Aren't female friendships so fragile?

　I, [Leon Fow Baldfalt], thinking about that, was looking at my sister - my second daughter, [Jenna], who was propped up in front of me while counting wads of money in the pay lounge of the scenic airship.

　Wads of bills and gold and silver coins are piled up on a round table.

　The entire wall was covered with glass, and the competition of the gymnastics festival being held outside could be clearly seen.

　

　That's why there are so many events in the second semester.

　After the P.E.T. Festival, there is the School Festival.

　And there is even a school trip.

　I can't deny that the events are jam-packed, or at least too packed.

　I stopped counting the bills and looked at my second daughter.

　A sigh comes out.

'I know you broke up with your best friend because it was the same boy you were after, but don't be so downhearted. Anyone who goes after your best friend's guy is not a good friend.

　The second daughter was depressed, having lost touch with her best friend.

　Cringing behind her was the sub-race slave who was the second daughter's personal servant - the cat-eared bastard. Tall and slender but muscular and handsome - the cat-eared bastard was enough.

　Livia who was listening to the story--[Olivia] is comforting her second daughter.

''That's right. It's not your senior's fault.''

　Drinking tea elegantly, [Angelica Rafa Redgrave] has an attitude of not giving a d*mn.

　No, to begin with, the topic of lovers, or rather, the topic of plundering a marriage partner, is a minefield for Angier.

　When the engagement was broken off during the summer holidays, Angier was deprived of his fiancée, His Highness Julius. He's quiet, but inwardly, the gut churning thoughts might be resurrected.

''I think it's wrong for a man to flirt with a partner to that extent.

　At Angel's muffled muttering, me and Libya looked away. I'm sorry, I can't find the words to say.

　Why is my second daughter here in the first place?

　The airship's paid lounge - I even paid my second daughter's entrance fee. I think that's unacceptable or brazen, even for my second daughter.

　It's also annoying that we're forced to go through all this trouble when Angel is around.

''It's not.....

What?

'The first one I was after was my best friend's girl, and I heard a lot of things about her later and approached her, or rather...'

　When the second daughter said that, both Livia and Angier fell silent.

　'You're the one who looted them!

'That's disgusting,'

　In response to my cold stare and mutterings, my second daughter countered.

'No!　Listen to me!　He's the heir to that baronet's family, but not long ago he was a nobody, or rather a poor aristocrat. But during the summer holidays, a mine was discovered in that boy's family home. I investigated it and it's a rare metal, and I'm getting help from the kingdom to become a mine owner!　He couldn't sit back and watch because he was going to be rich!　....and he's a mainland lord and nobleman.

　Viscount-sama, a lord nobleman with a fiefdom on the continental mainland.

　It was more popular with the girls to have a domain on the continental mainland than a nobleman with a fiefdom on a remote island in a floating island.

　........To sum up the story, a boy was born who was about to become rich during summer vacation.

　The girls were competing with each other, and both the second daughter and the second daughter's best friend joined in on the fight, he said.

'You should apologize to them. I feel sorry for the other guy more than you guys.

"Why don't you pity us?　I'm going to marry you and then I'm going to give you away."

　That's it.

　That's the standard girl idea of this world.

　Girls of nobility.

　Girls, especially those who come from baronial families or higher, are privileged anyway.

　For this reason, their position is very strong over boys, even when it comes to marriage.

　The world of maidenhood is a sweet world for girls and a hard world for boys.

'It seems like they're just rubbing it in because they're richer. Aren't there more feelings of love, love and all that?

　The second girl snickered at my earnest plea.

''I have [Mirou], and if it's a beautiful boy, you can look for him from a normal class of boys. Nurture your love with that one, and all you want from your husband is worthiness.

　Apparently, Mior is the name of the cat-eared guy. I've never heard of it before.

''You're really an a**h*le.

'Why not?　We're not all the same.

　Angier, who had been silent, opened his mouth.

'Shall we not be together? Neither I nor Livia have a personal servant, nor do we consider ourselves mistresses.

　The second daughter was shying away from the words of Angier, the duke's daughter.

　Where did your bullish attitude towards me earlier go?

