All the good intentions have backfired.

　The deck of the Paltner.

　The wind was cold, but I went outside because I felt like I'd be thinking about a lot of things if I stayed in my room. But cold or not, all I could think about was Libya.

　Luxion floated at my side.

'A pet? It was true that Master's adorable ways seemed to be dealing with pets. The master who was loving his favorite game character couldn't even talk back,''

...yes.

　The d*mned artificial intelligence doesn't do anything to comfort me.

　This guy's words pierce my heart well.

''He must have been weakened by the full-blown malice directed at the school. Your mental state is unstable. I thought there was no need to be bothered.''

What do you think I am?　I'd get hurt too.

"The master's heart is specially made of bulletproof glass. The slightest scratch will not cause any damage.

Okay.

　I've been there before. I have my own way of dealing with things.

　But what Livia said stuck in my mind.

　He shook his head.

'It was good. It's not worth it for the mob to reach out to the hero and the villainous daughter in their own way. I learned a good lesson.

"...I'm not sure I should back out of this, are you?

"Take care of it until the end?　You're kidding me. It was the protagonist who refused to be treated as a pet. It's going to be interesting to see what he does in the future.

"You are sulking.

It's May.

　He told me I was sulking and I was annoyed. If I was annoyed, then I guess I was admitting that I was aware of it myself.

　After a while, I spoke to Luxion.

'What was wrong with me?'

'My biggest mistake was abandoning the policy early. Thanks to that, I became involved in the story Master was telling me.

'Stunted growth?　Hey, quit screwing around. That's what I've been helping you with. The dungeons in the academy and all the other stuff--

　Luxion only did not bend her answers.

''Originally, she would have solved those problems alone. In the short run, Master's help is a success. But in the long run, it is a hindrance to Olivia's spiritual growth. She is right. Did the Master consider Olivia to be a pet?　It must have been a lovely, adorable favorite pet. Because she's such a precious and convenient girl for her master in this world.'

f*ck you!

　I hit Luxion and he hit the deck as it was and bounced back to me slowly.

''........Are you finished?''

I'd love to hit you again, but my knuckles hurt.

　His face was on fire with anger. I wait for the cold air outside to wake it up.

'I keep saying. For the Master, this is necessary. Having a previous life and being a child, Master needs to grow spiritually.'

'Spiritual growth?　Then there is no need. Do you know the difference between an adult and a child?

'In this case, if you don't mean physically... like self-control?

No, it's not. The difference between an adult and a child is whether they adapt to society or not. I'm mature enough to live with the common sense of this world without destroying it with the power that you have.

　For better or worse, once you adapt, you're an adult.



Oh, yeah?

　As I sit there in a huff, Brad comes out on deck. He has a sword in his hand, and when he sees my face, he looks terribly uncomfortable.

　Luxion hides in my jacket.

'Are you practicing with your sword?'

　Brad said briefly, "I'm going to borrow the deck," and he began to swing in the cold. His skills are not as flattering as they could be.

　I'm still better than that.

'Why don't you practice your magic?　You're good at magic.

　Then Brad was soaked in sweat.

　He was shaking it very seriously.

'I know that stuff!

Are you kidding me?

　Brad started swinging his sword again, but he wasn't concentrating on me watching him.

'You swing it every day?'

'Naturally. It's a prerequisite for being a knight.

It's not a requirement.

Bu, you must have some martial arts skills!

　You can't become a knight even if you can only use a sword. Unless you are an outstanding swordsman, most others need to be able to do everything to become a knight.

　Well, a nobleman can be a knight automatically.

"You don't have to do that to be a knight.

　Brad rakishly flips a hand through his bangs and then says to me.

'I'm going to beat you someday!　Until that day, we decided to stick it out.

　Do you want to stick it out?　LOL.

　What, you guys thought I was going to win again?

Are you nuts? I'm not gonna fight you guys anymore. You're a loser for life.

　Then Brad looked frustrated and resumed his pretense again.

''Well aren't you going to talk back?''

'If I have time for that, I'll just swing as many times as I can. Because I'm ... the weakest of the five.

　...I'll scratch my hair.

　Brad was a character who was good at magic.

