Chapter 90

Raulter Manor.

As I approached the air bike hidden in the courtyard, the optical camouflage was deactivated.

"It's like a spy movie."

Libia was troubled by my muttering.

"Ano, 'spy movie,' what is that?"

"It's just talking to myself. Come on, get on."

As Libia straddled the bike, I got on and started the engine.

When we blended into the surroundings and became invisible, the manor was in a commotion.

It seemed they had discovered Lambert's body.

Or perhaps Lelia had caused a commotion?

Either way, it didn't matter.

Libia, clinging to my back, looked anxious.

"Will we be found? If you have the same ability as Luke, we might be discovered."

"Don't worry. Even if we are found, the current Ideal can't move."

It would be fine just to infiltrate.

However, we couldn't get support from Luxion or Clairelle.

Then I took out the hidden switch.

I removed the safety to prevent accidental pressing, pressed the button, and put it away.

Libia didn't seem to notice.

"Well, let's go see what they're up to."

"Today's Leon is a bit scary."

Libia's comment was accurate.

"Really—how did it come to this?"

Gripping the handlebars, I rapidly left Raulter Manor on the air bike.

Startled by the explosion, Libia turned around and called out to me.

"Leon, the manor!"

◇

The explosion at Raulter Manor.

The shock distorted the iron bars, and Alberk, who had been holding the unconscious Noel, was able to get out.

"Are you okay!"

"Yes, somehow. I'm still a bit dizzy, though."

Suddenly, the manor shook violently.

Looking out the window from the hallway, they saw black smoke.

Alberk was breaking out in a cold sweat.

"Did they really attack this far?"

From the former Respinas territory, which had a port, to the Raulter territory, there was a floating island with a sacred tree in between.

Despite the distance, they had already attacked this far.

Soldiers' voices could be heard.

"Is Lord Alberk safe!"

"What are the kingdom's people doing?"

"Call back Lord Serge immediately."

Hiding in the shadows, Alberk learned from the conversation that Serge had gone to battle.

"That foolish son. He has no experience on the battlefield."

If he was overconfident because of Ideal, it was very dangerous.

Ainhorn wouldn't come here without a plan.

If Leon was moving, he must have been plotting something.

Noel, holding her head and moving away from Alberk, looked out the window.

"What's happening?"

It wasn't a question, but Alberk answered.

"---It's true that the foolish son started a war with the kingdom. It's pitiful that no one stopped him."

Noel turned around.

"War!? We have to stop it!"

However, Alberk shook his head.

"Once it starts, we have to see it through. Besides, we can't do anything without understanding the situation."

How would the surrounding countries view this incident?

What would happen to the republic's credibility?

To Alberk, it seemed that a major problem had been created, win or lose.

"A war without a just cause—people won't follow."

It's fine for now.

The whole country is trying to regain lost pride.

But this method won't last forever.

Alberk looked at Noel.

Seeing Noel thinking about what to do,

"Noel—take the sapling of the sacred tree and escape to the kingdom. Count Baltorft wants you. He won't treat you badly."

Noel looked down.

"---Leon has two fiancées. There's no room for me."

"What!? Ah, right, I read that in the documents—right. Well, even if not the count himself, you might meet someone in the kingdom. Or is there someone you like in the republic?"

"No."

Alberk felt a bit lonely at Noel's immediate answer, despite trying to make a light joke.

"Anyway, let's do what we can. First, we need to understand the situation. Let's find someone to talk to."

Noel nodded, and the two ran down the manor's hallway.

◇

Battlefield—Ideal was looking at the empty sky.

"You're there—Luxion."

In the empty sky, the artificial intelligence Ideal accurately grasped Luxion's main body.

"—As expected, the data is correct. There are some differences, but they are within the acceptable range. It's definitely one of the last-built colony ships."

It's a box ship prepared for humans to leave their homeland.

Among its functions, it has many pieces of equipment that a military Ideal doesn't possess.

What Ideal wanted, even if it meant fighting Luxion, was Luxion's main body.

"There's no more time. I'll take everything, Luxion."

The main body of Ideal—a large box-shaped spaceship—had various weapons attached to its armor.

Then, part of the ground rose up, and a laser was directed at Ideal. Upon receiving it, Ideal's output increased.

It was supplementing the missing functions from the outside.

When these were directed at Luxion, they began to attack simultaneously.

Some soldiers on the battlefield were puzzled by Ideal's attack on what seemed to be empty space.

Some even sent communications, but Ideal ignored them all.

Luxion, which had been hiding in the empty space, revealed itself, deflecting missiles, bullets, and optical weapons.

The gray, streamlined hull had a narrow bow and a simple isosceles triangle shape.

Square box-shaped engines were attached to both sides.

"All functions packed into one ship—just like me now."

Ideal had also collected parts from the base and modified itself.

Despite being a supply ship, it had even loaded weapons like a battleship.

Originally, it wasn't designed for pure combat.

Considering its original performance, Luxion was superior.

"This is my home. I can't lose."

Ideal, protecting the sacred tree as if shielding it, intensified its attacks.

At the same time, new missiles and bullets were being produced inside the ship.

Even replacement parts for optical weapons were prepared, and they were supplied as needed.

Amidst this, a republic airship was lifted by a blast wave.

Unable to penetrate Luxion's shield, it was caught in the more intense attacks from Ideal's optical weapons and exploded.

"Annoying."

Unmanned airships and drones were moving to surround Luxion, ignoring the battle and heading straight for it.

Serge shouted in anger.

"Ideal, what are you doing!"

"Master, I'm busy with Luxion. Please handle Ainhorn."

