Save 100 ─ The War of Aster

When Airi woke up, she was in an unfamiliar mansion.

"Huh? I─ Where am I?"

Someone helped her change her clothes at some point while she was sleeping.

She was relieved when she touched her body and confirmed that nothing had been done to her.

Then, the door opened and a woman came in.

It is a large room. A sound echoed as the door opened.

Standing there was Lucy— it wasn't.

Though she momentarily mistook it for Lucy, Airi immediately realized it was a stranger and became wary.

"How are you feeling?"

Diana looked at Lucy with a smile and a winning expression on her face. But then her smile faded.

She moved closer to the bed and then with both hands squeezed Airi's breasts.

Diana showed her discontent after touching Airi's breasts.

"Tch. Why the hell are they so soft and big? It's because of these things that guy sought you out!"

"Noo! Don't touch me! Only Alisa and Rudel-san can touch me!"

Immediately Airi covered herself and Diana got angry.

"Just like my sister, why are both heroines just so developed? And the villainesses are evenly matched."

Airi looked at the girl.

"Why are you doing this?"

Diana smiles.

"Because you're the saint of the Kingdom."

"Just like my sister, we need your power for the future."

Airi didn't understand her words.

What are you talking about?"

However, she remembered something after what she said.

(Come to think of it, I feel like Erselica-san also said something like that. That's right, about Rudel-san at that time, even in that dream, Ix-kun said that I was a saint.)

(Why do they talk about me as a saint?)

(Even once Bell-chan muttered that while I was taking a bath.)

Diana sat on Airi's bed while saying her name.

"I'm Diana, Lucy's twin sister."

"Lucy-san's little sister?"

"It's hard to explain because there were people who bothered me in the past and now we got our house and status back, but now I can't use my trump card. That's why I need your help."

"My help? For what?"

"To defeat that man. He is showing a false image towards you. After all, you are the fiancée because you are the heroine."

She knew at once that that man was Rudel.

"What is the purpose of this bad joke? Even I can understand that it will become an international problem."

"Rudel-san is my fiancé and a hero of our country. Even Aster won't want political trouble."

Diana laughed.

"It's not that kind of one-scale story. This is more like, that's right. It's a large-scale story."

"Large scale?"

(What is this person saying? Heroine, saint. What does false image and grand scale mean?)

As she thinks about these things, Diana speaks cheerfully.

"You don't know, but this will be the right choice in the future. It's good for Aster and for the world, and it's good for the Kingdom too. I will free us from that demon."

"Right? That's a lie, how can that be true!"

"You don't know. It's bad because that demon manipulates you and that other woman, for sure your prince too due to that little woman. Above all, having you by his side is worse than Erselica pretending to be a saint. After all, they are both demons."

Airi, who knows who the demon is, looks at Diana.

There was hostility in her eyes.

"Rudel-san is not a demon. You don't know anything about him."

"Just like that Zack guy, they only talk about what happened in last year's war from the mouths of the traitors who fled."

"What do you plan to do with Rudel-san?"

"I want you to help me defeat him with your powers and imprison him, or if you resist, Zack will kill him."

"Rudel-san won't lose. Rudel-san is the strongest knight in the kingdom."

Diana laughed in her face.

"The strongest? What's that? That's a pretty lofty word, isn't it? And don't you know he lost to Zack? What good is a guy like that? He already beat him once and he'll beat him again."

"Besides, an ugly guy like that shouldn't have a cute girl like you guys by his side."

Airi looks straight into Diana's face with deep hatred in her beautiful eyes.

"I'm a nice person. I'm not the kind of person who likes violence. But, I will punch you in the nose if you say that again."

"He is a bit over the top at times and very strange often the way he acts and thinks, but he is a strong, kind knight who is considerate of others. He's not the kind of person you would look down on, neither should you look down on me."

"... What? I thought you were in the hands of that fiendish knight, but you really are an idiot just like in the game, miss flower field head. Even if it's about your weaknesses, it's not funny that you like it."

"I don't like him. I love Rudel-san. I'm his woman to the end."

At those words, Diana bit her lower lip. Then she smiles.

"You're carefree without knowing that you're being cheated on, aren't you? If your head is a flower garden, can you only see what you want to see? There are enough men like that in the world to throw away. You're crazy, aren't you?"

Diana threw Airi onto the bed.