　It's safe to say that he has no talent other than magic. Because of that, he's been made to struggle in the game. He's weak, but he comes forward, and to top it off, he sinks quickly. I can't tell you how many times I've thought, "For God's sake, don't get in front of me.

'Why don't you just work hard at what you're good at?'

I'm working on it!　But ... I don't want to lose.

　Brad got it off his chest.

'Well I want Marie to look at me.

'What do you guys like about that guy?　He's a little boy and he's petulant.

'Not on the outside!　It's on the inside!

　I'd like to tell you that what's in it sucks too. Well, you won't hear it when I tell you.

　Then a fluffy, floating robot comes from inside the ship. It had two wooden swords in its hands, and it handed them to me and Brad and left.

　Brad was creeped out.

'Hey, what's with that piece of steel?'

　His hips buckled and his legs trembled. Come to think of it, this guy was a coward. Maybe he hadn't seen the robots in the ship yet, and he looked scared....

　But just two wooden swords.

　Brad points the cutting edge of the wooden swords at me.

''Let's play, Baltic Falt!

I don't want to. It's cold.

　Brad was standing on the ground in frustration.

　But as he glances at me and pretends to look at me, I decide to have one match, thinking I won't lose.

　Brad is pleased.

'Come on!'

'Why are you happy to fight in a field you're not good at? Are you stupid?

'I've got a better grade in the classroom than you!　Anyway, all I have to do is challenge you.

　That said, Brad was set up, but his stance was decent as he'd been practicing.

　When he stepped in and struck, it was easy to step back and get out of position. I can't say I feel very talented.

'See, what's up?'

　Brad strikes repeatedly, and then gets dizzy.

　But once - a left slash from Brad, who stepped in wide. The sword going diagonally upwards from underneath was unexpectedly powerfully dislodged from his stance.

''--!

　I think it was simple carelessness.

　Brad stepped in at a good clip.

'I'm going to keep folding--ah!

　I stepped in unintentionally, so I closed the distance and hit him on the head with the hilt and he squatted down on the spot.

''Well you're still an idiot, aren't you?''

d*mn it I thought I had it in me.

　I think he's still more talented with the spear in this one. During the duel, he gave a sharp thrust.

　Brad stood up and went back inside the ship, as if his bare hands were finished.

''Tu, next time, I promise.''

　I hold my head and look at my wooden sword as I watch Brad go back.

　I swing it, it's been a while since I've swung it.

'Wow, you can't swing it anymore. Come to think of it, you haven't touched it outside of class.

　The pretense he was made to practice before he left his parents' house had been skipped since he arrived at the school.

　Luxion, who had been hiding, reappeared.

''It looks like you're having fun.''

You didn't go to the trouble of having a robot come with a wooden sword, did you?

"Yes.

　When I pointed the tip of my wooden sword at the night sky, the stars were shining quite beautifully.

''Well those guys have a lot on their minds too.

◇

　The next day.

　The morning that greeted us with no answers was the worst.

　Greg gobbling up the food on the table and Brad eating gracefully....

'It's a manly morning,'

　Since Livia is holed up in her room, Luxion only delivered the food.

　Greg wipes his mouth.

'I don't want to see your face in the morning either. Anyway, what are you going to do now?　The main body of air bandits is still around, right?

　The air bandits are still around, and they're asking if we're going to defeat them or run away.

　If it's not a game, I can wait until two years, but I want to crush them as it is because they were involved in a bad way. It's a huge hindrance in times of war.

　I hit them when I can, and that's what I do.

'I've identified the location. But I'll wait a little longer before I get in--

　Then Luxion reported to me.

''Master, it seems that the air bandits have attacked us.''

　I stood up and looked out the window and they both looked at me nervously.

'You moved surprisingly fast,'

　They make me an offer.

　Greg's gonna make me an offer.

'Baltphalt, you can have your broken armour. Lend me your armor.

　Brad has a serious look on his face, too.

'I'm finding some armour that I could use yesterday.

　What are you going to do with your broken armor?

No. No, I'm not going to let that thing get me down. Will you two ever think about what you're doing?

　Greg bowed to me.

'Please!　I know it's going to slow you down. But I can't just stand by and watch you go through this.

