Do you know what karma is?

　I think of it like fate or something like fate.

　Sorry for the vague knowledge, but anyway, karma is....cool, don't you think?

'Can't I escape mob karma too?

　As if to correct such a line, Luxion says Zubayon.

'Karma is karma. Causation - in the sense that there is an action and a result?　I think that's a bit of a funny line.'

　Do you know what it feels like to have a line of dialogue that's been corrected with a cloak?

　........It's absurdly embarrassing.

... "Let's just pretend that line never happened.

Be my guest.

　I was standing on the deck now.

　Under the cold weather, alongside my partner were three airships of the duke family.

　And across from me are the airships of the Countesses, the parental family of the Wayne family - armed airship ships facing us in a fleet.

　In a nutshell, the Countesses should hand over the captured airbirds.

　As for the dukes, they're not stupid enough to ask you to hand them over, even though they've come to help you at the request of your parson. That's the kind of attitude I'm talking about.

　The Countess was desperate to hide the fact that they were in league with the air bandits.

　However, with the dukes coming out, they can't force their hand, and they are discussing things like this.

　Ms. Olivia was taken in by Angier and brought back to her own ship.

　When I saw Olivia-san crying, I got a slap, but it hurt.

'More importantly, was it alright?'

"That you let him negotiate?　Do I look like I have high negotiating skills?　We can leave it to the dukes.

　I'm asking for every negotiation. You'll have to pay me, but...

　I've got the armor and airships I stole from the pirates, and we've got all the pirates.

　And we've got them all.

'No, it's about the credit. Why should I give the credit to Brad and Greg?

I'd be very grateful for their return to their former positions. You're going to protect Olivia, aren't you?　Even if it doesn't happen, we can still count on it in a pinch.

　I've already gone way off the storyline.

　If we don't fix it a little bit, I fear for the future. Well, even if we can't get back to our former position, we can still be a little better than we are. Besides, the two of them did a great job. It seemed like it would be good to do that much.

''Master settled his relationship with Olivia. He handed over the credit to the two of them and only a few items remain in his possession.......Did you get your money's worth?''

It's enough. It's good enough for me. I've got you.

　If you think about it, Luxion is an airship that Olivia could have gotten her hands on. If you think you took a cheat-class spaceship, it's not even worth the price of a little labor or hate.

　If I say that, Luxion is going to get carried away, so I'll keep quiet.

''You were angry with Angelica for making Olivia cry, weren't you?

'You're a fussy princess. You can't have a mob to deal with. Let's just hope a worthy prince will come for me eventually.

You've distanced yourself from Angelica, too?

I rather think we've been too close, though.

　There is a proper distance for everything.

　As I waited on deck, the Countess' airship was making its way back to the fleet. And the fleet airship was leaving this place.

　........I guess the discussion is over.

◇

　Angier's own room on the airship.

　Libya was sitting in her room with her knees in her arms.

　When Ange heard the story, he was stunned.

'....Are you guys kids?　Livia, it's bad enough for you, but it's pathetic that Leon is sulking too.

　Angel shelved himself, but Livia looked down.

'It's my fault. They said I was a pet, and they hated me because I took it to heart and took it out on Rion-san.'

　Angier comforted him. However, the distance between them was subtle.

　Ange had an idea. In fact, he was thinking about it a bit when he said the same thing. I wondered if I hadn't been treating Livia like a pet.

''Well rest now. We'll be back at the school in a minute.

　Angier didn't know what to do either.

　Not a friend that was given to him, but a friend that he had gotten himself... Libya was a commoner and he didn't know how to treat her right.

　The relationship between the three of them was crumbling.

◇

　Two men, Brad and Greg, have been summoned to the royal palace.

　The officials in front of the two men were in trouble.

　After all, he was formerly the heir to a prestigious family. It's different now, but the way they're treated is like touching a boil.

　Brad taps the desk.

'What the hell are you doing--oh, my arm hurts.

　He was in pain from hitting the desk with his injured arm.

　Greg stared firmly at the official, dismayed at Brad, but he stared at the official.

'I don't understand why we're officially knighted. I'm not convinced, but it's kind of an achievement for going into battle. But we don't take credit for slaying air bandits. I don't think we're going to get paid for it.

　Brad nodded with tears in his eyes.

　The official is in trouble.