"That guy is a threat to the world, if we don't stop him now, this world will be lost. You say you love him? Don't make me laugh, you don't even know his secret, that secret makes your love for him collapse faster than a poorly built bridge."

Airi grabbed the blanket and covered herself.

Diana laughs.

"That guy is afraid to fight Zack, so he might abandon you and run away. He's not as strong as he says he is."

"Zero will defeat that Ixion guy and then we'll avoid the bad ending. Then will come the punishment to the Rosenberg's and both me and sister will get the happy ending we deserve."

When Airi doesn't answer a word, Diana walks out of the room as if she is bored.

"Don't think badly. If you stay here, I will guarantee your safety."

When Diana leaves, Airi starts crying and buries her face.

(I couldn't do anything again. I'm so sorry, Alisa, Rudel-san.)

◇◇◇

Diana leaves the room and walks through the corridors of the sacred tree temple.

Her face looked like she was having fun bullying Airi, she wasn't.

"What's wrong? Make that grimace that you believe in him me to the end. A man will betray you in the end."

She muttered as she walked.

"... Although trusting and being betrayed is the most painful thing, it's a pity that you don't even know that."

Diana began to remember.

It's the face of her fiancé from her previous life.

And the day of her death.

She hid her face with one hand.

"Even though I did something unforgivably and did my best, a man can easily abandon a person. That's why, Lugh, believe me I love you."

She was crying as she was getting ready for the decisive moment.

◇◇◇

An emergency meeting was held at the sacred tree temple.

The six great nobles gather around Zack.

The person in charge of the meeting was Zero, who showed them a recording.

"As you can see, Schwert, the horned monster was defeated."

Randy was slapping his big belly as he laughed.

"Huehuehue! Isn't it funny, getting mad over a mere woman? I can't wait to see what kind of face that guy will make when he apologizes to us."

The other lords are also smiling.

"We regained our lost pride no doubt. Now we must prepare for whatever move he makes." (Cliff)

"Let's make the Kingdom take the responsibility they deserve." (Wenz)

"I want them to pay at least three times the amount of the damage done to our nation and one hundred times for the damage done to my integrity and home." (Randy)

Meanwhile, only Linus looks down.

"What's wrong?"

When Zack called out to him, Linus reacted.

"He hasn't made a single move yet? Is he that kind of guy?"

Randy laughs as if he had made a fool of Linus.

"What are you saying now? There's no fool to fight in this situation. He lost to Zack-kun. He'll change his mind a little when he sees our fleet."

However, Zero's reply is...

"I don't think so, according to this recording, they are preparing, but they are not moving, the forces at the dock are waiting for orders while our allies are evacuating the surrounding residents."

"His airship was an imitation of a lost item, he won't stand idly by, that's why we are waiting for him."

Looking at the noisy six nobles, Zack laughed fearlessly.

"Are you finally showing your seriousness? Zero, you can win, right?"

"Of course. Ixion's strength calculations have been completed. There are no elements to lose. Besides, the other Schwert class airship and the Kingdom airships don't have high combat stats, we have prepared with much effort upgrades on all the airships, the port will eventually become a war zone when it's time and they haven't left."

"We are waiting for all their compatriots to arrive and set sail, personally if they do I will just send missiles after them. In short, they won't escape alive from here."

Zack and Randy laughed.

"Hahahaha! That's a fitting end for a villain, there's no better form of justice than shooting them in the back after all they've done."

"Oh! Zack-kun understands me. We must send them a message to the Kingdom that their moment of glory is over."

"At this rate, it's less than two hours until the estimated time of departure."

Zack stood up.

"Would you like to prepare in advance?"

"Sounds good to me."

"Ok. Everyone get ready, get to your stations."

As he watched Zack and the others begin to move, Zero muttered.

(So far it's working as I expected. No, much better I'd say. After all, you're as wonderful as I expected, a perfect harlequin, aren't you?)

◇◇◇

Zero and the great nobles left the room.

Zack stayed inside stretching his body.

As they left the room, Cliff headed out to put on his best suit and his best cigarettes have them in his pockets.

Randy left with a big smile on his face.

Linus went in the same direction as Randy.

Zero and Wenz found Lugh sitting on the floor near the door.

Zero approached him.

"Is something wrong, Lugh-sama?"

Lugh's facial expression since yesterday has been depressed with his mood.

"Why did it all end up like this?"

