Save 45 - Kingdom of Aristocratic Supremacy

In the Altfode Kingdom, Airi was showing the scholarship students around the academy.

She was doing so with a cheerfulness and energy that any product salesman would want to have.

After finishing touring the academy, explaining the rules and class schedule to them. She turned around to speak to them face to face.

"That's all the explanation, are there any questions?"

The students were not only nobles, but they still had good backgrounds.

They were sons and daughters of wealthy merchants and upstart nobles. So from Airi's perspective they were like rich young masters or young ladies.

But there were also novelties among them. People who gained fame as adventurers also mingled there.

It could be said that it was appropriate to say that the kingdom respected the adventuring occupation.

Their ages were more than sixteen years old. There were even students older than Airi among them.

One student raised his hand.

"Emm~, Preston-kun."

Airi shouted his name as she looked at the document in her hands. It wasn't just any document, it was a digital file, as what she posed in her hands was an electronic device called a 'tablet'.

She and Alisa had one, they didn't know yet how to use it correctly, but for some reason they knew how to use emoticons perfectly without Rudel teaching them.

The young man named Preston brushed his long locks as he spoke with a proud tone.

"I am grateful from the bottom of my heart for being able to enroll in the academy. Also, Irisdina-senpai, do you have a man you're dating?"

Hearing that sentence, some people around him looked exasperated, while there were also students who made fun of him.

But Preston paid no attention to them.

Airi looked at him for a moment and replied with a smile while closing her eyes.

"I have a wonderful fiancé. And we're getting married when we graduate."

Preston shrugged his shoulders as the boys and girls who saw that smile, were perplexed at his charm, many, including girls, averted their faces due to embarrassment at his honesty.

"My sincerest apologies. I wish I could have met you earlier."

It seemed that he was not a young man who constantly went after a girl.

One girl raised her hand to want to ask something, but at that moment. Preston's eyes looked at Airi with a wild gleam.

Preston's evil thought was directed towards Airi.

◇◇◇

Elsewhere in the academy, a meeting was taking place.

In it were teachers gathered together talking to a student, it was Alisa.

They were sitting at a long table, she was at the center edge making her look like a very important woman. She had several documents around her.

This was the reason why the current director, Rudel's tea mentor, asked them not to leave.

Airi was a nice girl, in the academy people like that were needed since nobles compared to commoners were in the minority. And only someone whose smile that could make their hearts mellow could prevent trouble to come.

As for Alisa, she was a very capable and intelligent girl. She was organizing a financial plan to help the academy after its reconstruction. Despite not being an expert on the subject, her ideas for raising funds were excellent.

It was also because, of all those present, she possessed the highest rank even though she was only the daughter of a duke.

"Good. With this, the academy will be fine for a season. I appreciate the help of all the teachers."

The teachers looked cheerful knowing that they had such a smart person helping them willingly. Alisa just wanted to make the academy a better place as the future of the kingdom gathers there, the heirs of various families.

There was an espresso pot on the side, she poured herself a coffee and burned her tongue.

An electronic sound came. It was Airi writing to her.

This was possible because the density of the magic element served as a means of encrypting and decrypting information sent. In other words, it was a primitive and strange means of using the internet that only served a certain area.

Opening the message, she chuckled a little at its contents.

"New students are very nice, but I don't like being asked if I'm single!"

The message's catchphrase came accompanied by an emoticon of her puffing out her cheeks.

At that moment, the door was knocked and Alisa told the person behind it to come in.

As it opened, a small girl walked in.

She was a new student. This girl was the reason Alisa could talk about financial plans without looking like an idiot.

She was the daughter of a marquis house with experience in economics. She had tousled strawberry blonde hair which was pulled back in two braids, her bangs covered her left eye and she wore glasses that hid her blue-green eyes.

Alisa approached the girl as she asked for a report on certain things. As she approached, the girl seemed to shake like jelly.

"Is something wrong?"

"N-No, nothing, at a-absolutely nothing!"

"I understand. Thank you for your help."

"N-No, it's me who should say that! That the daughter of the duke Bismarck should ask us for help despite being a house in decline for backing the traitor during the war crisis, it's a matter of pride to be able to help raise my house!"