　Livia laughs bitterly.

''Since I'm not a nobleman by birth... come to think of it, why doesn't Angier hire a servant?

　Angier is kind and polite to Livia.

　This one is a good friend of mine I think.

'If they are servants, we have them. It's called a full-time servant, but all sub-race servants are slaves. We don't hire them, we buy them.

　Livia had a troubled look on her face when she heard that.

''What, are you sure you want to be a slave?''

　I guess I'm not familiar with Libya. In my case, I became familiar with it because my second and third daughters have been researching it because they said they were going to buy slaves.

　My third daughter is also planning to buy a slave with my money.

　Seriously, my sister and sister are both harmful.

'Well, there's a lot going on, but as far as women are concerned, you can't have a slave and not be looked at in a white light.

　That's the world.

　It is infinitely more lenient on women.

　If a man does the same thing, he'll be looked at white. I want a beautiful girl with cat ears too.

　Ange let out a small sigh.

''Well it's become the norm now.

　Angier seemed to be inexplicably saddened by the talk of slaves, which had become such a commonplace.

　The mood was delicate, so I asked Livia.

'Are you interested in being a resident servant?'

'What?　Uh, um... well...

　Seeing the blush on their faces, I guess Libya knows what they do on a daily basis. The slaves that the second girl has with her are indicative of the girls' preferences as it is. It would be rare to find a girl who hasn't been touched.

　As I was teasing Livia, Angier pinched my cheek.

'Don't make fun of Livia. Besides, our next competition is an air bike race.

　Air bikes - the earth floats and the people who live there are familiar with these vehicles.

　It is a flying bike, but its shape is similar to a seaplane. They glide through the air, but they are quite expensive to ride.

　There was an air bike race at the gym festival and it was very popular.

　By the way, there is a reception desk in the pay lounge, where you can bet on the race.

'We're betting on this race too, aren't we?

　When I show interest in the outcome, both Angier and Livia are dismayed.

'You're a strong betting man,'

'Mr. Leon, you shouldn't gamble. You should be moderate.

　Piles of bills and gold and silver coins stacked on a round table. These are the things I got from gambling at the gym.

　Do I have a talent for gambling?　No, I'm not. I'm just playing a game I can win!

　My partner, 【Luxion】, an artificial intelligence with a metallic colored spherical body, sends me communications that only I can hear.

　I think it's telepathy to be able to hear it even though I don't even have earphones on, but it seems to be reproducible with science.

　In a fantasy world of swords and magic, Luxion, the crystal of science.......the world is wrong, but that's not the point.

　In the first place, the world of a maiden game is fluffy from the setting.

　There is no point in trying to make a comment on it.

''Master, we've got a problem.

　As I touched my temples with my fingers and got into a listening position, Luxion continued.

''This is Jilk, who participated in the first year's representative slot, but apparently he's been targeted.''

　...by Zirck?

　Zilk is the milk brother of His Highness Julius, the former Crown Prince - the heir of the former Viscount's family, [Zilk Fia Marmoria].

　

　He had been chosen as one of the representatives of the first years because of his good handling of the air bike.

　As I was looking down at the hall with a serious expression on my face, Livia asked me, a little cautiously.

''Oh, um, did you still want to participate in the competition, Rion-san?

What?

　When I was nodding my head, Angier also looked apologetic.

''I'm sorry. The decision on the players is a majority decision of the executive committee. As expected, I can't interfere either.

Hmm?

　Apparently, they both think I wanted to compete. I did try to run for it, but it's just a rule that the boys have to run for at least one event.

　I didn't really want to be in it, and I was going to make money on the betting, so that was no problem.

　After all, I have Luxion, who can gather information.

　The odds of winning a bet are different.

　My second daughter says to both Livia and Angier.

'Don't worry about it. My foolish brother deserves what he gets. He has turned most of his students against him. There's no way I'll ever be a player.

　........I know, but it makes me angry when my second daughter tells me that.

　I engaged in a duel with His Highness Julius and the other five people who were targeted for attack.

　Everyone thought that the five of them would win, but I won. It's a problem that I had a duel with His Highness Julius, but a lot of students lost a lot of money on that bet and I'm the enemy of their eyes.

