Save 63 ─ Call

After arriving in the Kingdom, I was notified to go immediately to the palace.

A good knight who is both a minister and a hero would gladly do so.

But I am not.

I wanted to annoy the King's dirty bastard a little.

So I decided to walk around for a while before going to the palace.

Alisa and Airi were with me.

We boarded a carriage to see how the capital looked after the war.

The repairs progressed more than I thought. Almost everything is finished.

Alisa said to stop near a specific place.

When we arrived, I set foot outside the carriage and was surprised by what I saw.

"Is this...?"

I was looking at a huge plot of land where a house was being built.

The land was equivalent to about three blocks.

No doubt it's a rich mansion.

Alisa grabbed my arm and whispered in my ear.

"This is our surprise for you."

I looked at her in confusion.

Then, I heard footsteps approaching, and as I looked in the direction of those footsteps. I noticed an old butler who greeted me.

"Good morning. It is good to see you again, young Master Rudel."

An old man, well dressed in his butler's suit greeted me. I knew him very well, he is Doyle von Caesarmund. Alisa's father's right-hand man.

A man with short hair combed back, a neatly trimmed beard and a thin mustache.

This man was always next to Siegwald when he was at Bismarck Household.

I greeted him.

"Good morning, likewise nice to see you."

He reminded me a little of my Mentor, the only man in this world I respect and admire.

The only difference was the eyes, my Mentor's were blue and Doyle's were green.

He told me about this mansion as Airi snuggled next to me.

"As you can see, the repairs after the war are almost over."

"That's why the palace thought of giving you a reward when you returned from your studies abroad."

"Reward?"

"That's right. It's your reward for the benefits you brought us by regaining the commonwealth and eliminating the enemies of the Kingdom."

It made me feel a little sad when he mentioned the commonwealth. Since, it was me who condemned them to the hell they must be living now.

I wonder how Rafiel is doing?

The last I heard of him was in the letter he sent me when I sailed to Aster. He said he was appointed an acting duke. Kind of like an acting president, but controlled by a superior.

"I see, all this is mine, why so big?"

"That's because originally there were traitorous noblemen's houses here that were destroyed during the bombing. The palace thought it would be best to get rid of those houses instead of rebuilding them."

I figured it was something like that. These bastards will never do anything from the heart for me.

"When will it be finished?"

"In a few months, it'll be ready by the time I enter the next school year."

"Really, they'll make me live here during my return to the academy?"

"Yes. Best of all, it's a short carriage ride and walk away. It was Her Majesty the Queen who suggested this."

"Lecia did!?"

As expected of my Queen, always so kind and gracious, quite the opposite of those old men.

Suddenly, my cheeks were pinched on both sides.

"Why are you calling Her Majesty by her name? Since when are you two so close huh?"

"That's right! What's with that disrespect Rudel-san!"

They were lecturing me.

I know it's wrong to tease a married woman, but I really enjoy doing it.

◇◇◇

When I arrived at the palace, I was sent to a different room.

It was a large meeting room.

It reminded me of makeshift medical centers as there was a large barricaded column with tables for the ministers.

There were familiar faces and new faces.

They must have hired new ministers, officials and knights as many of the people here I didn't know.

In the center of them all, stood an old man looking at me with an irritated face.

He was the King, the highest authority in this country.

Leonis von Altfode, a man who presumes to be young despite having gray hair, although his son had similar hair, I could believe that he was indeed young a little.

His purple eyes were a feature that only made me nauseous.

He usually had a well groomed mustache, but now that mustache was mixed in with his beard which indicated to me that he didn't have time to shave.

His eyes looked tired like mine, but his certainly were.

He spoke to me the way a king should speak to the hero of his nation.

"Looks like you've been wreaking havoc, you snotty little shit."

Since this was not the royal hall for meetings, this behavior was appropriate.

He was behaving like a child throwing a tantrum, but as the adult that I am, I will forgive him.

"Yes. I have been bringing honor to the kingdom as you requested, my King."

"No one told you to go picking fights with everyone! I didn't sleep well because of you! Have you no shame?"

With a smile from cheek to cheek I said.

"Not at all! Knowing that His Majesty must work so hard for the Kingdom only makes my desire to support him grow stronger! I sleep peacefully at night thinking that His Majesty is working hard and can't have any fun! I'm really touched to see him working so hard!"