"Kidnapping Count Bradford's fiancée. Destroying his Airship and now declaring war on him. Doesn't this make us look like barbarians?"

His father helped him to his feet.

"Lugh. I don't like war, smelling the powder gives me a stomach ache, but this is for the sake of the country."

"... I didn't want to say this, but─"

"Excuse me, Lugh-sama's father, could I tell him? I'm more delicate."

"Emm, it's okay. Lugh, I'll wait for you in the airship."

Wenz left, Lugh and Zero were left alone.

"What's wrong?"

Lugh asked strangely that he was left alone with Zero.

Lately Zero would visit him and they would talk about various things, Zero was happy that Lugh was someone so cultured, they could talk about arts and literature.

For that reason, Zero was the right one to tell him.

"Lugh-sama, what I will tell you is the something secret that only the great nobles know."

"In the first, it has been decided that the new Acting Chairman will be the head of Banfield Household by unanimous vote."

"And secondly..."

Zero uttered the words that made Lugh's heart clench as if a heart attack would strike.

"The great nobles have spoken. Because Diana-sama is the priestess and Zack-sama is the guardian."

"It is most fitting that they are both engaged."

"..."

For Lugh, time stopped, his legs paled.

"Wai─ Wait a moment please! What do you mean by most suitable?"

"Diana is my fiancée!"

"I know. But she's the priestess."

"Lucy is too! Isn't that why you got her back?"

"She's different. She is the priestess of the sapling, hence she is inferior to the priestess of the sacred tree."

"As she is also the heir. Diana-sama is more suited to be Zack-sama's wife, sorry."

"No... no, no!"

"This can't be!"

Lugh grabbed Zero.

"This must be a joke!"

"I'm afraid it's not."

"But... if you get to kill Rudel. You will be crowned a hero, for that reason you can reverse the roles and have Zack-sama marry Lucy and you marry Diana-sama."

"Kill... Rudel?"

A dark look flashed in Lugh's eyes.

"Is that the only way?"

"I'm afraid it is."

Lugh looked down at his hand as it trembled, his mouth made an expression of disgust as Zero in the background.

"With this. Everything is in check. what will you do Ixion?"

◇

The sun was almost rising.

It was less than an hour to the agreed time where we should have left.

The military and knights are at the other end of the dock.

The airships and armors are ready.

Ambassadors, tourists and other people from the Kingdom were boarding the airships.

There was a meeting with all the people from our home.

I told them what was going to happen, there were protests.

But I used my rifle and shot at the ceiling to shut them up.

I ordered them to board the airships with only the vitals and leave.

The knights and adventurers who came to support me said it was their duty to fight.

We needed hands, so we stole armor that was in storage from the embassies of other countries.

The armors were of good quality.

Everyone was getting ready.

Alisa and the others would be here and then they would go up to Aurora.

I gathered in a separate room certain people.

"I will be brief. I want your help in protecting this place in my absence."

Chlust thumped his chest, still wearing a speedo at a time like this, as Warren is in a loincloth, at least they're wearing shirts and shoes.

Put the damn pants on already.

"Frey, due to you being the most serious of all, I'm entrusting you with the role of commander."

"I'm sorry, count. But in this situation, you are our commander."

"Again? Well, you are the vice commander. You'll be in charge of leading the attack and you'll also support the others."

"Chlust, Warren. I'm counting on you to protect Frey?"

"Understood, commander." X2

"Right. Clovis."

"I could observe that you have a good eye for the little unnecessary details. That's why I'm putting you in charge of the flagship, Bell, you'll be with Clovis and attack anyone who approaches from small places."

"Aye aye!"

"Boys, I'm counting on you."

With those words, I turned to leave.

"Wait a minute! What about me? I won't do anything?"

As I expected, Liam noticed that I didn't call him.

I sighed and said.

"You're the crown prince. If anything happens to you, your mother would kill me."

"I want to help!"

"You will. You'll be with Alisa and the others, I hand you this to see that you'll do something."

I gave him my katana that I used in the past.

Liam looked very downcast.

"I understand..."

"If you see people from the Kingdom arriving, Rhino Magnus is parked outside... especially if it's Bram and Ada."

My brother and Allen's sister haven't arrived yet.

I'm getting really worried about them.

Now I'm out of the place.

◇

I went straight to change into my pilot suit. I walked out of the place and found Erselica waiting for me with a downcast look on her face.

As I passed her, she said.

