Save 43 - Game Clear

The morning of a new day has arrived.

We were already in the middle of January due to many things to do such as; burying the dead, empty tombstones mostly due to not being able to recover their bodies, plus expanding the cemeteries. Reward the brave warriors who fought, whether they are alive or not. Start the reconstructions of the capital because of what happened, for the luck of the kingdom I made a deal with them.

I told my father to lend me the robots from both businesses so I can do secret reconstructions, this world needs to modernize a bit if he wants me to live here, and starting with the kingdom is a good step.

I really hate not having TV, internet or video games. So I'll have Ixion bring almost 1000 years of futuristic development to this crappy fake fantasy world that it really is.

Back to what happened before this great day. There were a lot of medals and a lot of demotions as rank promotions.

The girls somehow I don't know how, were awarded the medal for effort, bravery, honor and both promoted to knight of low rank.

Airi was surprised, as this was the first time a commoner and not a commoner had been promoted to knighthood and she was not even a baronet for it.

Erselica was also promoted for being the one who faced Rafiel, no one cared that she had the same rank as Airi.

My family somehow stood out and a lot.

Apparently, many marveled at my family's ships and armed units.

Currently the palace has a deal with the shipyard and workshop to modernize our ships and mobile knights.

There was a lot of resentment with my family from the workshops, master craftsmen and thaumaturges. I partly understand them, as no one would think that a simpleton family from the countryside would make such an impact on the country.

Although it is due to me of course.

My father and brothers were knighted of low rank. Both Lyle and Bram were graduates of their academies as it was absurd to have two brave knights studying was what many thought.

My father had no court rank, but was given the top eighth rank because of how brave he was, according to reports, to march right into the center of it all and stay there.

My mother warned him not to get anything on him as now many people, both men and women want to shake his hand.

As for me...

"He looks very happy today."

It is just as the beautiful woman I am in the carriage with says.

I am happy since today, I will be demoted to a baronet after the offenses I committed in the palace. Besides, I was blamed for the sinking of the royal airship, which I gladly accepted.

My court and noble rank will be removed to have the same status as a baronet, and who knows, maybe I will be lowered to a commoner.

Excitement wells up in me!

"There was no need to come and pick us up, we would take rented any carriage to come straight to the palace, my Queen."

When my family and I arrive at the port, Queen Lecia-sama was waiting for us in person to escort us.

My family is in the back carriage, there are ten carriages in total, the reason is that the most important woman in the country came to pick up a family from the countryside, even I don't believe it.

"Please don't say that, today I wanted to have a little chat with you nothing more."

"I understand, and what could that be?"

I was asking him with interest as I watched from my seat as he passed by different places to go to the palace, among them the cemetery.

Death is definitely something I don't want to see until I'm a decrepit, washed-up old man.

From her seat across from me, she would ask me questions about what the robots did.

I told her it was a gift that would take time to make.

From the other end of the carriage window I could see several robots flying around as they drilled into the ground to drive large metal pipes. Only I know what that means.

I lost the machine to make money, but I will make money by rebuilding objects from my former life.

No doubt, I'll be filthy rich in a year.

"I see."

She said after she finished telling him a little about what they were doing so he wouldn't suspect it was something bad.

I could already see the shadow of the palace getting closer and closer.

I was trying to keep my happiness inside so she wouldn't notice, what I did notice was that she was looking at me with a face that indicated she was annoyed with me.

Just like Airi that time, this mature woman was puffing out both cheeks like a balloon while furrowing her eyebrows in annoyance.

"I- is something wrong with you my Queen?"

"Nothing."

She averted her gaze from me to watch the road and occasionally glanced at me.

Please stop being charming, a mother shouldn't have that destructive charm.

I inadvertently looked at her dress and hair.

It was a beautiful white dress with sequins, gloves of the same color up to the elbow. A pearl necklace that looked like a snake wrapped around her entire neck, her hair was combed back leaving a more serious face of a woman who does not wear makeup to show her natural beauty.

The only thing she did have on her face was blush on her cheeks and lipstick on her lips that brought out the red in them.

I vowed not to see her breasts, but even if I don't see them everything else is divine.

"I want to monopolize her."

"Huh? She said something."

She turned to look at me for something I know escaped me.

Fortunately, she didn't hear what I said as she was making a wasp sound with her lips.

"Nothing! I just said that it was really nice to see this view and would like to monopolize this moment in my heart!"

"Huh? Well, it's true that it's a nice view. It'll be a pity that I won't be able to see it again when it's gone."

For some reason, her tone seemed to be sad.

I didn't say anything and both of us as if in sync, we started to look at the road until we reached the palace.

◇◇◇

As Rudel watched the road, Lecia's heart sent a feeling to her head as she looked sideways at her transportation partner.

(Rudel-kun Idiot.)

◇

The time has come; I was in my best outfit, I had my gloves, my cloak and my cape.

I walked down the big red carpet with a smile that made this terrifying face of mine look disturbing. Nothing would bother me today!

Ministers, officials, my family among other people were gathered.

They were arranged according to their ranks from least important to very important, from left to right.

I was ten feet away from the throne of King Leonis.

I did not find the girls and that my eyes would always find them.