The faces of some ministers said. "Tell him more." and "He finally gets around to signing the documents he is entitled to."

After the events caused by Derrick and the Herring Household, it is normal for the Kingdom to be busy with many things.

Leonis was really annoyed with me, his belly that he proudly showed disappeared.

"I should have taught them a lesson since they not only made a mockery of our country, they also hurt our proud prince."

"Just for that reason alone did you pick a fight with them? Such behavior is so barbaric, you disappoint me, Mr. Hero. I should demote you and strip you of your titles as punishment."

I could see his disappointment in me.

First of all, I am disappointed in you too. You are the worst King in the world, you should apologize by leaving the throne and the country.

Wait, what did he say?

"I would be pleased with it! Surely Your Majesty is a very wise king! Come on, degrade me!"

With a smile on my face I implored him to do so.

Come on, take away these responsibilities you placed on me by your negligence.

With a smile on his face he said.

"Never! Since I am a wise king, should I give you more responsibilities? I know, I will grant you a position as a good faith ambassador! Yes, that I will do."

Between my teeth I muttered.

"You wretched son of a bitch, degrade me dammit!"

Leonis seemed to hear what he said.

"For that pride of yours, I'll send you to the gallows, how about it?"

He was trying to intimidate me, for that, I'll do it too.

"My Queen! The King wants to execute me!"

Leonis shouted in panic as he acted childishly as he called out to Lecia "You damn brat, that's being a coward!"

I'm a cheat, I always will be. Since, that's my slogan.

Sitting next to him working, a beautiful woman was signing documents.

As always, watching her work or drinking tea, showed me that her elegance and beauty only increases.

She spoke to her husband without even looking at him as she continued to sign documents.

"Your Majesty, stop bothering the count. He is the hero of our country and he is also the one who saved Liam and also takes care of him abroad."

"Why are you defending him as if you were his mother!!!?"

"I'm not, I'm just saying it's absurd to execute the one who saved us last year. If it weren't for the count. We'd be just bones right now."

Lecia was a responsible woman, the Kingdom was in good hands with her and the Prime Minister.

That reminds me.

"By the way, where is Mayer-san?"

Lecia was still writing, but unlike with her husband. She looked at me when she answered.

"I'm very sorry, but he left the room when he heard you were coming. He would finish his papers later."

He still seems to be upset with me.

I can't blame him, since, by saving Erselica, I betrayed his trust after helping me.

I looked at the Queen.

Without noticing, I approached her and took her hand which moved to grab more documents.

"As always, Her Majesty's beauty is more intense every day. Her smooth skin tells me that she takes great care of her appearance, not only for her health, but to show the people that their Queen is a radiant woman."

I kissed her hand and before I knew it... I came to my senses.

I lifted my face and observed the knights, ministers, officials and servants staring at me in horror.

Some just ignored me, others, looked at me with pleasure.

The women present whispered. "Why haven't they executed him yet?"

The officials watched the ministers ignore me, they were used to it it seemed.

As for the king.

"Really? Again?"

He said while picking his nose in a disinterested manner. He watched a man─ a boy about his son's age, flirting with his wife.

While his wife.

"Count Bradford."

She looked at me as if nothing had happened.

"Please stop teasing me. Your jokes are no longer funny."

She removed her hand from mine and continued writing.

She was in work mode, I really liked that about her.

But, there wasn't the non-virgin maiden reaction I expected.

I was a little disappointed.

No, hey, you're a compromised man. Leave a sensual married woman alone.

I looked at the Queen and apologized.

"S-sorry..."

"Never mind. More importantly, I'd like to talk about the plan from here on out about what you'll be doing in Aster."

"Plan?" I said very curious about it.

"Thanks to you, Count, we were able to learn in detail about the internal conditions of the Aristocratic Kingdom. I heard before that they worshiped the sacred tree, but to think that tree also gave a great benefit to their economy."

Weren't they too ignorant of Aster's internal conditions?

I was harboring such doubts, but I was only thinking that because I had knowledge of my previous life.

In this world, the spread of information was surprisingly slow. There were also problems with the credibility of such information.

There were also many stories that could not be determined if they were lies or if they were true, it caused a problem sorting out which of the information was actually true.

But, for Lecia, who trusted me to an abnormal level despite harassing her a lot, she seemed to judge that the information I provided was correct.