Her house was a supporter of the Marquis Balzac, not because they were cruel people, because they were people who saw potential in clients or patrons, such as merchants; it was normal to ally themselves with diamonds in the rough. Unfortunately, they did not know that diamond was actually just coal. After the war, their house was branded as criminals and they were stripped of their land and their middle name. They managed to show evidence that they did not know Balzac was an enemy of the kingdom, but thanks to an exhaustive investigation their charges were cleared, but their support for the traitor was genuine, as punishment, their middle name was stripped from them so they would now be considered a nearly ruined house. Not having a middle name is the same as being on the same level as a baronet household, a disgrace.

The queen thanks to the help of the prime minister. She managed to clean up some of the dirt in the kingdom and that the royal family had hidden. The name 'van' was demolished forever. Many were terrified, but she explained that since aristocracy was no longer allowed in the kingdom, now all nobles would be equal, it was an excuse, but it was true that.

It doesn't matter if you are a van or a von, your middle name equals a von as it would be very suspicious if they wanted to erase that overnight. The title of earl and margrave was removed as well. They will now be replaced as count and marquis.

The titles will remain as a memory only, the queen wanted the darkness of the past not to continue in the kingdom so as to avoid more traitors like the Kingsfort or Balzac in the future.

Alisa was going through the documents while the girl next to her stood at a far distance.

"Is there really nothing wrong with you? Perhaps, my face is unpleasant?"

The girl, Wendy Harvey, threw up her hands and her voice in panic at what he said to her.

"Y-You're wrong. I-I was actually just thinking that a tadpole like me, shouldn't be around Lady Alicelotte, after all, you are a woman of a higher status than me!"

Alisa didn't understand why she called herself a tadpole, let alone her strange way of speaking.

"I think you're confusing me?"

"U-Uh, what do you mean?"

Alisa stood up, walked over to her and grabbed her shoulders. Wendy trembled thinking something would do to her.

" I, I'm a weak woman."

Wendy was speechless at what she heard. The Duke's daughter was calling herself weak.

"I am not a strong woman, I need and rely a lot on my important people. Without them, I would have crumbled, for that reason, don't think of me as a superior existence. I'm just an ordinary girl just like you."

Wendy's eyes stared at Alisa's face.

"The academy is a place where you don't just come to learn about various subjects for your future. It's also a place where we interact with those who can be our future allies, friends and most of all, lovers."

Alisa's smile made Wendy duck her head, then Alisa took her chin and lifted her face for him to see.

"I was a lonely girl too, but one day I met the two people I love most in this life. I'm sure, you'll find someone who makes you smile from the bottom of your heart."

Wendy's glasses grew wet from the tears welling up in them.

Alisa withdrew her hand and then the fearful girl replied.

"T-Thank you for your words. I-I... I will try my best!"

Wendy removed her hands that she kept always in the air and straightened her back.

At that moment Alisa, realized something.

She gulped in astonishment.

(They're big!)

Her alarming thought was because the girl in front of her possessed large breasts despite being shorter than her.

Wendy, still trembling, left the room with joy.

Alisa saw her, and muttered.

"I definitely won't let Rudel meet her."

◇

Schwert was approaching the boundary where Aster's border began.

"You've got to be kidding me!"

The distance was far, and despite being foggy, still, what my eyes saw was mind-boggling.

It was a tree, a huge tree bigger than the Mount Everest I saw on the news. In fact, that mountain looks small compared to this thing that reaches beyond the heavens hiding its canopy of branches.

Ixion was next to me and even he couldn't believe it.

"It really is fascinating how something like that exists. I'm analyzing the height and it appears to be over 20000 meters long."

"So that's how big it is! And is the earth really that big to support its weight?"

"Unlike the islands of the kingdom which some measure the same as a peninsula or small continent. The size of this country seems to be a fusion of super continents."

I was speechless, something so magnificent was in front of my eyes. And even more so to know that there are islands of such a size.

"That reminds me teacher, did you study Aster's native language?"

"Huh?"

It was normal for there to be more languages than the one we spoke, in my old life it was normal too. But Ixion asked me something I didn't want to answer.

"I-I... I spent it playing cards with Chlust and Frey. I didn't have time to study it."