The Queen was to the right of the King with her scepter, she was making the best face she could, but I could notice a little bit of discomfort towards me.

It hurts me, please stop, I don't want an older woman to hate me.

The King took the scepter and stood up, everyone did too by the sounds they made.

He started to make a speech. Ixion was at home and said he didn't want to see how he was more embarrassed as his master.

"On this day, I, Leonis von Altfode, would like to thank everyone once again for fighting for our country!"

(As I am bored with such dialogues indeed, hurry up I want to be demoted).

"It was a difficult time for many!"

(Umm, come to think of it. What will the girls do when I'm gone? Really, I'd like to know since Ixion will be with me and I won't be able to protect them from abroad).

"The war was horrible, but more horrible was the shame Viscount Bradford committed before the crown that day!"

(Oh, here it is! I can taste the degradation already.)

"For that reason I, take from him the position of supreme commander of the fleets of the realm."

(Farewell responsibilities I never wanted.)

"I take away your court rank, title of viscount and furthermore I take away your middle name."

(Ahh, absolute bliss here I come.)

I opened my eyes to see the King fulfilling the deal just as I asked.

But what is this?

I'm seeing that he stopped talking. And, he's seeing me. Why is he seeing me?

No, not just that.

Hey, why are you smiling?

What's with that strange smile of superiority?

"So, for his achievements and being the Hero of the Realm appointed him as, high ranking knight, minister of war and finally, renamed him as Count Rudel von Bradford, with the fifth lowest court rank!"

"I appreciate those humble-"

I unintentionally blurted out what I had to say after being demoted.

I was being demoted, wasn't I?

It's impossible to have said something that wasn't a demotion right?

Suddenly, I started sweating, my sweat was cold, I looked at the others and they were all open-mouthed and blank-eyed, my family seemed to have fainted.

"Y-y-your Majesty, I-I think I misheard, could you repeat that?"

The King showed no interest as he sat down after he finished speaking.

"It's alright. I appointed you as a knight of high rank, a position as a minister and renamed as Count Rudel von Bradford and a promotion to the lower fifth rank. Are you not satisfied? Well, to the fifth higher rank then."

It was there that the ministers, among them Mayer, raised a cry.

"Your Majesty what are you saying, that rank is already the same as being prime minister!"

"Right? Well, make it the fourth rank down."

"Your Majesty what are you doing!"

"At such a young age he has been promoted to minister!"

"In the history of the kingdom there has never been anyone known to have been renamed! And now he is a von having been born as a van!"

"Skipping the rank of viscount to earl, to become an earl, His Majesty has lost his mind!"

"Is that so? They're right, he's now the fourth highest rank."

"Wahh, he's now on the same level as the royal family and any duke!"

"Your Majesty, please reconsider what you are saying!"

"Certainly, you are now the third lowest rank, Count."

"Everyone shut up already!"

"In just one year he has risen so high being a teenager!"

"What's in store for the country now!"

"They're right, the position of crown prince becomes the second lowest rank and count to the third highest."

"Sorry, we won't question what you say, but please don't go on anymore!"

The ministers fell silent and even Mayer himself did not respond.

I could see the Queen trembling and her mouth opened as if to want to say something.

I was trembling, and I had only unpleasant thoughts as I watched the king Leonis, who was looking at me as if I had made the best presentation in the world.

"With that, this ceremony is over, enjoy the banquet to be held shortly."

(...Don't fuck with me, don't fuck with me, don't fuck with me, Kiiiing!!!!)

◇

"This is fucking shiiiiit!"

I threw my gloves and several pillows at the floor and walls as I was extremely upset.

"This was not what we agreed upon!!!"

I was now punching them as my anger had no way of being calmed.

"S-sonia. my son is a count and a minister!"

"What will that mean for this family!"

My parents were in the waiting room we were entrusted with after arriving, both of them trembling and looking at me in fright.

Pola just looked at me with eyes of admiration and awe, every now and then she would slip out something or other about being someone amazing.

As for my brothers...

"Wahh, Rudel is a count, a minister and his middle name change! Ahhh, my future is ruined now is it, ahhh!!!"

"Lyle, that's not the worst of it, this idiot is on the same level as Prince Liam at court, he surpassed the prime minister and the other dukes effortlessly. And to top it off, we can consider him a nobleman totally independent of the family, Rudel is another branch of the Bradford's!"

"Ahhh, shut up, shut up, shut up, ahhh!!!"

"Sonia, what should we call him now, Count or Rudel-sama?"

"I have no idea! I never expected any of my children to go through a miracle like this."

Everyone was terrified and elated because of what happened.

"Shut up!"

"I am and always will be Rudel, your son and brother! Don't talk nonsense!"

It seemed that, with that, they would not stop shaking like little animals.

"I'll go settle this now!"

"Hey, where are you going?" said my father.

"Obviously to ask for an explanation!"

I shouted it to my family and walked out of the room, closing it very tightly.

◇

"Ahahahaha, that's right, I killed that guy!"

I was laughing, I went out to look for the King, but I was informed that he was with the ministers talking about my promotion and minister position.

So I had no choice but to go to the banquet to wait for them to leave the meeting, it was a lousy decision.