That made me very happy.

"With the Herring Household of the Six Great Nobles losing strength, I'm worried about how Ereboreas and Weiss will move."

The Ereboreas Republic.

The Weiss Holy Magic Empire.

Both were enemies of the Kingdom according to the game.

The republic is a closed and hostile place. There were times where they tried to attack us, but thanks to the royal family there, we had a ceasefire, but I heard that that royal family was executed by someone who took over. That sounds really scary.

The empire, on the other hand, was a neighboring country of the Altfode Kingdom.

They had fought each other a lot because of their absurd hostility.

But, the family of Lecia─ Wales Principality, was on the other side of the empire. The empire was placed between this country and their country.

The United Kingdom.

It was a country that was a gathering of small countries located on a single continent. The country was unified by three houses with great influence even among all the countries there.

One of those families were Edinburgh Principality who are hostile to the Queen's family.

Lecia's family was the ruler of the country that served as the leader of the United Kingdom alliance. That' s why the other principality was very envious of them.

It was a country with a bit of weird circumstances and a troubled government.

After all, the country was formed from small countries that only joined together because they alone could not oppose Weiss if they launched an invasion.

I was surprised when Weiss's name came up, so Lecia explained it to me in an easy-to-understand way.

"It's because Weiss has a connection to the Herring Household. If the Herring Household lost their influence, it's possible they will rely on Weiss. The empire might also get closer to the other Six Great Nobles."

Ah, so it was something like that then. I got it.

"Huh? Then which of the Six Great Nobles is our country close with?"

I never heard anything about it, so I asked. Then Leonis made an annoyed grimace.

"There is no house we are especially close with. No, I should say there is none now."

"... So it's Vermillion Household."

In the past, Aster's Supreme Kingdom was ruled by seven great nobles.

The one who served as its representative was Lucy and Diana's family, the Vermillion Household... However, it was destroyed about ten years ago.

It was because of what made the Rosenberg Household.

This was related to Sara-chan and Mr. Randolf.

It made me feel a little discouraged because they were not bad people to me.

"Since then we didn't approach any other house and kept the relationship between the two countries limited to the import of magic stones. Come to think of it, it's been ten years since then."

Leonis looked nostalgic.

"I still remember that the reason that fool Liam didn't have a fiancé was to get him together with that house. After all, it wasn't the first time we had an arranged marriage between Aster and us. What was the other house that sent us their daughter?"

"Don't even mention it, she doesn't want to talk about it. However, Count."

Lecia looked like she wanted to cooperate with some other houses there in consideration for the future.

"It's been ten years since Vermillion Household was destroyed. We also need to join hands with another house there. Since, she doesn't want to know anything about her house, so we depend on other houses."

Because of that, the Altfode Kingdom also wanted a strong connection with Aster. I could understand that.

I tried to imagine who this country was going to cooperate with... but I had no idea. I have no political sense at all.

Although, the Rosenberg Household is an option... but....

"It will be impossible with the Herring Household, so it will have to be with the other five houses."

At best, I just understood that Herring Household was no good.

But it seemed that Lecia also had no intention of leaving the entire decision to me regarding this matter.

I was relieved because I would only feel concerned if it was left to me.

I'm a minister, but I don't know anything about politics and don't expect me to actually do anything.

"We will be sending diplomats there frequently, so I ask you, Count Bradford, to lend your support from the site. It seems that children and young people from the Six Great Nobles attend the academy, so, if there is any information, share it with us. Also, we will prepare a post so that you can take independent action there. If anything happens, we will leave the decision of what to do to you, Count."

This meeting was not in an official setting, but her tone was different from usual.

But if it was my Queen's request, then it could not be avoided. I was a knight, a minister and a count of Altfode Kingdom.

I could only obey.

"Leave it to me!"

When I said that, Leonis spoke his complaint from the side.

"You bastard! Even though you made a really nasty expression when you were talking to me, why are you so obedient when it's with this fatty, huh─!?"

The moment she heard that she was called "fatty", Lecia concentrated magic power into her fist, and threw it at high speed at her husband's cheek.

I could tell how angry she was.

Leonis flew straight out the window.

As it crashed, I wished it would break, but it didn't happen.

Something like that was obvious.

Calling your wife "fat" was wrong.