　Brad bowed to me, too.

'This is a wormy story. Yeah, I know. The broken armor is yours-- yours to keep. But I'd like to have it for a little while. I'd like to borrow it.

　I was going to say no, but I turned my head away from their straight stare and attitude.

'We'll check it out once over here. After that, you can do whatever you want.

I'm in your debt!

This time I'm gonna be useful.

　Luxion didn't wait for my word.

We will now begin resupply and maintenance.

　He told me so.

　...He's a real jerk. He's complaining a lot and yet he's competent and angry.

　Isn't this how you can nip it in the bud?

◇

　There was a lot of noise outside.

　Libby, who had been sitting on the floor, stood up and looked out the window.

'Paltner's on the move...'

　Livia, who had been bonkers, felt the ship rocking, and her consciousness slowly woke up.

　The sight that her weeping, swollen eyes saw was Rion fighting in the sky on the Aroganz.

'Rion-san?'

　Outside the window, if you looked, the same airships as yesterday's bandits were rushing in.

　There were five of them.

　The largest airship in the world was about three hundred meters in size.

　The cannons lined up on their sides spewed fire, and shells came at Partner one after another.

''Kyah!''

　When he sat down with his head in his hands, the pale light protected Paltner and didn't hurt him.

'S-awesome,'

　As Livia watched the scene outside, Rion charged toward the enemy's flagship.

　He had destroyed the masts of the airship with its ship-shaped sails.

　Livia is relieved - and depressed - at the sight.

(My God, Rion... but I... but I...)

　Livia was woozy and distressed, but when she saw Rion being blown up by the armor coming out of the enemy airship, she rushed outside in a hurry.

　She ran out of the room and then down the passageway to the deck.

　The interior of the large partner ship was large, and it was a good distance to get out.

　The floating robots they saw along the way were trying to keep Livia from going - but they were not going to let her go.

'Sorry, let me through!'

　-- When Livia said that, the robots stopped moving for a moment.

　When they restarted, they hurriedly chased after it, but in the end, they couldn't catch Livia.

　Unable to stand still, I stepped out onto the deck and my ears hurt from the intense sounds of battle that I hadn't heard when I was on board.

　The sound of gunpowder exploding.

　The sound of magic being generated and crashing.

　Anyway, the battlefield was dominated by violent shaking and the sound of explosions and smoke generated by gunpowder.

　Livia moved away from the door and looked for Leon. She didn't want to be useful or not, but she wanted to make sure Rion was safe.

'Mr. Rion. Mr. Rion!

　Then a large piece of armor landed in front of me.

　When I looked up, I saw that it wasn't a gray allogant, but a skull mark painted on it.

''--What?''

　The armor was heavily armored, just like Aroganz's, but it was stinging and very much like an air pirate.

　Carrying a weapon that looked like a large machete, the armor reached out to Libya.

　As a hand large enough to wrap around Libya's head closed in, robots that looked like hands on a cylinder intervened between Libya and the armor, unable to move in fear.

　A muffled voice could be heard from inside the armor.

''Tch, what is this garbage?''

　A wild man's voice.

　He blows the robots away with his fist and reaches out again to catch Livia - and then.

'I'm not going to let you!

　Brad climbed into the armor he had taken from the air bandit and slammed into the enemy.

　However, his opponent only stepped onto the deck and backed away from the spot a bit.

　It didn't look very manageable, as if a child was trying to push an adult out of the way.

　The air bandit threw the brat away as Livia was startled, forgetting to breathe, by what was happening in front of her, one after the other.

'Don't let the kid get carried away!

　Brad's armor rolls across the deck.

　He quickly gets to his feet and tries to confront it, but this time Greg's riding armor comes charging in. Wielding a spear, he destroyed the air bandit's armor and charged at it.

''Olaa, retreat!''

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this as well.

"Hard.

　Greg's spear was grabbed and as it was, the air bandit pulled out his spear. This time, he takes the spear and slams Gregg to the deck.

　As Livia is unable to move, Brad stands in front of her.

'What are you doing, back off!

E....ah....

　Livia is stuck in fear as she sees a battle of armor in front of her.