"We should never have come here in the first place. If we hadn't come, none of this would have happened."

"... Are you feeling a deja vu perchance?"

"Maybe that's it... onii-chan, are you really going to kill Zack and the others?"

I stopped when she said if I was going to commit murder again.

I looked at her and stroked her head.

"Why are you worrying about that now?"

"I just have to kill Zack and a few idiots and that's it. We'll go home like this never happened."

"I'm wasting time. I'll see you in a bit."

◇

Erselica watched Rudel walk away.

She understood, the dark look with those lifeless eyes are sign that Rudel has killed his heart.

Right now he is just like the game, a villain.

She kicked the ground in frustration as she remembered that this world sees him as an enemy.

"Diana, why did you seek the wrath of onii-chan?"

◇

"You took your time didn't you?"

I got to where Ixion told me to wait for him.

We were behind the embassy, in a small warehouse.

"Like I told you, I sent Battler in quietly. Zero won't be able to locate him since it's wearing optical camouflage while walking on the ground."

"Won't he detect it?"

"Of course not. That guy thinks it will fly and be detected, he thinks I'm inferior to him and that's why he didn't take any precaution against this possibility."

"Okay. What time will your main body arrive?"

"About the same time we should be leaving. I've been reloading ammunition, the battle against Zero will be on a large scale."

"Yes..."

"Relax. I won't fight in residential area so residents won't die."

"That's not it. I thought this all happened because Zero is using Zack and Diana. Which led me to think this."

"Don't you do the same with me?"

Ixion stared at me.

"Are you making bad jokes right now?"

"If I were. I would have ended things differently."

"Stop wasting time, Master. We must hurry."

"I know. Haven't you been able to find Bram and Ada yet?"

"No. For some reason, the magic element today is very unstable."

"What do you mean by that?"

"It means, I feel like something bad is going to happen. The magic element has been this unstable since that day."

"The magic armor that attacked it."

I panicked a little at the memory.

"Hopefully nothing unnecessary happens anymore."

"Same here."

"Please come up in this."

Ixion removed a blanket over something. I could see a vehicle that didn't exist.

It reminded me of a snow sled, but its color was black.

"This is the first hovercraft. Or for you, an airbike."

"I christened it as Black Raven. It flies through the skies like a bird."

"Don't brag now."

I put on my helmet and Ixion settled into the center.

He turned it on. Slowly it rose and the back door opened.

"All right. Airi, here we go."

◇◇◇

Alisa was watching as Rudel climbed into a strange vehicle and went to rescue Airi.

"Rudel, good luck."

"I'm sure Count Rudel will save Irisdina-san without a problem."

Felicia was trying to improve Alisa's mood.

"I know. But I still can't stop worrying."

While Alisa was looking worriedly out the window, Liam was looking intently at the enemy side.

◇◇◇

Aster's skies were filled with every airship the country had.

The great nobles were leading the flagships.

Wenz and his son were on the far left.

Cliff in the center and Linus and on the far right.

The combined fleet of all Aster was in total about ten thousand airships.

It was a huge fleet. Not even the empire or the republic could compare to these numbers.

Cliff lit his cigarette as he checked his watch.

"Almost there."

Since he was now the Acting Chairman, he had all the power in the world.

"Truth be told Randolf, I didn't care if you were a traitor or not. I just wanted this opportunity."

"The only bad thing is that stupid Jude let your daughter escape."

"Whatever. After this I'll make sure he's put to sleep forever."

Cliff relished the moments where he would prove to be Acting Chairman.

Linus on the other hand was weirded out.

He said to his knight leader.

"Let's go back, I forgot something."

A ship went to the temple on Linus' order.

◇◇◇

Diana called Lutart.

"You called me?"

"Yes. Lutart, I want you to make sure she doesn't escape. I'll go with the others to be in front."

"There's no way to escape through the windows, only this way. I don't want you to let anyone in either."

"Understood."

"Good... Err, thank you."

"Why do you say that?"

"For your unconditional help over the years."

Lutart stiffened in respect.

"You shouldn't say that. I was only a novice knight, my predecessor died doing his job. All I did was run away with both of you in my arms."

"I will never forget that day. Beatrix-sama summoned all her relatives for an important meeting."

"I went out for a smoke since no servant or knight was allowed to be around. After I finished my cigar, I heard screams and saw the flames."