"... You're lucky I knew something like this would happen and prepared a dictionary to speak and write the language in a way that even the most idiotic can learn."

"Oh, thank you... You're calling me an idiot!"

"Did the idiot say 'huh'?"

"Huh?"

"There's your answer."

I bared my white teeth because of how annoying it was to be with this scrap.

"You should learn to be a better Master, who knows what your life would be without me?"

"Do you think a scrap like you makes my life any different? I'm sorry to tell you it doesn't. And just so you know, you'll be tied to me forever. So the only idiot here is you, you genocidal AI failure with a sourpuss personality and floating garbage can."

I stuck out my tongue to annoy him, but at that moment.

"What the hell?"

A heavy blizzard rattled the deck.

I grabbed hold of the railing as I was about to fall.

As I lifted my head, I noticed something that was illegal.

"What the hell is that idiot doing flying on top of an aircraft!"

Such an act was illegal anywhere due to aeronautics laws. Ixion notified me of a message from a fleet approaching from the front.

"Master, they appear to be Aster military. They inform us to let them in for a routine check."

"Huh, they say that in the manner of an order rather than requesting permission?"

"It appears so and they demand that it be quick."

"What the hell!"

◇◇◇

In a room resembling a library. There were Erselica, her servants, her boyfriends and Rudel's two guests.

They were going over Aster's language before arriving.

"I understand. The pronunciation for saying thank you is the same as in the kingdom, but the use of the language is different. It's certainly a big difference."

Erselica was teaching Allen and Cana about various things about Aster, all of which were told to her by her three boyfriends. For, although it may not seem like it, they are highly educated young people who received from their families.

"Not only that, Erselica. With a bad tongue wag you can inadvertently create an insult."

Frey was commenting to a frightened girl that she could create trouble by not speaking the native language well.

At that moment, the interior shook.

Clovis who was asleep fell to the floor while Warren grabbed the table.

"What happened, a storm by chance?"

Everyone except Clovis who was still on the floor went to the windows. They watched as they were surrounded by large fleets of Aster.

Erselica was frightened, but Liam reassured her.

"This is what they call the baptism."

"Baptism?"

"Yes. It's Aster's way of welcoming its non-trading, non-political visitors. I heard it was like rough play, but this borders on abuse at the personal limit as soon as they can get close to us."

"Does that mean they do it on purpose?"

"It seems that way."

"How rude." Warren said fixing his glasses.

"Mistress, look."

Allen pointed as a boat approached Schwert to enter the hangar.

◇◇◇

Some military guys in a boat demanded that I let them on. Normally this requires permission, but these guys are very rude.

"Hmph, this place is creepy."

"The crew even hid from us."

Was what a tall man with a long carrot-shaped nose was saying. His uniform hinted that he was an admiral.

The admiral came accompanied by a group of men who also had medals like him, but to a lesser extent.

The admiral walked around the hangar criticizing everything as if he were an art teacher belittling the works of his students.

"What is this aberration?"

Said the lanky, snub-nosed guy as he looked at my little guy. It was none other than the new Battler model.

The original Battler was destroyed in the war, so Ixion created a new one, but its capabilities and cheating abilities were inferior to the original.

It was a large, jet-black armored unit. Its body was robotic, its head resembled a motorcycle helmet and a red visor with multiple cameras embedded in it.

The interior was spacious with several high definition screens so as not to lose any field of vision, to move it he used joystick type controls.

The admiral approached and kicked it.

Hey, don't do that. Didn't your mother teach you not to be a jerk?

You want Ixion to kill you guys?

It was hidden somewhere around here.

"What a grotesque thing the kingdom did. Really their tastes in mobile knights are at their lowest, can it even move? Puah, I highly doubt it's comparable to Aster's old models, popopo."

He laughed in a grotesque manner. That wasn't the only horrible thing, though.

The other officers were snooping around like suspicious types.

Some were smoking and others were leaving crumbs of food.

The admiral after hopping on one leg for continuing to kick my boy, ordered a retreat.

"There seems to be nothing out of the ordinary. Before we finish the routine inspection, it's time for the baptism."

With those words, everyone present began spitting on the floor, walls and even Battler.

They retreated as they laughed.

"Welcome to Aster, the kingdom of aristocratic supremacy, popopo."