◇

　Up in the sky.

　I'm blown up, and I take my frustration out on a nearby air pirate.

'Get out of the way, move!'

　I grabbed the air bandit's armor and slammed it straight into the airship.

　I looked around and saw that the air bandits were surrounding me.

　My breathing was erratic.

　Inside the narrow armor, I looked around and saw that drones were deployed around me.

'Don't kill them. Get them all.

　Luxion was complaining about my orders.

''You're being reckless. You're having a hard time because of it.''

　The air bandits with their rifles at the ready were shouting something. ''Monsters!'' "What the hell is this thing? "Bullet all the way--don't come here! While overhearing such conversations, he remembered what happened earlier.

　.........The head of the air pirate.

　The large armor that the man with the prize head rides on.

　Generally speaking, armor is usually of a smart type. Many air bandits also come at me with such armor.

　And yet the head of the bandit was riding on a heavily armored armor that was as big as Luxion.

''I can't wait to get to that guy.''

　As I was getting impatient, Luxion warned me.

''Master, your reaction time is slower than normal. Your piloting skills and other things are worse than last time.''

　.........yes. Lack of practice.

'I'm sorry. I've been busy.

No, it's more of a psychological thing.

　Gray armor--heavy armored Aroganz flies in the sky.

　My armor is undoubtedly the strongest, as its armor flicks the bullets fired by the air bandits and overwhelms the others in terms of speed and power.

　I'm riding on such strongest armor, and yet I'm struggling.

　

　The head of the bandit is avoiding a fight with me by letting his men deal with me.

　I caught the approaching enemy and crushed his head. The pilot, the air pirate, looks at me through a chink in his armor with a frightened look on his face.

''I'll crush them quickly. I can't stay involved in this forever.''

"Master, a man believed to be the air pirate chieftain has landed on the Paltner deck. And there's Olivia out on deck.

Nah!

　Surprised, an airship of air bandits points their cannons at us and fires shell after shell at us.

　Aroganz collides with them and is caught in the explosion.

　I blamed Luxion in his armor.

'Why did you let them out!

I'm sorry. "I'm sorry, sir, but the robots were down temporarily. I don't know what the problem was, but...

'Enough!　I'll be right there to help--

　The image that appears in front of me shows Brad and Greg challenging the head of the air bandits.

'It was the right decision to send them out. Now they're fighting to protect Olivia.''

　That figure - the two defending Libya - was burned into my eyes as if to say that it was a natural sight.

　That scene, which I'm sure I've seen many times in games, was the very scene of the boys defending the main character as the target of their attack.

　A small smile.

''........This is fine. That's right, this was fine from the beginning.''

"Master?

　Once I took a deep breath, I grabbed the controls and turned my attention to what was in front of me as I turned off the images around me. I didn't need to think about anything else.

　Yes, I have a role to play.

　-- because I'm a mob.

　It's presumptuous of me to stand on the side of the protagonist--Livia, don't you think?

Crank up the output. I'll use that thing in container four.

"Yes, sir.

　Luxion gets a feel for my mood and stops talking about anything else. Hey, what's going on?　Say something........I'll miss hearing you complain.

　The two axes that came out of the container are grasped in each of Aroganz's hands.

　Clutching the much larger axes in one hand, I looked down once and then slowly raised my face.

''--crush.''

◇

　Livia sat down on the spot.

　In front of her, both Brad and Gregg had fallen in front of the empty-headed armor.

''Shit, shit.''

What's so big that it can generate that much power?

　We're both still alive. But they weren't about to get up again.

　The air bandit head carries the big machete on his shoulder and extends his left hand to Libya.

'You're making me late. Woman, you are a hostage to him.''

　Sensing that he intended to use her as a hostage against Leon, the air bandit head thrust his big machete into Blood's armor as Libya tried to escape.

''Gah!''

　Brad raised his unvoiced voice and then struggled.

'Mr. Brad!'

　The air bandit's head tells him in a muffled voice from inside his armor: "Run and you will kill them.

''Run and I'll kill these guys. Come on, get over here quickly.''

　The crying Livia stepped forward on shaky legs in front of the empty bandit-headed armor that reached out to her. I look at Brad, suffering but alive.