I was surrounded by a bunch of old men and women who wanted to talk to me, after escaping from them, a group of noble ladies approached me.

I thought this was bad, but it was anything but.

"You weren't afraid?"

"Of course not. I faced it bravely like the hero I am."

I winked at them as they wanted me to tell them my stories of how I rose to be an earl.

Did I have to have refused, with a demon I didn't!

"It was a very hard battle against him and even more so when he revealed that mysterious technology that left the battlefield in chaos. I won't lie, I thought I was going to die, but.... Knowing that beautiful ladies like you would be in danger, it made my heart and soul scream with courage and I fought until I sacrificed my lost items!"

I was not going to waste the opportunity to show off to beautiful and even more so young girls who have not been tainted with the filth of society and the world.

I was recounting and dramatizing all the events that happened in my life.

One of them, with a panicked face asked me in a tender way that made her look like a fairytale woodland creature.

"Excuse me, may I call you Rudel-senpai? Even though it's two years before he enters the academy, it really is an honor to meet him, that's why I was wondering if I could call him by that name?"

To all of them I gave my best smile I could with this face.

"Of course, if you wish you can call me that or whatever you please."

"Kyahh!!!" They all shouted in unison.

"I can't wait for you to enter the academy to go to your tea meetings!"

"Talking to Rudel-senpai is very entertaining! His stories are not only true, they all seem to be taken from fiction."

"He certainly is what they call a hero of legends!"

"Life at the academy together with Rudel-sama will be wonderful no doubt!"

(Ahhh, this is what I always wanted. To be stalked by cute girls instead of old men).

(The academy will be a wonderful place for two years...)

(Wait! I don't have time to wallow in this wonderful sense of complacency. I must find the King and demand that he changes his order).

As if by incredible chance, I found him, he was making his way to a secluded spot in the crowd.

"Excuse me girls, but I must speak to someone, then we'll arrange a meeting, bye."

I ran to confront him and demand an explanation.

◇

"Hey, King."

After following him for a while, I finally caught up with him as I got a bit lost between these pillars since this part was a bit dark.

He turned around after calling out to him.

"Is something wrong, Count Bradford?"

"What the hell was that about count! What the hell was that back there? That wasn't what we agreed on."

I was annoyed and he was looking at me with a straight face.

But that's when his appearance changed, his belly came out of his girdle, also his face changed to one that looked like what I would look like if I were old.

"Hah, are you demanding something from the king? You impertinent fucking brat."

His would be and relaxed aptitude that he showed me during my two ascension ceremonies and during Balzac's trial and in the subway hangar was gone.

Was this guy really the King?

Now he raised his little finger on his left hand and did the same thing I do when talking to someone whose opinion doesn't interest me at all.

His finger poked his nose as he spoke to me.

"What happened was what you deserved, or what, did you really think you would get off scot-free after what you did? Fujaja, what an asshole you are, fujaja."

Was this guy just making fun of me?

"We had a deal! I would win and you guys would demote me."

His finger now pulled out a booger and he sent it flying with his breath to now rub his belly.

"The deal was too good don't you think? You'd win and go free, but what about me?"

I don't understand what he's saying now.

"I don't understand you?"

He left his belly alone to talk to me seriously.

"I'm talking about the shame I went through for you."

The one that was unworthy of a king no doubt.

"Shame... what did I cause you?"

"Of course!"

I think I know what you mean.

"I'm very sorry for hitting your son."

"Bubu!"

He made a strange sound that seemed to be a denial.

Then it must be that one, definitely anyone would be upset.

"I beg your forgiveness for upsetting your wife!"

"Idiot, who cares about that fat woman, and I'm not talking about my family!"

"...Huh? So..."

Her mouth twitched to say what she expected from Liam.

"He talked about you standing out more than the King! I wanted to be the center of attention, that's why I was glad when my brother died from working too hard, being a King means doing whatever you please and I was born to be one, but I don't want to be put to work, that's why I wanted Liam to be King already and make him work for me."

But this was much worse.

"You... you are worse human garbage than me!"

I yelled at him from the bottom of my heart.

"What the hell does what you say have to do with my involuntary promotion! This is a violation of my human rights!"

"Shut up insolent! That was my chance to show Mayer that I'm not that nagging kid anymore and you, only you ruined it by your stupidities and the fight against Liam. For that reason, I decided to take revenge on you, fujaja, I really am the best king ever."

"Don't fuck with me you, son of a bitch, you're a worse fucking son of a bitch than me!"

"Your reason for hating me is just childish resentment!"

"I'm the King, nothing is childish, everything is serious!"

"Fuck you, you fucking idiot! I'll do what I wasn't going to do - kick your ass right here and now!"

"If you do, Mayer will be pissed, I'm still the King, first and foremost."

"Guhh-in that case, I'll destroy the palace!"

"Sieg will be mad at you and even I don't want to have those eyes behind me!"

He's right, that old man is very annoying.

In that case, I'll use the heavy artillery.

"I'll hit your son as many times as I want!"

"Do it, I'd even make you crown prince instead of him, that flawed human being seems to lack brain cells."

Don't call your son that! Fine, I'll play rougher.