"You two were near the entrance and so I was able to save them as I fled with the other servants."

"If I had had power, I could have saved my lords."

"Don't worry about that. Rosenberg will pay for his sins after this is over."

"I'm leaving, I'll take care of it."

"Yes! ... Emm, Diana-sama. Will you carry that?"

Lutart pointed to the sapling in Diana's arms.

"Yes. This boy needs to observe his true guardian."

"... Then the rumor is true."

"What rumor?"

"The rumor that you are to marry the guardian, Zack from Wayne Household."

"Sorry!"

"I'm not marrying Zack!"

"That's a lie! I'm marrying Lugh!"

"Him and no one else!"

Diana stormed off angrily as she muttered.

"Who the hell spread that rumor?"

◇

"It's unbelievable."

I was flying with this bike without wheels.

In order for us not to be detected, Ixion used optical camouflage that deflects light.

Then he activated a hologram of a flock circling the intended location. This way, if we are detected, they will only see birds.

"Master, in three minutes we will arrive. Don't deactivate the cloak and hide the airbike well."

"I know."

Hang on Airi, I'm almost there.

◇◇◇

The room where Airi is being held captive, she was sitting on the bed.

She heard voices outside the door which opened.

It was Randy who came to that room.

As the head of Herring Household, he came to Airi's room for a reason.

"Are you that boy's fiancée! That fiendish knight!"

"... That's right."

His eyes showed a sense of darkness, he showed his smile.

He had a gun in his hand, he approached the bed.

He grabbed Airi's arm.

"Come on! I'll earn the honor of killing him personally for what he did to me. Only a Herring deserves to kill that leech."

She was a hostage, Airi resisted.

"Noo! Please let me go!"

Randy sent a glare at Airi.

"Now that I see you up close, you're not bad at all. You're my type."

"I've never been with a busty blonde before, the young girls here don't come up to your level of beauty, huehuehue. I'll play with you a little and then show you off to that bastard."

Airi paled as Randy removed his pants with a vulgar grin. His tongue wagged in a lascivious manner.

"Nooooo! Get away!"

"Oh, scream some more! I like them when they beg, for that reason I don't mind having two dead sons. I hear the women of the Kingdom are shameless sluts."

"Don't try to act like a pure maiden now, huehuehue."

Beyond the door, the knights and soldiers who were closing the door didn't stop Randy. That was because they were of lower rank, daring to go against a great noble was a crime for them.

Airi tries to resist before him, she activated her magic to create a shield.

"You thought that would be enough!"

Randy's crest glows, canceling Airi's magic.

"... Huh? No way. Why my magic─?"

"This is the reality, the power of a great noble, the power of the sacred tree cannot be defeated by swimming. Now let's have fun. I'll make you forget about that brat."

Airi's spine trembled at Randy's words and she felt disgust, tears running down her cheeks as her face deformed from fear.

Randy licks his tongue as he rips her blouse, her white bra was exposed.

"Noooo. let go of me! Rudel-san, help me!"

◇◇◇

Lutart was outside listening to everything.

"We are knights, but we can't do anything when our superior orders us to do something."

Randy came with a smile on his face and ordered them to let him pass and not to intervene until he comes out satisfied.

"Everyone, just ignore him. Focus on protecting this place."

The knights and soldiers ignored Airi's shouts as they patrolled.

One of them turned around.

"Huh?"

He thought he heard a breath.

"Weird? Must be the wind."

"Is it this way?"

"Yes. At the bottom."

"...!"

The soldier no doubt heard a voice─ two voices behind him.

"I must eliminate the disturbance."

The soldier was about to draw his sword, but something grabbed him from behind and in one motion, broke his neck.

His body fell to the ground.

The knights and soldiers who were in the corridor saw the body of their comrade.

They went on alert drawing their swords and rifles.

"Who's there?"

Shouted one of them. Lutart began to sweat.

Suddenly, they noticed a translucent figure standing in front of them.

That body looked just like a bubble being hit by sunlight.

The soldiers with rifles aimed at it and fired.

The invisible body moved in a manner similar to a fly dodging the bullets.

Arriving near a knight, he pulled out a knife and plunged it into the man's neck.

He grabbed the rifle and fired at the men while using the soldier's body as a shield.

Some rushed at the invisible body drawing their swords.

The invisible man pulled a pistol from his pocket and shot the knights in the feet and thighs.