(I'm slowing him down. I'm bothering everyone.)

　As she cried out in frustration, the armor of the bandit-head that had been in front of her a moment ago was blown away.

　A gust of wind disrupted Libya's hair and clothes, and she saw the gray armor that passed in front of her.

''Rion-san!''

　Livia exclaimed happily, but her expression quickly clouded over.

''--What?''

　With a great axe in each hand - Rion's Aroganz with a battle axe had cut off both arms of his opponent's armor.

　Previously, during the duel with Julius, Aroganz had even been somewhat dumb and charming with a shovel, but the armor in front of him now looked like a disaster.

　Libya's smile changes to one of astonishment at the power of Aroganz, who was made to fight and try to fulfill his original purpose.

''No. No, Leon-san, no!''

　Rion was alternately waving his arms around, playing with the air bandit head's armor. Gradually grinding, the Sky Bandit Head screamed in fear.

''Ta, help me!　Surrender. I'll surrender!'

　Rion laughed.

'Surrender?　Hey, hey, hey! That's not going to attract any attention from the famed air pirate. Show me you can fight back to the end. Huh?　I'll tell you who you're fighting with!'

　Stomping. Stomping repeatedly, the air bandit head was crying and begging for his life.

''Please help me!　Please. Help!

'You're too much of a worm after all the rampage, aren't you?　First you have to tell your men to surrender, right?　Come on, hurry up or you'll die.'

　Rion treated the Sky Bandit Head, who had been fighting against Brad and Greg earlier, as if he were a small fish.

　At the order of the Air Pirate Head, the air bandits declare their surrender. However, Rion destroys the Sky Bandit Head's armor. Alloganz strips off the armor and tears off the frame, which is an important framework.

　Seeing this, Livia was honestly scared.

　Then Aroganz reaches into the abdomen of the enemy's armor and pulls something out of it.

　Rion looked at it and laughed.

''Mi~keta~''

　The head air pirate lets out a distressed voice.

''Ka, give it back!　That's a very important--

I don't care. It's not yours. It's mine from now on.

　Allogantz kicked off and rolled on the deck, as if he wasn't even interested in the air bandit head armor anymore.

　Looking around, the airship of the air bandits was spewing black smoke, as if Leon had done it. It looked like they had managed to stay afloat, and some of the air bandits were trying to escape in their small boats.

　Most of their armor had been dropped and was floating on the water. In case it fell off, the armor was attached to what looked like a floating wheel. It unfolded and floated out to sea.

　The sky bandits are out of the armor and are either crouched or looking up at the sky with despairing faces thinking about what is to come....

　Livia remembers that Brad is injured and runs over to the armor to check on his injuries.

''Soooo, I'll get you treated right away.''

　Brad looked like he was in pain, sweating from the greasy sweat on his face from inside his armor.

　But he forced a smile in front of Livia.

'Oh, thank you.'

No, it's not my fault that he's hurt...

That's not true.

What?

I know it, and Greg knows it. I fought for you. After all, we're trying to be knights. A knight has to be kind to the lady and that part hurts!

　I treated Brad for his arm injury and was relieved to hear that he didn't hate himself. At the same time, I feel terribly sorry for him.

　When he put his hand on Brad's wound, a pale light of magic is generated and heals the wound. Seeing the wound disappear cleanly, Brad was relieved to see it disappear.

'It looks like you're good at healing magic, just like Marie. It's a relief.''

　At those words, Livia asked back.

''Marie-san can handle healing magic too?''

　There are few wizards who can handle healing magic, and even fewer who can use even better healing magic. I can say that they are valuable people.

　Brad smiles and boasts.

''Oh, she's our goddess. Any wounds will be fine with Marie........''

　With that, it was Brad who lost consciousness.

　When Livia wiped Brad's wound with the handkerchief she was holding, Rion, who had come out of the allogant, was looking down at the figure.

''--Rion-san. Ah, um!

　Before Libya could say anything else, Leon smiled.

　He just looked sad to Livia.

'It suits you. After all, it's how everything is made to come back to the right place.

　What does he mean by that?