"I will harass in the worst, most shameless and shameless way your wife and in public!"

"Go ahead! She's just a political marriage and fulfilled her function of giving me an heir, I don't care what you do with her since she seemed to like what you told her, I'll appoint you as her official mistress if you want. Mind you, my girls are forbidden, I'll cut your head off if you go for them."

"Damn trash King are you Leonis!"

"Don't call your King trash!"

"Bullshit you're my king! You're fucking trash both as a king and as a human being, so I'll call you Leonis, the trash king of the trash kingdom."

"Fine, I'll kick your ass and then I'll go show everyone!"

"That's what I wanted!"

He got into an attack stance as I threw down my gloves and showed the same stance.

"Come on, I'll kick your royal ass and make you degrade me!"

"I'll never allow it! Guards, help your King, guards!"

"You're a fucking scumbag!"

Just as I was about to go out and hit him, my arm jerked back and that's when he touched something that wasn't there before.

I turned around and looked at it.

A huge pillar came out of nowhere.

"Excuse me, Your Majesty."

Or so it was until he spoke.

I stepped aside from how surprised I was.

There was little light, but only a part of his body was visible, it was a person, a very tall one, almost as tall as that bloodthirsty bastard.

His clothes seemed to be foreign, from the east it seems.

"A... Adlet, what are you doing here?"

Leonis called him Adlet, that means he knows him, but he looks scared as he was sweating and his teeth showing.

"I came to file my report about what happened with Moldred, I would like to know what all happened with him, but first I came to see you, Duke to King to apologize for what happened."

"...N-you don't need to apologize, everyone knows you are a great person and that Balzac was lying to you, fujaja."

I don't get it, why does he seem scared? And besides...

He said duke! That means this guy is....

In that darkness, his brown eyes stood out a lot, I could feel them glancing at me out of the corner of my eye.

"Can we talk somewhere private?"

"...Hey, is that necessary?"

"Yes, very much so."

"...Okay."

The tall guy walked over to Leonis who was scared, as they were going somewhere.

It was amazing to see him walking next to that guy, it's almost like seeing a tree with legs.

I stood there for a while waiting for my heart to calm down. This day has been full of strong emotions, it also looks like I won't be able to achieve my degradation with that trash King.

Just as I was about to go to the living room to be cheered up by the beautiful and pure girls, I heard some voices coming from another direction in this place.

"You're in the way, get out of the way."

"Kyah."

I ran towards the direction of that cute cry since I would recognize it wherever I went.

After running a bit, I found her, Airi was on the ground, she seemed to have fallen.

"Airi, are you okay?"

"...Rudel-san, I'm fine, I was looking for you and that girl out of nowhere pushed me for no reason."

She pointed her nose at me in the direction where that idiot went.

The place where she left was dark, but I could notice two figures that seemed to fade almost into the shadows, one of them was a maid talking to her.

"Char-sama, you shouldn't do that."

"Who cares about a commoner, Addy, where is that idiot?"

The voices could no longer be heard because of how far away they were, the only thing that, if I could notice before they disappeared, was that the girl who seems to be the one guilty of pushing Airi was a noblewoman, her dress was beautiful and white.

But the most curious thing is that the color of her hair and the way it shined, reminded me a lot of Liam, as if Liam had become a girl.

No, it must be just my hatred of that idiot that makes me think weird things.

I held out both hands to Airi for her to stand up.

As I helped her up, I looked at the dress she was wearing.

It was blue with a short thigh length skirt, white sneakers, a pearl necklace and her hair was combed on one side only, honestly I prefer her normal style, it makes her look prettier.

"May I know what you were looking for me for? And, you look great."

She dusted off her dress and reacted to what I said.

"Thank you, I was looking for you since I want to tell you something, well actually it's Alisa and I that want to tell you something."

"Whatever it is, I'm sorry it's not today, I'm not in the mood right now."

"Huh? Umm, I understand and when could it be?"

She was really wanting to ask me something, is it that important?

"If it's something simple or what I will do from now on, you can tell me any day, you don't need to call Alisa for that."

"No, it's a question that includes Alisa, me and you!"

She seemed very elated for some reason.

"If you want, let's go get her now."

With those words we went to look for Alisa, but somehow Airi went astray when I turned around, and by chance came who I was looking for.

"Rudel!"

It was Alisa who came running towards me, she was in a long red dress, like her heels, her hair will always amaze me as she has it short, but when she untied it seemed to magically grow, currently it was on the side of her shoulder.

She would lift her skirt a little as she came, I inadvertently looked at her legs which were not wearing stockings, it was her skin I could see, a good thing today no doubt.

"Do you know anything regarding what His Majesty appointed you?"

"No, do you?"

She turned her head when I asked.

"Not at all, neither my father, the prime minister nor much less Lecia-sama knew anything regarding that."

(So the bastard pulled it out of his sleeve and didn't tell anyone!)

(This is bad, at this rate, it's really going to turn dark in my future.)

"Rudel."

Alisa called out to me while biting my finger.

Her eyes were serious and staring at me.

"I'd like to take some of your time, Airi and I have to tell you-"

"But what a nice surprise, just who I was looking for."