''You have to take it. The report of Baldfalt-dono, who has the rank and baronetcy, which is six ranks above him, takes precedence. Huh, if there's any injustice, we can interrogate them, but for what it's worth, this kind of thing is rare.

　The officials are baffled by the fact that the two men are willing to pay and not receive the reward.

　Normally, they would want both credit and reward.

　Yet they can't believe the two men are refusing to take it.

　Greg crosses his arms.

(That bastard's got a funny way about him.)

　Taking a deep breath, Greg told the officials everything.

'We just helped out, that's all. It was Baldfalt who crushed the air bandits and captured the bounty on the air bandits. He did the job.

　Brad nodded.

'We haven't even played much of a role. And yet we don't get paid like this.

　This time the official lets out a sigh.

''I was told not to tell the two of you, but Baron Baldfalt has been working on your parents' house. He asked me to take credit for this time and break the insulation.

　The two men looked complicated.

Oh, why is he doing that?

　When Greg stood up, Brad had the same look of incomprehension on his face.

'Yeah, right. What reason would you have to go that far?

　The official replies while looking at the two men.

''I don't know how the baron feels, but a reasonable amount of funds have been flowing within the royal palace. I heard that a reasonable amount of money and goods were also given to the two of your parents' homes. Why don't you accept this place with an open mind?

　When he said that he could repay the debt in the future, the official left the room.

◇

　The courtyard of the royal palace.

　The two men sitting on the benches were having a hard time sorting out their feelings.

　Greg looked abominable, and Brad looked down with a slightly sad face.

　Julius appeared underneath them.

　He looks a little tired.

''You two, I heard it!

　Julius was apparently looking for them when he heard about their activities, and he was happy to see them.

'Your Highness?'

　When Brad looked up, Julius looked excited.

'I heard you killed a famous air pirate. And in front of that Baltic Fart guy!　We've already won this one, haven't we?　More importantly, I've heard that the two of you have begun the process of breaking the insulation. You two might be close to returning to your trueborn son.

　Greg whispered to a delighted Julius.

'No,' he says. No, we didn't win anything against him. We didn't beat him in strength, in spirit and in quantity.

　Brad couldn't argue with that either.

'Your Highness, we've ... decided ...'

Both of you?

　Brad and Greg stand up.

'I want to win against Baltic Falt. I don't want to beat him. I want to win more as a man.

'Right. As it is, there's no chance of winning. He's a great knight. We never had a chance against him.

　They knew they couldn't keep their heads down when Julius arrived, so they quickly moved in.

　Brad says.

'Your Highness, will you be able to see the Queen?

'Your mother?　What the hell are you thinking?

　Greg looked embarrassed.

'This is what he did for me. I wouldn't be a man if I didn't return the favor to him.

◇

　

　When I returned to the boys' dormitory, I received the letter that arrived from the royal palace and was trembling, even though classes would resume tomorrow.

''Brad you guys hate me so much, Greg.

　The letter I held in my trembling hands wrinkled.

　What was written on it was like an after-the-fact report that the [promotion to fifth rank] was allowed.

　I was the sixth highest court rank, which is a court rank of the sixth, but it was raised a notch to the fifth lowest.

　I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what I'm talking about. I thought that was a lie.

"Who the hell pulled the strings? I mean, this ... this can't be allowed to happen. What's the point of being fifth inferior? My father was six ranks below me, so what was I supposed to do with the two ranks above him?

　Are you usually pleased with your career?

　No. At least I'm not happy about it.

　Getting ahead means you have to take on more responsibility.

　I want to stay in my domain and take it easy, but what am I going to do with my career?

　If you're low on the court rank, there are many calls to be made.

　It's because I don't want to get involved with the palace that I supported those two, but before I knew it I had risen through the ranks.

　You don't normally get a promotion by exterminating air pirates.

　The palace won't let you rise through the ranks unless you make more achievements. They strictly monitor the size of a fiefdom and elevate its rank, but when it comes to promotion in rank, it is the palace that is strict.

　When I was resenting this inexcusable treatment, Luxion was looking at the letter from behind me.

''........I didn't expect that I would be promoted. The master is very good at going beyond my expectations.''

What do you mean you're good at this?　I didn't think I'd get that promotion either!　You weren't in the process of being promoted by any means, by any means!　There are plenty of guys who would rather know how to get promoted!