　As Livia tried to get up, Rion headed over to Greg. Then he let him out of his armor and called out to him, making sure he wasn't hurt.

'Thanks for your help. What, you're strong.

You're being sarcastic. I'm sorry I broke my armor.

That's okay. It's more than that. Anyway, you can help me carry Brad out.

Is he okay?

I'm fine. Olivia's already taken care of that.

　Livia clenched her hand against her own chest.

　-- it hurt like hell.

　Her heart ached as if it had been clenched.

　She tried to stand up and scream something, but she couldn't speak. As he walked past Livia, Leon didn't even look at me.

　Greg and I got Brad out of his armor, and as it was, the robots brought a gurney for him to ride on as the robots brought a stretcher.

　When the three of them returned to the ship, Livia cried.

'Why? ........Please call me Livia.

　He sat down to break down and continued to cry.

◇

　There was no interest in the treasure of the air bandits in front of them.

　In one of the warehouses in Paltner, he threw the treasure he had taken from the air bandits into one of the warehouses.

　In addition to the gold and silver treasures, he found some nostalgic items, but he picked them up and quickly gave them away.

''How did you manage to store all this?''

　Luxion, who was floating at my side, saw my attitude.

''We don't expect the Wayne family's reward, but with the destruction of the air bandit group and the bounty of the air bandit head, we can get quite a bit of money. It's a bit of a fortune.''

　I'm not even interested in that now.

　What do you want to do with that much money?

　

'I think I'll get a tea set. What about the rest....

　The image that came to mind was Libya - Greg and Brad protecting Olivia. It's that way that they should be. My mind boggled strangely.

　I looked at Luxion.

'Hey, have you found any evidence of a connection between the Countess and the air bandits?

'Yes, sir. Yes, I found some documents and other evidence of correspondence. It may not be enough to prove it.

I'll tell the crown. The rest is the Dukes of Redgrave. A scandal involving a rival faction would be a good souvenir.

''It's an ugly story, or rather an obvious weakness. The Countesses might come to get the airborne bandits back.''

I'm just going to have to smash it.

　What the hell have I been doing all this time?

　What kind of a fool would not use all this power?

　I know. I was a fool.

　I was a fool.

"The kingdom might be a bit more sane now that the trash is gone. No, it won't. The kingdom itself is trash, but isn't a damsel in distress?

　Luxion, who was watching me sputtering, was less hateful than usual.

''Are you sure?　I have no hesitation in destroying my kingdom and this world. If you order me to do it, I will do it in a heartbeat. Then I can create a world that suits the master.

　...in a world that suits me?

　It's great!

Good. We'll put a woman in the house and start a harem.　I like elves and cat-eared beasties, too. Now let's go backwards and make the world like women are trash!

　

　Ah, this is just the opposite of the position of men and women, I thought.

''........What, I'm the same as the girls in the school?

''I'm glad to hear that you've found an answer for yourself. Did you feel better after taking it out on the air bandits?''

　...It didn't clear up at all.

　A bewildering feeling is stirring in my gut.

　I want to let it out right away, but I don't know how to do it.

　Luxion says to me.

'She. It's not that Olivia doesn't like her master. It's just that she has become mentally unstable.

'I know. Because I didn't do what I said. Because I got in trouble. Did you think I'd be mad at you for that reason?

"Yes.

"...what do you think I am?

　When I came outside, I was like, "What are you doing, you idiot! I thought. But on the contrary, it allowed me to see Brad and Gregg's manhood.

　We also got to see the protagonist and the target of the attack as they should be.

　I think it was a big win-win. Well this was good. Their agency is now over. It's just time to return to the mob.

　I take out the holy necklace in my pocket.

''Then how do I give this to you?

　Instead of me giving it to them, one of them - if Brad or Greg wakes up and sticks with Olivia, the story is easier.

　If I can tell them to give it to him and give it to him, that would be the best outcome for me.

　I want you two to do your best.

''Well you've decided what to do with the treasure.

　I conclude to myself and shove the necklace into my pocket.

　Luxion announces.

''Master, it appears that the Count family's fleet is coming towards us. At the same time--the airship of the Duke of Redgrave's family is also heading this way.''

　...it's a lot of noise.