　It's a position of being a hated person.

　........too unreasonable.

''Master, you look unhappy about something, but you had it coming. He bet a lot of money on himself to make an impossible bet, and on top of that, he beat up Julius and the others who were in the position of His Royal Highness the crown prince, and even lectured them. I don't think there are many people who will like the master because of that.''

　My partner is too calm and boring.

　With that in mind, the race began.

　Up in the sky - the venue made up of numerous airships surrounding it was a stadium in the sky.

　The academy prepared airships for you to watch the festival, and rich people further surrounded them to watch the festival.

　It's a gymnasium festival on a grand scale.

　The gymnasium is a showpiece for boys. I've heard that even if you're not much of a regular guy, if you play well on the big stage, you'll increase the chances of girls getting engaged to you.

　This is why the boys are desperate to become athletes. Because of the marriage situation, they really want to compete in these opportunities to get married.

　Thanks to this, the competition to become an athlete in any sport is very intense.

　The air bike race is one of the most popular events at the gymnasium, but from the start, something was amiss.

　It seems that Angier noticed right away.

'That Zilk guy, he's marked.

　Even as a freshman, a good player could have been marked, but the way he was marked was thorough.

　He was surrounded and then bumped - clearly under attack.

　Livia looked sad as she watched.

'Why did you do that?　I feel sorry for you, Mr. Zilk.

　Livia is right.

　Since I'm betting on Zilk too, I don't want him to lose like this.

　The second daughter seemed to notice the students surrounding Zilk.

'Wait. Those boys they are the Countess's cronies.

　Angier mutters.

'So that's what it means,'

　As the race moved from the middle to the end of the race, Zilk got the better of the game and broke through the enclosure of the upperclassmen. In a series of forced acrobatics, he broke out of the enclosure and accelerated to pass the other riders one by one.

''That guy looks like he's the only one with an illegally modified motorcycle.

　It's as if the performance of the bike is different, isn't it?　The audience was so excited by the brilliant burping that I thought about that.

　I'm happy too, because I'll win the bet if Zilk wins.......

　Luxion announced.

''Even if Zilk wins, he won't be able to participate in the final, right?

　In a whisper, "No? I ask, and Luxion tells me the diagnosis of Jilk's injuries.

'It's a broken bone. Where it cracked after being surrounded and attacked, it was broken by an unreasonable movement. Even in a world where healing magic is so convenient, I won't be able to make it to the next race.''

　Zilk had just barely passed the leader to the finish line.

　When Zilk returned to the airship on his air bike, he collapsed and the medical personnel gathered to carry him out on a stretcher.

　I asked as Angier tried to leave the lounge.

'Where are you going?'

''Well this is still a year in the making. I'll check on Zilk's injury and get a replacement if necessary. I'll talk to the executive committee.

　Livia tried to follow, so I decided to follow, putting the wads of money and gold coins on the round table in my bag.

　My second daughter says to me.

"Oh, give me some money if you're leaving. My wallet is empty.

"...you're really a refreshingly brazen man,

　I handed a few bills to the second daughter, who was proud to taunt her brother, and chased after Angier and the others.

◇

　Marie's voice echoed in the infirmary.

'Zilk~!

　The woman who seems to be the same reincarnation as me, and who originally took the hero's place as a side-by-side [Marie Fou Raffan], was crying to Zilk, who was lying on the bed.

　Zilk turned a smile on her face, not letting her worry.

''It's okay, Marie-san. I'm safe as this.''

　In the infirmary, there are other people in the infirmary, His Highness Julius and an elf boy named [Kyle], who is Marie's personal servant. The other boys were not here as they were competing as athletes.

　Angel is talking with the first year's executive committee members.

''We'll have no choice but to substitute,''

But then the players...
Most of the best boys are in other competitions, so there's no substitute...

　It looks like we're having a hard time finding a replacement.

　Livia grabbed my arm. She was whispering in the atmosphere of this place.

''Oh, um, Zilk-san, are you okay?''

You can heal in three days. It's amazing how a broken bone can heal in three days.

