was not a particularly extraordinary person.

"She was troubled by whether the republic was on the right path. I agreed with her opinion, but—she met a man at the academy. He was your father. He said that people could live without the Holy Tree's blessing."

Noel nodded, as if she remembered.

"He said that the republic was on the wrong path because of the Holy Tree."

"To me, his words seemed like the jealousy of someone who couldn't obtain the blessing. He said that the Holy Tree's power should be used equally by all people, not to be used by the Holy Tree, but to use it."

That seemed right to Alberk, but it was too right to accept.

"She followed his words because she didn't believe the Holy Tree was a god-like being. As a priestess, she must have known something we didn't."

That's why she fell in love with Noel's father, a commoner, and left Alberk.

"Your father, who couldn't become a Guardian, tried to control the Holy Tree with human hands. He wanted to use the Holy Tree without relying on the nobles. That was wrong."

Because their thoughts were similar.

"Did you kill him because you couldn't accept it? Or was it revenge?"

"---I don't know which."

Alberk recalled those days.

"When I talked to your father, a strong urge to kill him arose. I was angry that his thoughts were so shallow. But now, I feel like I was being manipulated by something. No, it was just my imagination. ---I killed your parents. Hate me. You should be able to take revenge on me now."

Noel glared at Alberk with a look of regret.

"---Why did you kill my parents?"

"Because that was the decision of the six great noble families, who were once seven."

Not just the Feveur family, but the heads of the families at the time knew the truth and decided to destroy the Respianus family.

Lambert of the Feveur family, known for his recklessness, was chosen as the perpetrator, and the Raulet family was said to be behind the scenes, but that was just a cover.

"I had a reason to seek revenge, and there was the troublesome Lambert. In exchange for helping him become the head, I had him attack the Respianus family—other great nobles remained silent because they had a deal behind the scenes. The current heads don't know this story."

The heads of the families at the time took the secret to their graves.

Now, only Alberk knew the truth.

Lambert was the perpetrator, but because he was reckless, he was not told the truth.

"Such a thing!"

"If we had made a mistake, we might have lost everything. No one could forgive the Respianus family, who had deceived us and lost the blessing."

If the Holy Tree judged that they were insufficient as its guardians, the republic might not have been able to function as a nation.

It meant that they would no longer receive the benefits they had received.

This was the downside of depending on the Holy Tree.

And the worst part was that the Respianus family had denied the seven great noble families.

The six great noble families could not accept that a priestess had denied the Holy Tree.

Moreover, they tried to dismantle the current ruling system.

In other words, they intended to destroy the six great noble families.

To the six great noble families, the Respianus family had betrayed them.

"If the Respianus family had continued to hold power, the republic might have eventually fallen. The Holy Tree is beyond human control, yet that man—"

Noel's father held ideas that the six great noble families could not tolerate.

For that reason, the Respianus family was destroyed.

"But I can understand your personal grudge. You have the right to take revenge on me."

Noel shook her head.

Tears streamed down her face.

"Killing you won't change anything. ---I never wanted to be a priestess. I just wanted to live a normal life."

Alberk closed his eyes.

"I feel the same. When I found you, I wanted you to live quietly. I hesitated about moving to the kingdom, but I could have turned a blind eye."

(If only you had fled far away at that time.)

When Noel and Reria escaped from the burning house, Alberk had let them go. The plan was to have them flee to a foreign country, but the Respianus family survivors were hidden within the republic.

Noel raised her head.

"---What will happen now?"

Alberk shook his head.

"I can't predict. If Serge hadn't been deceived by that one eye, this wouldn't have happened."

Alberk clenched his teeth, foreseeing Serge's future as a puppet.

◇

"What are you here for?"

At Einhorn, where I was about to attack the Raulet family, Zirk and the others—minus Julius—were here.

Including Erek, there were five of them in total.

"I'll help you. We also dislike the republic's way of doing things."

When Zirk said that, Brad played with his hair and said,

"I think it's a bad idea to attack alone. Your chances of success will be higher with allies."

I sighed.

"How much will your chances increase if I bring you along? You'll just get in the way, so stay out of it."

Gregg had a serious look on his face.

"Maybe, but you might be able to save Olivia with that small difference. I haven't avenged you yet. If you die here, I won't be able to rest."

These guys are still idiots.

They misunderstand that I intend to die.

"Are you an idiot? I'm a man who values my life. I believe my life is the most valuable thing in this world, so I'm not thinking of suicide."

Chris was a bit surprised.

"I admire you for that. But I really want to help. Besides, we can't let this go. We have our pride."

When I tried to send them away by saying they would get in the way, Erek stepped forward.

"I'll be your guide. I've been to the Raulet family's mansion a few times. Plus, if you're flying over the republic, it's more convenient to have me around."

"You? I don't trust you."

"Then! ---Let me lead. Shoot me in the back if I betray you."