I watched them with distaste leave. Ixion descended and was evidently annoyed.

"Can I kill them?"

"No. Don't, I promised at home and to them to behave myself in their absence. I don't want any more trouble with noble idiots or bullies."

I want to enjoy some peace and quiet.

With that said, I headed off to get a rag to wipe up the spit stains as the airship closed the hangar and we headed for the port.

◇

We had arrived at the port. It was almost like a port city.

We were all getting off.

I watched as various aircraft came in and out as if it were a wide parking lot.

I raised my arms to the sky because of how gratifying it was to touch dry land.

Behind me, Erselica and her friends were coming down, followed by the musketidiots and the other two.

We were all relaxing as weeks on an airship is not the same as being on dry land.

We could have arrived in three days.

But the time it takes to get from the kingdom to this country is long. It would be very suspicious to do it in record time.

The others were still bringing down their belongings and Clovis, better known as the grape head, was asking me.

"Hey, why don't you bring your stuff down, do you want us to bring it down for you by any chance?"

I immediately turned around to laugh in his face.

"Don't compare me to you guys, I have my own system."

I pointed to the sky and the idiot watched as floating robots carried my stuff to the waiting carriage.

The diplomats watched in horror as the prince lowered his own bags.

He groaned and blurted out an idiotic comment like his personality.

"How envious, I want my stuff taken away too!"

Shut up.

◇

We all entered our respective carriages. But for some reason only I entered one.

I admired the view around me as the diplomat from the kingdom's embassy told me what he saw.

I looked like a kid at a theme park, as it really deserves my description that.

"As you can see the men with a pendant in their left ear, they belong to the orthodox kingdom of Courtois."

"The women covering their faces are from the desert kingdom of Danafor."

Diverse cultures, ethnicities, religions and above all races were present in one place.

That's right, races. I thought there were only humans in this world, but it seems the game aspect didn't forget them.

Near something resembling a Chinese food restaurant stood some children-no, to call them that was rude. They were actually hobbits, that's right, hobbits!

While in a restaurant where they served snails i could see women with rabbit ears chatting while eating. They were real beastwomen! That means there are beast men too.

Best of all, I could see what can never be missing in a fantasy world.

"A real elf!"

People with blonde hair, beautiful faces, bright eyes and long ears were walking in costume towards their embassy.

"It's amazing isn't it? Those are all demi-humans, they belong to the Sacred Kingdom of Arzel, a country where only demi-humans dwell."

My drool was drooling as I also saw beautiful elves and they also had big breasts which were bouncing with every step.

My eyes stopped on a certain structure.

"That embassy is totally creepy white in color."

"That is the embassy of the Holy Magic Empire Weiss, I recommend you not to approach under any circumstances let alone come in contact with them."

The Holy Magic Empire Weiss, Lolica mentioned that country is the one that would declare a world war on us and they are also very strong. It also seems that the queen's homeland and them are very close so they are enemies.

"Fortunately, the empire has been less hostile and more docile after losing to Aster during the war. That's why they have their embassy here, at least it's good that they're not looking for trouble unlike the republic which is forbidden to enter here."

"The republic?"

"Don't you know them, Count Bradford? The Ereboreas Republic and the empire are sworn enemies, in both wars they involved the whole world and in the end they both lost. There was once a country called Musashi, this country was one of the strongest until the intense battle between the Sword Saint and the Bloody Knight you killed was fought in your land."

Just remembering that son of a bitch gives me chills.

"By the way count, how was the welcome?"

"Disgusting."

"I'm sorry to hear that, but that's the way things are here."

"Is it necessary to be so extreme?"

"It's not kingdom territory to call them to attention, we must abide by their orders since we have no choice."

Apparently even the diplomats were having trouble with the locals.

"The kingdom is exporting a huge amount of magic stones. So please, Count Bradford, we ask you not to pick fights with anyone."

My face made a funny expression at what he said.

"H-Hold on a moment! I'm not a quarrel seeker, it's just that-."

The diplomatic man looked at me with a face that implied he didn't believe what i was saying.

"I'm sorry for not believing you, but everyone knows you're the first to resort to brute force when the going gets tough."

"But I..."