"Damn it! Because of their persistence, things are getting complicated—again!"

Serge, who had been joined by Eriq midway, was now fighting four against one.

Despite the performance difference in their machines, he was struggling.

(You should learn the harshness of the battlefield. If you survive, I'll use you as a master.)

For the current Ideal, what mattered was Luxion.

◇

Luxion's main body, under attack from Ideal's main body.

Inside, the sub-units of Luxion were also present.

"You're taking quite a risk. You shouldn't be able to carry battleship equipment. But, Ideal—did you really think you could stop me with just that?"

When Luxion began its attack, the unmanned drones and airships around Ideal burned and fell.

They were fighting at reduced power because allies were nearby.

If they went all out, the surroundings would be blown away.

"You're underestimating your allies. But, I'm worried about the reckless state of your main body. What are you thinking?"

The sacred tree, visible behind Ideal, was already within attack range.

"Eliminate the root of future problems—this could have been over easily if Master had made a quick decision."

The current Leon wasn't thinking about the republic.

He was only thinking about himself.

Rescuing Libia and eliminating the root of future problems.

That's why he finally decided to take action.

"You and I fighting means your master didn't understand the implications. Fly away with the sacred tree."

Missiles were launched at the sacred tree. They left the battlefield and headed for the sacred tree.

Ideal, busy fighting Luxion, ignored the attack on the sacred tree, thinking it was worthless.

But—

"What is this?"

Ideal forcibly intercepted the missiles, ignoring the main body's defense.

One missile seemed impossible to intercept, so it used an unmanned airship to block it.

The same applied to the optical weapons.

The main body was shielding the sacred tree as if protecting it.

"Is there some value to the sacred tree that we don't know about?"

Upon investigation, energy exchanges between Ideal and the sacred tree through equipment were confirmed.

"---So, you're getting energy from the sacred tree? I see, I understand. Ideal, you've turned yourself into a defense system."

Within the republic, Ideal had modified itself to perform beyond what a supply ship should.

That's why Ideal wanted to fight Luxion here—in the republic.

A shield was generated around the sacred tree, and the optical weapons were dealt with. Therefore, the missiles were shot down with great effort.

However, with this, weaker attacks wouldn't reach the sacred tree.

Dangerous attacks were blocked by Ideal, and the sacred tree continued to supply energy to Ideal.

"This is a bit troublesome."

To Luxion, Ideal seemed to be acting recklessly.

◇

Under the sky where Luxion and Ideal were fiercely battling.

Serge cursed at Eriq in front of him.

"You traitor, betraying your country is the lowest! And you're one of the six great nobles!"

But Eriq was unfazed.

"I just thought this war was wrong!"

"Don't betray your country just because you think so, you bastard!"

Kicking him away, Blood then thrust a spear at him.

Gear caught it with his bare hands, but Blood immediately let go and attacked with a new weapon.

"I know you're infatuated with me, but it's not good to be distracted."

"You narcissist!"

Recalling the character of Blood from Lelia, Gear complained, and then Greg thrust a spear from below.

Avoiding it, Chris swung a greatsword from above.

"Take this!"

"Here it comes!"

The attacks only left scratches on the armor.

There was no significant damage, but—

"These guys are annoying!"

—Then, a bullet hit Gear's head.

It was from the green-armored Jilc.

"Even the tactics against the Arrogants didn't work? I practiced quite seriously."

Jilc was applying the results of his practice to defeat the Arrogants to Gear.

"You bastards!"

Serge's forehead veins bulged in anger.

But, hearing the name of the Arrogants, he realized something.

"Where is that Leon bastard?"

Looking around, he couldn't find Leon's Arrogant anywhere.

Eriq chuckled.

"---Serge, Count Baltorft wasn't here from the beginning."

"What? What are you saying—"

Punching Eriq away, he hit Greg with a spear and blocked Chris's slash with his arm.

Chris joined the conversation.

"It's the truth. Baltorft isn't here—no, he wasn't here."

Serge, unable to understand what they were saying, received a communication from an ally.

"Serge-sama! There was an explosion at the manor! The number of dead and injured is unknown. The information is chaotic, but Lord Lambert's body was found!"

"---What?"

While Serge was stunned, he was kicked away by Greg.

"It's too late! You underestimated Baltorft too much."

Jilc said.

"The kingdom's strongest rogue knight—making him serious was a mistake."

Serge, who was kicked away, accidentally saw the deck of Ainhorn, where Leon was joining the Arrogants.

As Libia took refuge inside Ainhorn, Leon entered the cockpit of the Arrogant.

—Until now, the Arrogant had been unmanned.

Serge gritted his teeth.

(That bastard was toying with me!)

Communications from allies asking for orders came one after another.

"Serge-sama, our allies are being caught in the upper battle and taking damage!"

"Serge-sama, we've already taken over fifty percent damage. Order a retreat!"

"Serge-sama, Ainhorn is retreating. Order a pursuit!"

Serge couldn't handle the influx of information and advice.

The reason—

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

The Arrogant, which had risen into the sky, had switched from a battle axe to a greatsword.

"This was a close call."

"I'm the same as Jilc. But, it seems we got it back safely."

"Baltorft, are you really retreating? Are you really pulling us back?"

"I can still fight."

"I can too. I'll stay!"

Leon, talking to the five, seemed very annoyed.

"You guys retreat. From here on, it's not a war. Protect Ainhorn and retreat."

Serge, with a twisted smile, said,

"Did you forget that you lost to me? Just because the shape changed a bit—"

But Leon showed no interest in Serge.

"Well, let's finish this quickly."

His attitude was as if he was ignoring Serge.