　Magic really is amazing.

　Luxion counters and says, ''I can do it for a day depending on the conditions. No, I don't need twenty-four hours' or something like that to appeal to me.

　This guy doesn't want to lose to magic, but he's too desperate to be funny.

　Livia wonders.

'But I can heal you faster. Why don't you all do that?''

　Healing magic is something that few people use.

　And the reason why the protagonist has an aptitude for healing magic is because she's a special being with such a high talent and power that she's called a saint.

　I tell her to keep quiet.

'Because normalcy in Libya is an anomaly. If I tell the doctor, he'll get mad at me, so let's just keep it quiet. It's normal.

'Ha, yes. Is that so?

　You don't seem to understand much, but it would be helpful if you would keep your mouth shut.

　I know they're better than the experts, but it would only get them in trouble if they were here to show it off. Doctors get their pride hurt, and there's a good chance they'll get a bunch of numbskulls who've heard the rumors.

　When and where it's appropriate, Revere's abilities will be on display.

'If Zilk had won the race, there would have been a prize!

　Marier's true feelings of crying are terrible.

　His Highness Julius and others, such as His Highness Julius, put their hands on Marie's back to comfort her.

'It's okay, Marie. Me and everyone else will win the other events.

　It's an athletic festival, and since the school is attended by the children of the nobility, if you win in each event, you get a prize.

　The prizes are different for each event, and the prize money for the air bike race is 10 million yen.

　The prize money is different for each category, and the prize money for the air bike race is 10 million yen. The prize money tells us that air bike racing is that popular.

I had high hopes for air bike racing!　In any other competition you could get it all and it wouldn't even be half the price of an air bike race!

　Zilk looked apologetic.

'I'm sorry. I didn't expect you to go this far.'

　Marie is wiping away tears.

'It's true. Aren't the upperclassmen terrible too?　I'll charge you for it.

　Both His Highness Julius and Jirku are embarrassed by such words from Marie, thinking that they are worried about them.

　Love is blind, as they used to say.

''That guy, all he's talked about is money from earlier. Are you sure?

　When I whispered this, Livia was troubled too.

''Ki, I'm sure she's worried about you too, Zilk-san. Because you all gave up your positions to be together.

　Because of the woman named Marie, five of the targets of the attack were caged. If that was all, they could have still managed, but those five people - they threw away their positions.

　In order to be with Marie, they abandoned their fiancé and were cut off from their parents' home.

　You were too determined to pull it off.

''Ehhh, I don't know.　Marie seems to like the money better. We've only talked about money earlier.

　Once I found out what kind of woman Marie was, the girl and her cronies came to the medical office.

　The girl was a second-year [Clarice Fear Atlee] countess. She stood gracefully and had fluffy, voluminous hair.

　She's a picture-perfect young lady.

　

　In addition to his cronies, he also has five full-time sub-race servants around him.

You've become quite shabby, haven't you? ........Zilk, how do you feel now?

　The cronies were grinning.

　But their expressions changed when they realized that Angier was here.

　Zilk has closed his eyes.

''........Clarice, was it you?''

　Clarice yells at Zilk, who has figured it all out.

'Yes, yes!　I hope you go to hell for abandoning me!　I will never forgive you.

　It's scary to see senior Clarice, a beautiful woman, furious.

''It's powerful when a beautiful woman is angry, isn't it?

'Mr. Leon, what are you talking about!　You need to be more serious.

　In response to such a request from Livia, Angel stood in front of Clarice senior as she closed her mouth.

''I hope you'll be quiet in the infirmary. .........Clarice, I understand your feelings, but cheating openly at the gym festival?

　In response to Angier's glare, Clarice-senpai took a step back but shook her head. The messy hair made Claris-senpai look even more frightening.

''........Don't be so high and mighty. It's because you haven't been able to hold the reins of His Highness that this happened. You were discarded in the same way, and I'm angry that you act as if nothing happened. Yell at me like you always do.

　Angier wrinkled his brow.

　

''I'm what?　You think you're the only one who gets to be the heroine of tragedy?　You even took your full-time slave with you and started behaving very flamboyantly. Your ladylike appearance makes you look like you've been wearing a cat on your head.