Besides, the Queen is not fat.

She has everything "big" where it belongs. If I were her husband, I would make sure the only thing "fat" about her was her stomach.

But I have girlfriends, I'm not unfaithful.

I may lust after a married woman, but that's all it is.

Desire.

A fantasy.

It will never happen.

In the midst of my internal laughter, a knight came in shouting.

"Your Majesties! There's trouble!"

"What's the matter?!"

"... Pirates! A great fleet of pirates is approaching the capital!"

The ministers and officials shouted in panic, the knights awaited orders.

But Lecia and the old ministers just looked at me.

"Count, please go and fulfill your duties as a hero. It will be a good opportunity to show the new ministers your courage."

I immediately refused.

"I refuse. I will send Ixion."

"Ixion, come out."

Hearing himself being called, Ixion stopped cloaking. He was hovering on my right shoulder.

"You heard it, didn't you?"

"Yes. I did."

"Please take over."

"... You know that's a good excuse for not keeping an eye on him right?"

"Shut up."

He flew off and I turned to Lecia again.

"My Queen, if you have time, I would like to have a cup of tea from the souvenirs I brought them from Aster."

The ministers were confused. But me.

I really, really want to have a moment alone with the Queen without anyone interrupting me.

◇◇◇

A large pirate fleet was approaching the royal capital.

How they managed to pass unnoticed is unknown.

The fleet numbered about ninety or so airships.

They were all Aster's.

They were the Super Class; the Devastator Class and the Fortress Class.

All with the exception of the flagship were nearly a thousand meters long.

They looked futuristic because of the plates on the deck and starboard side.

It had a large number of cannons on the sides.

A large number of pirates were waiting for this.

The armed units they had were on deck, ready to go out and fight.

The only one that was not a super class, was the flagship which was the Fortress Class.

In the main cabin, with the other navigators and the helmsman, was their captain.

A character from the game, and not just anyone.

He was a third-year enemy.

Bryce the Prudent.

A former nobleman from a country that was destroyed by the republic.

His clothing was a red suit like his mustache waved in curls.

His top hat had a feather that showed his elegance.

His mole on his cheek was proof of how well cared for his slender body was.

Beside him stood a man totally opposite to him.

He was bald, with a big belly and, above all, very smelly.

His name was Gambino Narcisse, the younger twin brother of Ganpino, the former head of the Cashmiro Family.

Several weeks ago, his territories and secret bases were bombed by a mysterious force.

No one was killed, but I wish it had been so, was what they thought.

Different fleets from many countries were near the bombing.

All members; junior and senior executives were caught.

The Cashmiro Family was destroyed soon after.

The only one who managed to save himself was Gambino, and only, because his black casino that he managed was saved from the bombing.

A fleet from a country called Lepand, invaded and claimed it as their own.

Gambino was upset, he wanted to complain to his older brother, but it was too late.

The few who managed to escape hid on an island belonging to the desert kingdom.

After learning what happened, Gambino appointed himself as the new boss. And, calling on an old friend.

Bryce, someone who should appear in the third year as in the event of the new pirate king, appeared very early.

Thanks to a bribe in Aster, they learned that Rudel came home.

Bryce and Gambino prepared for weeks.

Their fleet was a monster, a living nightmare.

They both sat drinking. Bryce drank tea and cookies while Gambino ate a fried chicken and beer.

Remnants of chicken and alcohol were dripping onto Bryce's fancy clothes.

But he didn't care, he let it go since it was his "friend" who paid for all that fleet.

Just like in the game, Bryce thought he would need a year to be able to come up with the money and pay Aster for the ships.

But the "friend" at his side made things easier for him.

"Now that that pesky noble scumbag is back home - we can destroy him!"

"Urararara! That idiot won't be able to do anything against these monsters, it'll be a crushing victory!"

Everyone looked forward to eliminating the demon who hunted pirates to extinction.

The criminals saw piracy as profitable.

That's why many former knights and landless bastard sons were turning to piracy.

But, because of Rudel, piracy was dangerous.

Many became farmers or anything that didn't involve raiding others.

Bryce felt that the golden age of pirates had been destroyed by a brat.

So, he was going to teach him and his country true fear.

"Captain, we are close to the Kingdom!"

Bryce smiled as it was only a short time away from his greatest wish.

A subordinate notified him of something strange.