We both turned to that voice that seemed to be heading our way and sure enough, it was the other woman who was part of my sparse social circle.

"I'm not in the mood for your strange comments to me, Eleonora-senpai."

As usual, this girl with cyan hair and large breasts raised by her arms seeks to annoy me with the strange things she says, I don't see her usual fan or her cliché ninja around.

"Really, you're the kind of man who needs education, fufu, I wouldn't mind giving you private lessons."

"But that's not what I wanted to talk about, I came to tell you that this is the last time we'll meet like this."

"Uh, why?"

"It's obvious why I graduated early silly, despite all the scandal that happened at the academy, graduation is something that was bound to happen to me."

"Oh that's right, I wish you the best in whatever you do from now on."

"Thank you, but I didn't come for you to tell me that, I came to ask you, what are you going to do to now?"

I imagine that's what he's saying.

"You are a count despite being born a baron, you were renamed; something that had never happened before, you entered the same rank as the crown prince surpassing that of the prime minister and other relatives of the royal family, not even the lady next to you to be at your level despite being of a higher rank and, as icing on the cake, you were declared as a minister and of a new title. You know what this means right?"

"...Yes. Annoying problems."

"Besides your zero interest in that, I don't mean that, I mean something much more important than all that."

"Compromise..."

It was Alisa who answered it while clutching her dress with both hands.

"It's just as she says, from now on you will be the target of many women whether you want it or not. So I recommend you go looking for excellent options."

Every single thing that comes out of her mouth is bad for me.

"Really? I'm sorry to tell you that the only thing I have left now is only my hero title; my lost items were destroyed with no chance of being recovered and mostly sunk. The workshop and shipyard belongs to my family, so if any woman wants that interest she should seek out my older brother and tie it to him. And if that wasn't enough, the palace took my territory from me after the sinking of their precious ship. Sorry, but I'm a poor sod who doesn't even have anywhere to drop dead, no matter what kind of woman I am, not a single one will want to be with a guy who doesn't even have a copper coin to eat hahaha."

I laughed loudly to show him my reality, but I didn't imagine I had such a scary countermeasure.

"Really, how silly you are, do you think that's enough to stop a girl from being with you?"

"Huh? But I'm-"

"A nobleman who started last year as a mere non-heir and ended up a few hours ago becoming an earl, promoted to minister and being two ranks below His Majesty. You are not a normal man, whether you want to or not, you will capture the interest of many people. For that reason, you had better start looking for your own allies, I will always be your ally, but the world you entered requires people who don't want to use you or discard you."

Please don't try to scare me, you've already succeeded.

"There is only one option left for you to make your life better, commit to the daughter of an influential family. Only this way, your future will be more or less secured both financially and socially. You don't have a territory, do you? That's a perfect opportunity to ask as a gift to your future in-laws, fufu."

She was laughing a lot, the conversation seemed to turn strange, this took a turn where they try to engage me no matter what.

"You can also create your own house since you are a noble independent of your own, it would be a second branch, but I don't think your family seems to mind you being the main branch, at the end of the day, your children will be the ones to inherit your territories."

"I've been listening to everything for a while now, but you, what are you trying to tell Rudel?"

Alisa suddenly spoke, her eyes looked very furious at her, senpai on the other hand smiled as he watched her.

"I'm just telling you a way to make your life better."

"Oh yeah? Then why does it look like you're trying to push him into your house?"

Senpai's smile grew bigger.

"Fufu, does it look like that? I'm sorry it seems that way, though truth be told, House Roseblaire wouldn't mind him being the next boss. And even more so when my father sang wonders of him and his family."

"By joining the senpai house, does that mean you want me to marry you!!!?"

"Wow, you're not as slow as you look. My mother nor my younger sister would mind if you were the next head of the house, mind you, they did say you need to improve your manners, but that would be taken care of by me in our privacy."

She put her hand on my chin and brought her face close to me, I could feel her breathing."

"Cut the crap! Rudel is and will be the next head of his house."

Alisa grabbed me to pull me to the side of her as she faced senpai.

"Shall you? I don't care whose house is the next boss, but my husband will only be one man."

"That's precisely why! Stop telling Rudel what's best for him! That's my job as her employer!"

"Oh dear, at this point do you still think you are his mistress? I'm sorry to tell you that your game of friends and knight was over when he was declared a hero, women will surround him whether you want them to or not, his future wife's job will be to keep those vermin away from her husband's purse."

"There you go again, stop calling yourself Rudel's wife, he doesn't have a fiancée yet!"

Things were getting very scary, so I decided to run away from there.

Truly, my peaceful life seemed to be over.

◇◇◇

News about Rudel was spreading to all ends of the world, in a certain country it was already getting dark.

A girl was returning from daily shopping after leaving work.

The lights of the headlights were coming on, the bustle of people and other unimaginable sounds as well.

At that moment, a newspaper crashed into her face, she picked it up without the slightest interest.

She read what the part of the newspaper that crashed into her said.

"Altfode Kingdom celebrates that the newly appointed Earl Bradford, eliminated the dreaded bloodthirsty knight? but what stupidity is this?"

The girl crumpled up the newspaper and tossed it aside, she continued on her way straight home, her long hair pulled back in pigtails swaying in the wind.