Then from his knee, a razor raised and proceeded to slit the jugular of all present.

It was a method where knights and soldiers would die without feeling pain.

Only Lutart remained.

(How is this possible?)

(A dozen men lost their lives in just a few moments. This must surely be the work of that man.)

Lutart understood why that person was here, but he couldn't let him continue.

"Even if it costs me my life, I will protect my order from my mistress."

"I don't give a shit about your order."

The invisible body disappeared.

Lutart stood on guard, but to no avail.

He took a direct combo blow to his stomach and face.

He got to his feet, but a hard kick came in his face breaking his nose.

Then he mercilessly punched his face.

Lutart's consciousness fainted, but before doing so he thought.

(If only with this alone he is this strong, I don't want to imagine what he will be like with his armor.)

"Because you are someone important to Lucy, I won't kill you."

After Lutart lost consciousness, the invisible body began to materialize.

Wearing a black suit with a mask hiding his face, he took it off and Rudel's face along with Ixion were in front of the door.

◇◇◇

Airi was screaming.

"Let me go! Please let me go!"

Randy was unbuckling his belt and pulls down his pants, but because he holds Airi's arm with one hand, he can't take off his underwear.

"Shut up! I resent that pure aptitude of yours, you guys act all proud when you are sluts. After receiving affection by many men you try to behave like that, aren't you another slut like them?"

"I wouldn't do that!"

"The only one I've been with is and always will be my fiancé!"

"That's fine by me! You just have to sire the new heir to the Herring bloodline, seeing how beautiful you are. My children will come out very beautiful, huehuehue. Then I'll show you a real man as soon as possible, so hang in there!"

Randy is also a man.

Stronger than women and children.

However, Airi's resistance was stronger than he expected, and she managed to push him down with his pants down to his ankles... he couldn't move forward from there.

"Y-you fucking bitch! You don't give up! I'll use violence on you!"

At that moment, the door is forced open.

"...!"

Rudel entered and saw Randy. Next thing, he ran to him and gave him a strong kick in the underbody sending him flying.

Randy fell on a table breaking it into many parts, Airi had her eyes closed, she opened them and was surprised.

"Rudel-san!"

She cried with happiness seeing again her beloved saving her.

Airi was released, she squeezes her hand on her chest.

She was relieved to hear a voice that could not be mistaken.

To her, it seemed that Rudel suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

He is wearing a pilot's suit and has a gun in his hand.

"I've come to pick you up, Airi."

Shedding tears, Airi hugged Rudel.

"Rudel-san! I was so afraid that they would do something to me! I was really terrified!"

"It's okay now. I've taken care of the guards outside, we'll be leaving this place soon."

Airi nods.

"Yes. I want to go home with everyone."

"I'm so sorry for delaying. There's an optical camouflage sheet, so use it."

When she uses an invisible blanket, Airi blends in with the surrounding scenery and disappears.

When she looks in the mirror, she actually disappears.

"This is amazing."

"However, it's not 100% perfect its concealment. Airi, I don't want you to see."

"I have unfinished business, so please come out first."

"... What are you going to do?"

She asked intrigued by his words.

Rudel gives Airi a smile.

"A taste of karma."

Despite smiling, Rudel's eyes reflected nothing more than darkness in them.

"Rudel-san, you're going─ huh?"

Airi was glad to see Rudel, but there was something different from the usual face. It looked like another person in front of her.

"Rudel-san, are you angry?"

Rudel hides his face with his left hand.

"It's hard because of what I feel."

"I'm sorry."

"Go out to the corridor and wait for me."

Rudel speaks to her with a smile, that's why he led Airi out of the room.

"You mustn't see this."

"Rudel-san! Wait a moment! Is it necessary to do so? I'm already fine."

"It is. This was my mistake. That's why I'm the one to blame. This all happened because I decided to be a civilized person, now no more. No more Rudel crying about pulling the trigger."

"You were scared, weren't you? You don't have to worry anymore, so please wait outside. I'll be out of here as soon as I'm done."

When Airi nodded and left the room, Rudel's smile faded.

◇◇◇

Randy stood up in pain.

"My face, it hurts so much."

Rudel walked over to him.

He looked at him as if he had a piece of garbage in front of him.

"Did you have fun?"

"You fucking brat! You won't get away with this!"

"Soon, you and your allies are going─ Mmm!"

Rudel shoved his gun into Randy's mouth.