When I wondered why Erek was helping me so much,

"I don't know Olivia very well. But I—hurt Noel. It's too late to apologize now. I just want to help her move forward. If I help you, it will also help Noel. Isn't that right?"

"---You."

I was impressed.

"Also, I want to be a man my sister can be proud of."

Do these guys have to add a punchline to everything they say?

Lukshion, who was by my side, said,

"Master, I have prepared five suits of armor. I think they can handle them."

"When did you prepare them?"

"After meeting Ideal, I made various preparations. I also prepared parts for an airship for your friends."

"---Did you know he would be an enemy?"

"I was just cautious. I didn't expect him to go this far. I didn't know what Ideal was thinking."

I didn't understand why Ideal had declared war on us.

After all, it would be better if we didn't interfere with each other.

Five containers descended from the sky onto Einhorn's deck.

When the containers opened, five suits of armor that Lukshion had made came out.

Zirk was surprised.

"Is this—did you prepare these suits of armor for us?"

It wasn't a misunderstanding.

They looked very similar to the suits of armor I had destroyed.

They were about the same size as the Arroganz, maybe a little smaller.

"I'll be in trouble if they're not useful."

Brad touched the purple armor.

"You're really cold to us. But you've done so much for us. With this, we won't be a hindrance."

I looked at Lukshion.

"How is the performance?"

"These are several levels above the conventional machines in this world. They may be inferior to the Arroganz, but with more time, I could have improved them further. This is the limit for now."

Finally, one more container descended.

When it opened, there was the Arroganz with Schwert already on its back.

"Does it look a bit different on the outside?"

There were changes in the details, but it looked almost the same.

"The appearance hasn't changed much. The important thing is the inside, right?"

"Exactly."

Erek stood in front of the remaining suit of armor, not the ones the others had chosen.

"White armor? It's not my color."

"Oh, that one—"

Then, a voice came from the sky.

---My head hurts.

"Hehehe, it's been a while—Baron Baltfalt."

Everyone looked up, and Chris pointed at the man.

"You! You're the—knight of something?"

"I'm the Masked Knight. 'The Masked' Knight! ---It seems you're in trouble. I'll help you, too."

Seeing Gregg's tongue click, I was amazed that they still hadn't realized.

This man in a strange mask and cloak is—Julius.

"Why are you here?"

"Is it bad to come to help you, who stand for justice? Baron Baltfalt, prepare a suit for me. I want to use my full power."

For justice? This guy is really a dud.

When did I become a hero?

However,

"I don't have time to prepare one. Besides, the suit I prepared for you is already being used by Erek."

Erek quickly got into the white armor and registered as the pilot.

"What! Hey, you! White is my image color. You insolent man, get out!"

Erek didn't seem interested.

"Huh? There's no name on it. Besides, it's Baron Baltfalt's suit. You're the insolent one. Your mask is weird, and your head is weird, too."

"You bastard!"

The masked knight, who had appeared, had no suit to ride.

"Then, you stay behind."

"Eh!?"

"The Masked Knight will stay behind. Stay in Recornu. ---It's safe there."

When I said that, the masked knight stomped his feet.

"Why!?"

◇

An emergency meeting was being held at the Raulet family's mansion.

The six great noble families were rallying around Serge.

The one leading the meeting was—Ideal.

"Information from the port. Einhorn is on the move. However, it's coming here alone."

Lambert was patting his large belly.

"Isn't it funny? He's come to negotiate to get his woman back? I'm looking forward to seeing how that boy will apologize to us."

The other heads were smiling.

"First, we'll get all the jewels back. We'll talk after that."

"We should make the kingdom take responsibility, too."

"We should at least get them to pay three times the damage."

Meanwhile, Fernand was looking down.

"What's wrong?"

When Serge spoke, Fernand—

"Is he coming to apologize alone? Is he that kind of man?"

Lambert laughed, mocking Fernand.

"What are you talking about now? In this situation, no fool would challenge us. He lost to Serge. He'll probably come with a changed heart."

But Ideal's answer was,

"No, he seems to be planning to attack with one ship. To be precise, two ships. The airship he has, a Lost Item, is following him."

As the six great noble families murmured, Serge smiled wickedly.

"Finally, he's showing his true colors. Ideal, can we win?"

"Of course. I've already calculated Lukshion's combat power. There's no way we can lose. Besides, we've left the other Einhorn-class and the kingdom's airships at the port. Our forces are less than expected."

Serge was smiling.

"Are they having a falling out? That guy doesn't have much support."

"However, we only have two hours until the expected arrival time."

Serge stood up.

"Let's prepare for the interception. We'll also show off the modified airships and armor in a grand ceremony."

"Very well, I think."

As Serge and the others moved, Ideal thought,

(You're moving exactly as I expected. You are indeed the wonderful—puppet I chose.)