◇◇◇

In another part of the world, in a kingdom bathed in sunlight, in a special room, stood a soldier reading the news to his superior.

"...What was it you said?"

The superior was listening to what his subordinate said from the international news as he wrote his report.

His office was decorated with various fine and elegant items, there were only two portraits there, one seemed to be of him and his family and the other was of a seated man with long hair.

To one side of the man, was a large split sword as a trophy.

"Yes. According to the Aster newspaper that came to us this morning, there is talk that in Altfode Kingdom, a small and almost underdeveloped country in the south, had a war involving the Black Ouroboros, it seems everyone died including their captain. The kingdom seems to celebrate and to have decorated the nobleman who killed him."

"...What is the name of that nobleman?"

"Rudel von Bradford, my cardinal."

"...I see, you may retire."

"Yes. I will return tomorrow to inform you of the news of the world, until tomorrow Cardinal Darnic."

When the subordinate left and no more footsteps could be heard.

"Are you fucking with me!!!?"

The man burst out.

"What the hell does that mean, you let someone else besides me kill you Bandel!!!?"

He slammed his desk destroying everything on top of it.

"I told you I'd be the one to take your life, it was an eye for an eye you fucking barbarian!"

The man touched his face, his fingers wanting to pierce his flesh.

"How could you let a simpleton peasant kill you! It should have been me who would take your life after losing to you in the war eight years ago!"

The man turned to place his hands on the door connecting to the balcony of his office, inhaled and then shouted from the bottom of his heart as his closed eyes widened.

"I will never forgive you, Rudel von Bradford, my vengeance will now fall upon you!!!"

"You will rue the day you decided to make an enemy of the Sword Saint!!!"

◇

I was in the palace, it was for two reasons.

The first was that today was the day when, at last after much hassle, they released Erselica, the idiots were released weeks ago.

Apparently Liam and the others earned the hatred of the ministers and officials, the Queen hid them on a private island belonging to her.

She said it was for their good until Mayer and the others don't want to hang him with their own hands.

The other reason for being here is because it is less than two weeks before I leave to study abroad.

I had reports to file as they apparently wondered how I would do without a ship they didn't want to provide me with.

I told them that Ixion built an airship similar to Brunhilde, the size was smaller and its stats far inferior.

Ixion himself said it was impossible to replicate Battler and Brunhilde without the original parts.

So he had to create some second hand copies, he was upset and very much so.

I sat in a private room with the Queen to chat a bit, our conversations were healthy, so there was no need for maidservants to surround me in armor.

As we laughed, a topic came up.

"Truly, you are an oddity."

"Eh, may I know why?"

"It's because of that girl, how hard you went out of your way to help her despite everything you did to her."

"Like I said, she was being extorted by those two, I can't condemn her for it."

"I know, I mean the other things she did."

"Else?"

I stared at her quizzically, but she looked even stranger.

"Count, have you already forgotten what you did to them? That's why I say you are an oddity, I thought you would be the one who would support their execution the most."

"Excuse me, but I don't understand what you're saying at all?"

She looked at me as if I had made a mistake.

"...No way! Don't tell me you don't know and yet you decided to help her?"

She really leaves me more intrigued every time she speaks.

"I don't know what you're talking about, excuse me."

She looked a little reluctant to speak at first, but after looking at me and the maids.

"...Well, I think you have matured after your promotion since you didn't want to kill His Majesty, my husband, after his promotion."

Yes, I accepted him as an adult after crying. Fortunately, no one called me to the ministers' meetings showing that they did not want me.

"Listen, this is what happened after being locked up on Balzac's orders."

She told me a story that apparently everyone but me knew, the more she spoke, the more she spoke, my smile I made upon hearing her was completely erased and my tea prepared by my mentor fell to the floor.

◇◇◇

Alisa and Airi were at the same time in the palace, both of them were in Siegwald's office who just had time off after everything that happened.

And now, he was extremely upset.

"Any idea how long you were planning to keep this quiet?"

Airi wanted to speak for her friend, but Alisa grabbed her hand as a sign for her not to speak.

"...I'm sorry."

"You think a simple sorry is enough to make amends for everything you caused!!!?"

Alisa had her head bowed, Airi too in apology, but Alisa was doing it out of embarrassment to see her father.

"Not only have you brought shame to the family, to our ancestors, but you have also soiled the Bismarck family name with your stupidities!"

"...I'm sorry."

"You made an exhibition of your body and hers in public, you lowered your head in front of someone who was an impostor, you attacked palace guards; among them your own brother, and worst of all.... you beat up His Highness the prince and were second responsible for getting that ship destroyed!"

"...I'm sorry."

"Sorry won't make the shame and humiliation wash out of our blood! If your mother were here, I don't know what she would do to you."

"...I'm sorry."

Alisa wanted to cry, not for everything she did, but for soiling her family's name.

"You have committed many crimes for this family, no matter if you are the daughter of a duke, execution would come to you for offending the royal family and being complicit in the loss of a priceless treasure."

Neither gave an answer.

"Don't be silent, speak up!"

They both felt chills as they heard that cry from an angry father and minister.

"...Father, if you will let me explain-"

"Explain what, Alisa? Explain what!!!?"