It was only when he felt the cold metal in his mouth that he understood his situation.

He was trying to dialogue as the barrel touched his uvula.

"P-Please hold on!"

"As part of the great nobles I have a lot of power and influence!"

"I'll talk to everyone so I can avoid these problems!"

"... You've always been a pain in my ass."

"Your bastard son stole my airship, beat me and my friends."

"Soon you guys came to hassle me."

"Then I find you wanting to do things to my woman, do you know how pissed off I am now?"

His finger moved to the trigger.

Randy cried as he pleaded.

"Please forgive me!"

"Beg like the pig you are."

"Buhi! I'm a piggy! Buhi! Please forgive me!"

"I'll give you a lot of money! I'm very rich!"

"You're right, there's something I want from you."

Randy was pleased, but then horrified to see Rudel's eyes as Rudel shoved his gun in further.

"What I want from you is just one thing."

At that moment─

"That you shut that damn mouth of yours forever."

Randy perished at Rudel's hands.

◇◇◇

(What's that sound? Was it a gunshot?)

Airi heard the sound of several gunshots.

It was a sound she had heard in the past several times.

The door opened and Rudel came out as if he had gone to the bathroom.

*Whistling*

"I feel fine~. Let's go now."

"Rudel-san... are you okay?"

Airi asked as Rudel immediately closed the room.

"What did you do? I heard a noise that I didn't want to remember."

"You don't need to know."

Rudel looked at Airi with a smile, but his eyes didn't reflect that sense of joy.

She averted her gaze to the ground, she noticed how his shoes and gun were stained red.

◇◇◇

"Intruders!"

"Someone has shot the head of Herring Household!"

"Block all entrances and exits!"

Rudel and Airi walked together covered by the blanket.

After killing Randy, Rudel was leaving clues in different places so there would be confusion.

Outside the temple near some trees, his airbike was parked.

The camouflage was branches and bushes perfectly placed.

Ixion arrived earlier and turned it on.

"Master, Battler has arrived. He's waiting for you to enter."

Cylinder-shaped robots stood near Battler.

Rudel took off his cloak and then gave it to Airi to cover her front part that was visible.

She looked at him dejectedly.

"Rudel-san. why did this happen?"

"It's their fault."

"Is it the same as that time?"

"... I'd say it's worse. After all, they seek to kill me."

"Their pride and ambition has blinded them and they only care about their revenge against me."

"That is why I must teach them. This country and those idiots, that messing with me was their worst mistake."

Airi looked up, the light that surrounded Rudel's eyes, no longer there.

She hugged him with all her might.

"Even if today's Rudel-san thinks he's different from yesterday. To me you will always be the same."

"For that reason, as your betrothed, I will share some of what torments you, your sins, everything. For that reason, I ask you, take care of yourself."

He took her hand and then turned away.

"I will. Wait for me."

He moved to her lips and they gave each other a deep kiss.

"I won't let anything happen to you. Ixion, have Airi come back through a safe zone, no matter if she's late getting there."

"Okay."

"Airi, go upstairs and go with the robots. I'll try not to let this take too long."

Airi got on the airbike and a robot was in front of her. Next to her were two robots with rifles in their hands.

She took one last look at Rudel as the airbike slowly took off.

"Save Lucy."

"I will."

Airi flew off straight into the sky. Rudel waved goodbye to her.

Now that Airi was gone, Rudel's smile faded.

"Ixion, it's time."

Rudel pulled a small button out of his pocket.

He looked at the temple of the sacred tree where the great nobles gather.

He closed his eyes and after a while he opened them and then─

*Press*

◇◇◇

"Have they found him?"

"I'm afraid not."

"Not even a clue who it might have been?"

"Neither."

The official who asked a servant clicked his tongue.

"Damn it. If we don't find the man responsible for Herring's murder. My head will fly off."

A maid came up to him and handed him a cup of tea. As he drank it he said.

"This tea tastes like shit."

"I'm so sorry. I'll go prepare anoth─"

Those were their last words they uttered while different lights were shining at the same time in many rooms and places in the building.

Next act. A huge explosion occurred tearing down the place as if it was a demolition.

The people inside the place tried to escape while screaming in fear, but the explosions were so powerful that it reached them.

One woman tried to escape through the window, but the debris from the top fell on her.

In less than a minute, the gathering symbol of the great nobles, the capitol collapsed with everyone inside.