'　Oh, you have no idea what you're talking about!

　Just as the two were about to grab each other, Clarice senior's cronies stopped them.

　The other party was the duke's daughter, Angier.

　I guess they didn't want to make an enemy of her.

　I agree with that. The cronies must be having a hard time too. I felt a little pity for them.

　Clarisse-senpai was glaring at Jirku.

　Closing his eyes and trying not to look at his face, Zilk.......are you really sorry for that?　It's your fault. Do something about it!

'Come on out next time. I'll beat you to a pulp in public. I'll make you pay for this for the rest of your life. You will cry and beg for forgiveness. I'll never forgive you for doing that, but I will!

　This is pretty angry.

　In contrast, Zilk's reaction was cold.

''........If that makes you feel better, you can do it to your heart's content. However, if you do anything to Marie-san or everyone else, I will never forgive you.

　Even though Marie was completely airborne between the two of them, the mention of her name caused Clarice senior's bloodshot eyes to turn.

　She reacted with a bike-like reaction, but something turned on or she went into acting.

　.........This guy, he's just like his sister in his previous life, even to this point. It's really annoying.

"Vengeance doesn't produce anything, senpai. More importantly--

'Don't talk like you know what you're talking about!　Produce nothing?　So?　So what about it!

Hi. Excuse me!

　Clarice senior was furious when she heard Marie's false dialogue. No wonder. The woman who took her fiancé away from her would be angry if she said such things.

　Angier also turned his cold gaze on Marie.

　But the one who stepped forward to interrupt their gaze was........His Highness Julius.

''That's about right. Angelica, don't turn that kind of eye on Marie, either.''

I'm sorry, Your Highness.

　When Angier apologized, His Highness Julius turned his gaze to Clarice senior.

　This guy has an aura of royalty for nothing, and I'm envious of him.

''Clarisse-senpai. I understand that you can't forgive Zilk. But I want you to stop doing this already. It's not good for you either.

　Clarisse-senpai, who was looking down and smiling darkly, seemed to be going a little crazy.

''........Your Highness would say that? Do you know how many people have become unhappy because of just one woman?　It's not just Angelica. You know what they say about me and my other fiancées behind my back?　I don't know. You guys wouldn't know.

　

　I knew the world of otome games was terrible.

''........I know we don't have the right to preach to you. But I can't let you continue doing this. It's not even for your own good.

　My thoughts came out of my mouth.

'He's so handsome, even the dialogue is handsome. It's amazing how convincing he sounds, even though he's a guy who was seduced by Marie and dumped his fiancée. I guess faces are important after all.

Leon, d*mn it!　You can't say that. So, meh!

　The "Meh!" of Libya's no-no The gesture of "I can't help it," is so cute. Normally she would make the bastards samurai, but with this kind of charm, I felt like I could.

　The protagonist is too scary.

　As it was, His Highness Julius heard my lines and glared at me.

　Let's close your mouth and avert your gaze as well.

　Clarisse-senpai returned the kibisu.

''If you come out, I'll smash you again next time. If you don't come out, I'll crush your replacements. I'll make sure you guys know that I will never forgive you.

　Clarice senior leaves with a laugh.

　........The air in the infirmary is terrible.

　I let out a sigh.

'This one, we can't get a replacement for the next race, can we?　And no one would want to take his place.

　When I said that, Zilk was trying to get up with his injured body.

''--Okay!''

Zilk, stop!

　His Highness Julius is holding him to the bed, but he seems to be planning to compete.

'Let me go, Your Highness. No one will be hurt if I leave. This is the most brilliant way to do it.'

　...I think the most brilliant way to do it was for you guys to not break off the engagement. I know it's not a good idea to say it, but I really wanted to complain about it.

　Originally, it was supposed to be Libya, the main character, and one of the five of us, attached to each other and headed for a happy ending.

　Now they've been disowned and are now five people with little to no backing. I can't predict what will happen in the future.

　The first-year executive committee members glanced at me.