"...It was all to help Rudel."

Alisa's voice sounded like that of a child about to cry after being scolded.

"And how did that help work out for you!?"

"Not only did it not help at all, without the attack on the capital, he would have equally found a way to escape and have everything turn out in his favor. I still don't understand how the logic around it works, but no matter what you did, it didn't help."

"And how did he repay you? By freeing the impostor and guaranteeing her life despite what she made you do, the Bismarck family will never forgive her let alone that ungrateful man, even Mayer is upset with him too. He has no one to back him up or support him anymore, the idiot even offered us his title and island in order to save that girl's skin. Do you still consider him worthy of your trust and someone important to you?"

"Yes..."

Alisa and Airi answered in unison, Siegwald smiled mysteriously upon hearing that.

He pulled out some documents from his desk.

"Good! It's time for your punishment, you're a real pain in the ass no doubt, I should expel you from the family as the mildest punishment."

Both of their hands clenched tightly after hearing that.

"But I'll do something better, something that will make you think twice about never soiling the family name ever again. You're going to commit before you enter the academy again."

Alisa raised her head, tears showing at hearing that, Airi also raised her head at what she heard.

"...But, father-"

"No objections!"

"I'm going to punish you like this, only then you won't dirty not one, but two family surnames again."

Alisa showed a pained expression at hearing that she will be engaged to someone unknown soon.

"You, her friend, are a commoner, I appreciate what you did for her, but you are also a bad influence on her, for that reason after consulting with Mayer, she reluctantly said she didn't care if you were her concubine. Congratulations, you'll both be with the same guy."

Now it was Airi who was showing a pained expression.

"The details are yet to be discussed with his family, there are many who object as that nobleman is very stupid, rude, foul-mouthed and above all ugly, no doubt he is a perfect match for you two."

They both looked at the floor at what the man in front of them said, the engagement was inevitable, Siegwald gave another mysterious smile after seeing them.

"Oh, I also forgot, a friend of his was the one who suggested this to me, he said that he was an indecisive idiot, and that he will be leaving soon to study abroad, so you better get your things ready since the three of you will be living in undeveloped territory-"

Halfway through Siegwald's words, both of them raised their heads at what they heard, but he couldn't finish what he said as a tremor happened at that moment.

"Kyah!"

"What happened?"

The girls held on tightly to keep from falling, Siegwald too, no one understood what happened, a second tremor happened, then another one.

"Alisa, what's wrong?"

"I don't know, tremors normally only occur when islands fracture. But this doesn't seem to be like that."

Hurried footsteps approached the office door, that same door was opened abruptly by someone.

"Father, Alisa, there's trouble!"

"Onii-sama, what's wrong?"

Vayne came in sweating, after relaxing for a while she was going to speak, but again a much stronger tremor shook the place.

Vayne, said a shocking event.

"Rudel-kun... Count Bradford, is attacking the palace!"

Everyone was shocked as more tremors happened under their feet.

◇

"Bring that bitch to me!!! Give me Erselica!"

I was attacking the palace, it was because of what I heard from the queen, Ixion was beside me hiding, I asked him for an explanation and all he said was.

"If she did, you would have killed her instantly."

Fuck you!

It's unheard of!

Unforgivable!

That woman was in a private room changing her clothes since she had been held prisoner until today.

I told Ixion to hand me my katana, cut the door in many parts and shouted.

"You. You ungrateful little bitch!"

She must have known what it meant to see me, she apologized and tried to escape from the room.

Because of her height I couldn't reach her, so I used air grenades to make her fall.

But it didn't work, the knight on duty, guards and officials came to calm me down.

But I won't allow it!

You can spit on me, but never on them!

Erselica!

"Count, please calm down!"

"We don't want to use violence against-ahh!"

Those screams were from all the idiots who came to stop me.

The grenades were not lethal, they just exploded as if the air around them had been pushed, for some reason, the ground shook due to the impact.

Others were trying to throw magic attacks at me from afar, I extended my katana like a fire truck ladder and hit them with the back of it so they would not take real damage.

More and more idiots came to try to stop me from doing justice.

Ixion was talking to me as he beat up the renowned knights of the palace.

Among them were the fathers of the red and green idiots.

"Master, I didn't tell you was precisely why this would happen, but I didn't imagine that your desire for revenge would be much more intense than calculated. Without a doubt, you are an anomaly for mathematical calculations."

"Shut up and tell me where he hid!"

"...In the dungeon."

"Well done!"

I expelled the idiots who kept coming at me, now only their unconscious bodies remained.

I reached the prison door where I was being held, threw a grenade and the door was propelled downhill.

After the smoke cleared, I saw her locked in a cell clinging to the bars.

At a slow pace she was descending the stairs.

"Wait, onii-chan, let me explain, it was all those girls' mistake!"

"Girls who were your entourage, your followers, who followed your orders!"

I got halfway up the stairs.

"You, ungrateful little bitch! I forgave you, for what you did, I forgave you for trying to kill me, I even sacrificed my island for your sorry little ass!"

"And, how do you repay me, by hurting them, by humiliating them in public, by making a lot of bastards like me feast visually at night on their half-naked bodies and, worst of all!"