◇◇◇

"Wow. That sure was powerful."

Rudel commented after seeing the temple being destroyed.

The first time it had caused damage was when he rescued Lucy. Now he had completely destroyed it.

Next to him stood Lutart with bandages watching it all.

He commented to him.

"This was your goal, to destroy the symbol of authority of the great nobles?"

"..."

Rudel did not answer, but he did say.

"Ixion, we're already one for three revenge. I already put them through the humiliation I received."

"Then the other two follow."

Lutart understood that Rudel was going to take revenge in three different ways on them. He burst into tears as he understood that they lost.

"We are finished. This country sought the wrath of a peaceful demon."

Rudel walked into Battler. He was about to leave when─

"There it is! We found it!"

An airship from which armed units were descending was approaching Rudel.

Rudel watched as one of them spoke to him as he dove to the ground.

"My bad feeling was right!"

Descending in centaur-like armor, with a cone spear in his right hand was Linus.

The one piloting the lower part of the centaur was their knight leader.

Linus and the other knight escorts were approaching Rudel with the same armored units.

"Count Bradford. No, Demon of the Kingdom."

"You've really done it this time. You've destroyed the symbol of authority of ours."

Armor surrounded Rudel.

He only listened to what Linus had to say.

"At this moment I am very angry. You destroyed a national heritage as a historical site, I will make sure you pay for it with your life."

"You will not escape from here! Everyone, don't let him escape!"

A magic circle manifested on the ground and covered Rudel.

"In the name of the emblem of Exner Household! I swear by the sacred tree that I will defeat you with my men!"

"Take his heeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaad!"

The knights approached Rudel. They were a dozens of them in all.

The spear of one of them came close, Battler grabbed it and took it from him.

He hurled it at one of them and with that killed the pilots.

He then pulled his axes from his mechanical backpack.

Battler proceeded to slice everyone present.

They all tried to defend themselves, but in the face of Battler's movements it was useless.

The leader of the knights said to Linus sweating.

"M-My lord this is dangerous! We must retreat immediately."

"Are you out of your mind?"

"I swore before the sacred tree that we would win. If I run away it will be the same as dying."

Linus then watched as Rudel hurled all of his escorts like rocks at the airship.

In less than the blink of an eye, the airship exploded and fell to the ground.

Linus could not believe his eyes.

He looked ahead and there was only him and Battler.

He was so angry that he ordered his knight leader to follow deep.

"This is for the great nobles!"

"For Aster!"

"And most of all... for humiliating meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

The spear came at his chest, but Battler repelled it simply with one motion.

He drove the axes into the ground and lifted Gier as if he weighed nothing.

He threw him several meters and landed on the wreckage of the airship.

With just that one moves, Gier was shattered.

His knight leader died instantly. Linus was wounded.

Blood dripped from his forehead. His eyes were red and his legs were broken.

He opened the hatch to get out.

But his belt was stuck.

"Damn it. I've got to get out of here."

"I can't die. I can't─"

"Hey. What do you think you're doing?"

He looked up and there he saw Battler.

Linus wasn't an idiot. He understood what he did unlike Randy.

"H-Hold on a moment please count."

"It's my fault, I admit it. I'm sorry. I won't say it's a joke."

"Let me go and I'll help you with this problem. I'll even reward you for your trouble."

Rudel was quiet for a few minutes, opened his mouth to tell him.

"What you did is not something that can be remedied with an apology and bribe. Politics nor influence works here with you being what caused me to do this."

"Don't you understand yet?"

"This is not a game or a joke."

"It's a fucking war between you and me!"

Rudel pointed Battler's hands at Linus.

Like a child he burst into tears as he tried to escape by pleading.

"Please, I beg you!"

"I don't want to die yet!"

"I want to do many things!"

"Acting Chairman, help meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

The light was getting brighter and brighter.

"Asking Randolf for help under these circumstances. You really are a rat. Die."

"Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo──!"

Linus' existence was erased by a beam of light without a trace.

Rudel looked up at the sky.

"Ixion. We've finished the snack. Now let's get dinner."

Leaving a trail of death and destruction in its path. Battler flew to the battlefield high above.

The war between the Aster Supreme Kingdom against Rudel began.

_______________

Link where you can download the chapter with the illustrations, Linus' face is pure gold:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NwaCq6b5_YPa_jJbavzMBxbFHsa2oOth