"We watched as you forced His Highness to lower his own bags."

With those words all I could do was avert my face and nod that I won't cause havoc.

◇

After a while walking the streets, which make it look like a 90's era city. We made it to my residence where I would be living for the next few months.

It was an upscale urban neighborhood.

The houses were painted the same color and the same size, too. There were gardens with sprinklers and even a park to exercise in the back.

As I walked downstairs, I was in front of my new house, but as I did so, I noticed an oddity.

"Really?"

A cute little bunny was on my lawn, he was injured it seemed, his paw was red.

I approached the little guy and it writhed in pain.

In my previous life I had a cat, so you could say I like pets.

I gently picked up the bunny and cuddled it like a baby.

The diplomatic saw me holding him and wanted to take him from me.

"I'm so sorry about this count! This place is the one we were able to choose that was in quick availability, plus the price was cheap since there were rumored to be wild rabbits around here."

I reassured the man who seemed to think I was going to do something to the rabbit.

But now that I noticed.

"Where are the others?"

"His Highness and company were taken to their selected mansion. The heir of Gravel Household and his companion to another house paid for by his family."

"Was so much expense necessary? I mean, they could have just given me a room in Liam's mansion and that was it."

The diplomatic made a complicated face upon hearing that.

"Y-You see... it's just that... His Highness and Miss Erselica are..."

I forgot about it. Those two are a couple, a very horrible one.

Erselica is the woman who deceived the kingdom and made the future king fall in love. It would be problematic for the royal court, if they thought something was going on between the two of them.

It is impossible for me to tell them that it will never happen. But above all, I'm a compromised man, I don't want to spread bad rumors and have them reach the girls or my family.

"Sorry, it was my fault."

"I appreciate your understanding Count. Also, I'm very sorry, but we couldn't arrange any servants."

Apparently, Aster's officials servants couldn't finish the preparation in time because the study abroad was decided out of the blue.

"Don't worry about that. I was the one who decided to study abroad so suddenly. You can prioritize Liam and the others over me."

"Thank you. Now with your permission, we'll take our leave."

The diplomatic and his assistants who took my suitcases down were leaving the way they came back.

At that instant I opened a specific suitcase and a sphere flew out to my shoulder.

It reflected light to make itself invisible, so there was no problem with anyone seeing it.

I went to open the door with the keys I was given before getting off the carriage and entered my new home.

The suitcases floated magically to the inside, or perhaps scientifically?

I closed the door and the most important thing was this little guy.

"Ixion, analyze him."

Ixion's red eye glowed and a light flashed across this little fella's body.

"Finish the analysis. I'm sorry to say it's more serious than it looks."

"He's only got a broken leg, right?"

"Not only that. It looks like he has internal organ damage, he won't live beyond a couple of months with care and surgery."

"I see."

I've always been bad at listening to a small animal die. I remember once Lolica had a pet toucan and we fed it together, but one day it ate something it wasn't supposed to and choked. Unlike her, I had a terrible time.

"By the way, Master, it's not a boy, it's a girl."

I was surprised and checked with her permission and it was true.

"You're a box of surprises it seems."

"Alright, Ixion, I'll leave her in your care, I'll go tour the city a bit."

"Understood. Get everything ready for surgery, it's a good chance to avoid a living thing's expiration date."

"Don't say it like that, you lunatic."

◇◇◇

Warren and Clovis had arrived home quietly while Erselica and her boyfriends arrived at her mansion. It was as big as a millionaire's, with yard and garden included. It even had a fountain, everything was to say that the prince lived here.

Happiness must have swept across Erselica's face until the officials said something that horrified her.

"What do you mean they couldn't give us servants!"

"No, actually, you do have servants."

"I'm sorry, but that number is too low for this huge house!"

"I understand your discomfort, but we received orders from Her Majesty in limiting both your expenses and the number of servants."

Erselica trembled, the mansion was so large that it took up an entire block.

"Mistress, it would take us a whole week to clean this place alone!"

Allen was running from corner to corner to check the length of the hallways.

While Cana was startled to see the number of rooms.

Just then, in walked Liam with his suitcase.

"Erselica, where are the servants preparing the bathroom?"

At that moment she...

"Help me, onii-chaaan!"