I gritted my teeth at what he was going to say now.

"You dared to hide it from me and never thought to tell me!"

"Unforgivable!!!"

"Unforgivable!!!"

"Unforgivable!!!"

"I'll kill you here and now! I'll make a fountain of your blood! Your head will be a trophy for them and I'll eat your entrails while I watch your face gaunt with fear as I killed you!"

"Uwahh, somebody help me please! This guy is scary!"

I was almost to his cell and raised my katana to slash the bars.

"Bradford, what do you think you're doing!"

For some reason, Liam and the other two came to restrain me.

He was in front using his body as a shield, while Chlust was behind me grabbing my katana with his hands and Frey both of my arms, both of them used their legs to block the passage of mine.

"Stand back you idiots, this doesn't concern you!"

"Sure it does! If it involves Erselica, we'll always be there!"

"Guys..."

"Stop your stupid conqueror monologue and stand back! I'll have your head by the end of the day whether you want it or not!"

Liam came up to me to push me as I was slowly moving forward with my magic power distributed in my body.

"Guys protect me, this madman wants to kill me!!!"

"You, ungrateful little bitch!"

I listened as footsteps came approaching the entrance, then voices called out to me.

"Rudel-kun!"

"Rudel!"

"Rudel-san!"

I turned at the sound of those voices, my hand stopped, but my anger didn't.

"Girls... why didn't you tell me! I would have eliminated her instantly!"

The Queen was behind Alisa and Airi, they were all tired from running it seemed. Airi was the one who spoke up.

"It was for this very reason that we didn't tell you anything, truth be told, we don't care what she did to us."

"But I do! Erselicaaaaaaa!"

My anger returned once again and I was moving my body harder.

"Rudel-kun, can you imagine the damage you've caused to the palace?"

"Rudel, just forget it!"

"We ask you."

"Never!!!"

I looked at both of them who looked like they wanted to cry, what he did to them must have been very traumatizing.

"I... will not rest until I give you her head!!!"

I pointed at her to let her know that the time for her execution had come.

"Erselica, you damned ingrate, I will never forgive you! I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth and to the end of my days!"

"Ixion!"

"Yes?"

I called to my faithful companion.

"Take care of these idiots!"

"...Are you sure?"

"Of course! I'll kill her whether they want me to or not."

I smiled at him to let him know that his time had come.

"...I have no more choice, get some rest until your anger subsides."

I didn't understand what he said, but moments later; a very intense electric shock ran through not only my body, but also these guys' bodies.

"Ixiooon, you damned enemy of humankiiiiind!!!"

Both me and the idiots fell unconscious due to the electric attack.

◇

The place I meet is the academy, it's so weird to be here, there are three cups of tea on the table, there are two more people here with me, they seem to be the girls.

I don't know why, but my heart feels so warm when I am with them.

They both smile at me, I don't want this moment to end for anything in the world.

I really...

◇

I opened my eyes after the strange dream I had.

I was looking at a white colored ceiling, on my left side was a long brown armchair, even if I hadn't seen it, I knew it was an armchair since my legs were stretched out lengthwise bumping into the hand rest.

As for my right side was them.

"Why did they hide it from me?"

Alisa and Airi were looking at me with loving eyes as I spoke to them, a little further away was the queen.

Alisa and then Airi spoke to me.

"We didn't want to worry you during the war crisis."

"We also thought it best to forget about it."

Lying down, I raised my arm to scratch my head and then said.

"Lecia, hand Erselica over to me."

"I don't recall her giving you permission to call me by name, Count Bradford, besides, we don't have that kind of relationship for you to ask me for favors."

"Mature woman in the morning."

I tried to tease her about what she said, but she didn't seem to react to it.

"Sorry, give me that slut."

"I'm sorry, but you said yourself not to let anyone touch her and I'll honor that deal."

I made a sound of discomfort at what he said, turned around annoyed looking at the brown couch and asked them again.

"No one told you to do something idiotic like that, are you idiots?"

Being in a position where I can't see them, the way they spoke to me seemed to indicate that they were smiling as they spoke.

"We said it once, we are. And that's why we're friends." Airi said.

"We're sorry, but we were more concerned about your safety than our pride." Added Alisa.

"Rudel, turn around please."

I did so reluctantly to see what they wanted.

Turning to look at them, I watched them happily.

By the way, why are they holding hands since I opened my eyes? Or, how long have they been doing it?

"First of all, thank you for standing up for us and caring about us." Alisa was saying and I a bit annoyed replied "no big deal, I promised them."

Then, it was Airi who spoke in a shy tone.

"Rudel-san, can you join us on the rooftop for a moment? There's something important Alisa and I want to tell you."

I looked at them again, and they both looked serious and at the same time shy, their hands clasped tightly together.

The Queen instead covered her mouth with both hands and exclaimed.

"It can't be? This is not like that! Something that only happens in novels!"

From her tone, a knot formed in my mouth.

I told them yes, and before I got up, I thought the worst.

(Please don't call me just to tell me that you entered the forbidden door and want to express your love in front of me. That floating heart just made me think the worst, and now I don't want it rubbed in my face).

Without a doubt, this day is the worst.