'Hey, hey, how's Baltic Falt?'
His grades are barely on a player's level, but...
If you're going to get beat up anyway, isn't this guy better than Mr. Jilk?

　As the eyes of the faces in the infirmary gathered on me, Angier stood in front of me to protect me.

I have no intention of letting Rion participate in the tournament. I'm not going to allow him to participate in the tournament knowing that this is the case. I'm sorry, but I'm going to abstain.

　Hearing this, Marie had raised her voice. She is quite panicked.

''Wait!　What about the prize money!　I was hoping for an air bike race!

　Ange stared at him as if he could kill someone with his gaze.

''I can't afford to get any more injured for something like that.

　I was relieved to hear Angel's good argument.

　I hadn't planned to attend, but if I had, I'm sure the audience would have gone wild at the sight of me getting beaten to a pulp.

　

　--just.

"But it would be bad for Angelica-sama's reputation.
'Yeah. You can't even stand in for a substitute, you're in trouble for representing your grade...
If only someone would get out...

　As I nod my head, Marie says to me as if to slap me in the face. It's the first time I'm casually talking to him, but this guy is kind of brazen.

'Yes, he is!　You're going to get this woman in trouble if you don't get out!　Hey, Julius!

''Oh, yeah, Angelica is like a representative of a grade. It's not like Angelica can't provide a substitute, or... well, is it a matter of reputation?

　I looked at Angier and he looked troubled.

''Well don't worry about me. There's no need to bother getting hurt. I can't cause you any more trouble than you already have.

　I'm in a bit of a bind!

　Why is it Angier's fault if he can't set up a deputy in the first place?　In the first place, if you're going to represent your grade, it should be the former Crown Prince over there!

　I mean, I don't want Angier's reputation to be tarnished or anything!

　This is a pattern that's gotten Angel in trouble for defending me!　We can't let that happen!

　...because I owe my daddy a debt of gratitude!

　The reason why I wasn't afraid to pick a fight with His Highness Julius, who was the crown prince, was because I thought that Angier Papa-san would protect me, and he actually protected me.

　Thanks to that, I also got the meaninglessness of getting a promotion, but what would you think if my daughter's reputation was tarnished because of me, from that kind of Angier Papa's point of view?

　You're supposed to be furious. I'd be livid.

"I'm going to compete.

"Huh?

　Livia was surprised.

　Angier's eyes widened too.

'Leon, if you have any sympathy--'

"I don't feel sorry for you!　I've made up my mind. I'm going in. You need to go through the formalities right away. And get my bike ready.

　When I told the executive committee members, I said, "I did it. Let's go let everyone know~" and one of them walked out of the infirmary, saying, "I'm going to go tell everyone that I'm going to get beat up.

　I guess he's going to tell them that I'm going to be beaten up or something.

'Rion-san, are you being reckless?'

　I gave Livia's words a serious look.

'Rash?　Wrong. This is mean!

　Angier, who is looking annoyed, wants to stop me from competing.

'Nah, you can't. Clarice has a lot of guys who are good at air bikes. The winner last year was one of his boys. You never know what he can do to you if he's in the mood for rough play.

Sometimes I still have to do it!

　Both Angel and Livia seemed to have given up on stopping me from being spirited.

'Rion well, if you say so much, I won't say anything else. I wish you victory.

'Wow, I'm rooting for you too!　I'm going to support you so much, Leon-san!

　We don't want to piss him off.

　Because I would die.

　Marie was carefree.

"We'll be safe when you're out. I'll be happy if you lose. If I win, I get to keep my winnings. Yes, you'll be fine!

　Don't you think it's okay if I slam my fist in this guy's face?　I think this guy can be forgiven for beating him up. It's true that Zilk is the reason I'm in the final race. But he's brazen enough to plan on getting the prize money.

　Zilk looked at me and then looked down in frustration.

　Do you hate me that much!　I don't like it either!　I hate you!

I guess I'll just have to rely on you now.

'Weep and rejoice, you green shadowy bastard. I'll owe you one.

　I said, and he had a small smile on his face.

'I guess I owe you a big favor.'

You'll get it back soon enough.

　I walked out of the infirmary and got ready to compete in an air bike race.