She cried out in despair.

◇

The city is certainly a place straight out of classic movies.

Everything looks of the era where parents wore strange hairstyles and young people drove classic cars they called late model.

In this country there are everything from automobiles to trains.

They all run on magic stones.

The skies are clean and noiseless unlike the kingdom as flying is forbidden within the country.

In the center of the city is where the rich and important nobles live.

There are seven continents in total. They are united by the sacred tree.

The territory I am in seems to be also where the academy is headquartered and belongs to the matriarchal house.

But since there is no lord, its administration passes to the acting chairman.

I was riding on the track train. It reminded me of my former life when I traveled from city to city.

In the southern part of the neighborhood where I was located was the commercial area.

There were lots of lucrative businesses and all depending on what they sold were located in a corresponding part.

I was looking for something to eat and then I will go to buy food for tomorrow and ask what the rabbits eat.

I stopped at a certain store. The reason is that I could not believe my eyes.

I walked in, and inside, lay paradise.

"Welcome to Little Garden! Are you accompanied?"

"N-No. I'm alone."

"In that case, table for one. Please follow me."

This place is something I wish I had visited once in my life, but could never get into one because of embarrassment, but not now.

Best of all, a cliché fantasy world I have this, makes it look like heaven on earth, that's right, clearly I'm talking about....

(A real maid's cafe!)

Wherever I looked there were only pretty young women wearing maid uniforms as if they were waitresses.

It was exactly the same except that the skirt was extremely short.

In Alisa's house there were maids, but these are the charming type.

I sat down at a prepared table and the pretty cat-eared maid handed me the menu card.

I read the prices. They are all expensive.

There is everything from roast beef and salad to desserts where the maids sing your birthday and write your name on it.

This place is wonderful!

I'm not just saying that because it's every old man's desire to be waited on by lovely young girls!

Nor does it have anything to do with the fact that the girls look flirtatious and want a big tip!

That's right, I just came to eat and browse the place!

It has nothing to do with the fact that I wanted to get into one!

Yes!

◇

The food was delicious.

Also one of the girls recommended me what food to buy and care for a rabbit since she had one.

I was already paying the bill when a clatter happened.

"Dear customer, it's wrong to touch one of the girls!"

"Hehehe, no problem if I pay extra right?"

Apparently a guy was wanting to make a pass at one of the girls.

He seemed to be a nobleman. This is bad.

Just when it looked like something was going to happen....

"Wow, does the customer want to have 'that kind' of service in this place?"

A female voice came from the back of the kitchen, I thought it was a beautiful mature woman who said that, but my face made a panicked expression afterwards.

Opening a door, a big sturdy male appeared. His hair was blond combed to the sides, he had a mustache moustache which covered his mouth. He wore thick glasses that did not let you see his eyes.

He appeared to be the owner of the place as he was in a suit and also had a name tag.

"Madame Beverly!"

Said the nobleman as he saw the big male coming out, I got scared as I remembered the trouble I had with such a guy last year.

"Dear client-kyun, if what you want is a special kind of service, I will always be available. ❤"

"But girls are a non-non. Do you want to see me furious? Even if I don't show it, I'm the kind of girl who gets very angry when her pretty girls are mistreated."

The nobleman was starting to get scared, I was too as his face looked like he wanted to kiss her after getting close enough.

The nobleman grabbed his things and ran away. There was applause after seeing him fall as he stumbled out the door.

"Thank you, madame."

"No, it's natural for us girls to support each other."

"More importantly, has no one seen Lucy-chan today?"

"HUh, doesn't madame know? Lucy said she was starting classes tomorrow for the new school year so I quit."

"Wuats!"

The conversation seemed like something that was none of my business so I decided to leave.

But, that stuck in my head. That name, Lucy.

It's so cute.

I just remembered another strange thing regarding the meaning of names that shouldn't matter in my life.

It was about a set of monster cards. One of them had the name Lucy in the title.

Apparently, the design was that of an angel. And it had her meaning written on it as it also related to her special ability.

Lucy means light, radiant, or a being of cheerful companionship.

It was very pretty.

I think I will call the bunny Lucy.

Yes. From now on, she will be called Lucy-chan.

I can't wait to tell Ixion about it.