"Captain, up ahead there are Kingdom airships waiting for us!"

Bryce thought nothing of it.

"Move forward. Sooner or later they were going to spot us, but it's too late to negotiate. Destroy them all."

"B-But..."

"Is something wrong?"

The subordinate dressed as a waiter reported.

"The Kingdom's fleet is small and still. Only one of them is advancing towards us."

"... Just one? Is he an idiot?"

He stood up to look through the binoculars.

Bryce looked at what he was told.

A small fleet, no more than twelve ships lined up in a column, were barricading.

But one of them, a very different one, with a large black horn. It was advancing quietly.

Bryce reported. "No matter who that idiot is, we'll crush him! Keep moving!"

The pirate fleet advanced without fear of successful conquest.

Bryce smiled and muttered.

"This will be a piece of cake. It's time to meet your end, noble scum."

◇◇◇

Bryce was crying in his chair in the cockpit.

His fleet, his grand and expensive fleet of ninety aircraft. Almost all of them were super-class, a monster ship in combat power, along with a large number of armed units.

"How is this possible!"

They were being destroyed like paper.

The Kingdom's airship, Schwert, was carelessly and slowly obliterating all the airships.

One of them blocked his path, but he was cut through like a hot knife to butter.

"Captain, we must evacuate this instant!"

A subordinate shouted to him as the others fled.

Gambino who was at his side fled, but before he reached the deck to take a boat, he slipped and hit his head knocking him unconscious.

Bryce watched the inferno itself from the cockpit.

Only about ten minutes had passed and almost all the airships had been destroyed.

The super class were firing their cannons at the Kingdom's airship.

But an invisible shield stopped the hits.

Their cannons moved aiming to the side where there were no human lives.

Boom.

Boom.

Only one or two shots rang out, and the ships were destroyed by the flames.

Many escaped in boats, or by turning back.

Flying machines of different types, known as drones, flew out to attack these ships.

They had rifles, machine guns and grenades.

They destroyed any place that did not have human lives.

Rudel ordered Ixion, who was driving Schwert on board, not to kill them.

It was not to be kind, he just thought they could serve as slaves.

Slavery was legal, it was frowned upon in the public eye, but now that the biggest slave trader was gone, slavery plummeted.

Deep down, Rudel was very happy to do so.

Above Schwert, stood a jet-black armed unit.

Its eyes were red and its body stout, it was about twelve meters tall.

Originally it was larger, since it was Battler.

An armor left behind by ancient mankind.

The original Battler was lost in the war against the commonwealth.

This new Battler was totally different

The pirates were closing in on Battler, Ixion didn't move.

He used only his arm to hit them.

Wham.

Glutch.

Different sounds of iron and steel breaking or sinking from a stronger object were heard.

Suddenly, Battler took flight and approached the flagship.

Bryce was crying like a baby.

His plan and his fleet were destroyed without even a chance to do damage.

He pulled the big black body close to his ship and....

"This isn't fair!"

Battler sliced it in half with a laser.

The next pirate king could not be a threat thanks to an artificial intelligence.

As he destroyed the ship, Ixion muttered aloud.

"The technology of the new humanity is so weak. Taking over this world or destroying them would be so easy... but, making sure of Master's growth is more important."

◇◇◇

In the Kingdom's escort fleet, there were ministers, knights and officials who were curious about the lost item.

They were all upstarts.

They were sent under the pretext that they would observe the power of the Hero of the Kingdom.

But the other ministers did not think so originally.

They were sent to make sure that the young men who would take their place one day would not think of something as foolish as rebelling.

After what happened with the traitor of Balzac and Kingsfort. The palace needs to prevent any more traitors.

Therefore, their trump card was Rudel.

His lost item was his, so, if Rudel backed the royal court, ministers and the royal family. They would not need to worry about it.

The fear of what would happen to them if they went against him would be the greatest act of stupidity in his life.

Their plan was a success.

All the young men watched in fear as a single ship, an airship manned by strange floating metallic objects, wiped out their enemies without even taking damage.

Among all those young ministers, there was one who looked with interest at Schwert.

"So, that's the power of the lost item. The power of the Hero of the Realm, Count Bradford."

A sea of flames was occurring in the distance.

To his misfortune, Ixion spent the next few days busy dealing with stalkers and pirates who would not leave him alone.