　It's very difficult to be promoted to the sixth or fifth rank, to begin with. It is impossible to be promoted by a single slaying of air bandits.

　That's what you need to do, you need to make a big achievement on the battlefield, you need to have served for many years, and so on.

　It's not like you can get promoted on the strength of an individual!

　As I was fussing by myself, I heard a knock at the door.

　When I open the door, I see a nervous-looking male dormitory staff member standing there. The staff member is a woman, and she bows her head in front of me.

''Baron Baltfart. Oh, we have a letter and a gift for you.

Letters and gifts?

'Yes, sir. I can't deliver it to your room, sir, so it's ready for you outside.

Outside?

　Curious, a staff member led me to the gift and when I went to look at it, what I found was an air bike.

　It's also a rather luxurious and large guy.

　I think the air bike is more pricey than bad armor, and the sender of the letter was the [Atlee family].

　I receive the letter and read it.



　I shouted, and a nearby staff member shook his shoulder with a jolt.

　What was written there was an apology to me.

　The Atlee family--the letter that arrived from Clarice senior's parents' house--apologized for the incident at the gym festival and thanked their daughter for getting her energy back...apparently it was an air bike.

　Air bikes are good because boys would adore them a bit.

　This was good, but the problem was the last one.

'This is a lie. This is a lie. Everyone you all hate me so much.

　When the staff saw me crying, they bowed their heads and said something and ran away.

　Tears trickle down to the paper.

　The content on the paper can be simply stated as, 'The staff said that they wanted to wait a while before promoting you to the fifth rank, so please wait until you graduate to be promoted from the fifth rank down to the fifth higher.

　The Atlee family is a court noble earl family.

　They come from a family of ministers and other people that high up. He felt indebted to me for my daughter and said he was going to promote me. All I needed was an air bike!

　It was an apology that I had just been promoted to a lower fifth rank and that I couldn't do it right away, so he wanted me to wait for the promotion until I graduated.

'Why!　Why are you trying to promote me?　It's crazy!　You guys, now you know I'm going to be very disappointed!　How can you do such a terrible thing? You're still human!

　Luxion, who floated fluffily, stretched and stuck a cord into the air bike.

''The engine is different from the air bike we used at the gym festival. The parts are carefully made and very good.''

What are you doing?

We are in the process of remodeling and seizing.

　It's as if he's doing something terrible to the air bike. Luxion looks like a bad guy.

　I was looking at the air bike as I collapsed to my knees.

''Well yes. Let's go on a journey. Let's go on an adventure to a strange country.

I can't. I have school tomorrow.

'Right!　d*mn it!

　Why am I the only one in this mess?　There's plenty of guys out there who want to get ahead!

　I didn't want to get ahead!

◇

　When Chris returned from his parents' house, he looked tired.

(Baltphalt guy, why were you sitting there?)

　I saw Rion sitting helplessly as I was about to return to the boys' dormitory, but I didn't call out to him.

　When I returned to my room, I found a letter had arrived.

　Picking up the letter from the floor, I saw that it was from Marie.

　Chris, his cheeks loose, straightened his glasses and read the letter.

'Marie is going to the dungeon over the holidays?　Hey, are you okay?

　The letter said to meet up with him when he came back, and Chris hurriedly got ready and left the room to go downstairs to Marie's room to get ready.

　A letter stating that he has something to show her.

　Chris forgets about what happened at his parents' house and goes to see Marie.

◇

　The next day.

　I was in class with a despairing look on my face.

　It's break time and Daniel and Raymond come up to me.

'You look terrible,'

You should be more excited.

　Word had already spread, and Brad and Gregg, the two guys who slayed the air bandits, were being treated by the girls. There isn't a single yellow cheer for me.

　To put it bluntly, neither Olivia-san nor Angier called out to me, so I don't have a single womanly touch.

I didn't want to get a bad career.

　Daniel smiled in annoyance and was convinced.

'Well, yeah. It's not easy when your rank is so high. Your rank, even if you don't do poorly, is the kind of rank that a lord and nobleman would have to command a fleet with a bunch of parastatals and jurors.

　A higher rank requires a reasonable amount of work.

　As Daniel says, if you are a baron in that area, a sixth-ranked baronet, you only need to send out one airship even if there is a war. However, it's not possible when the rank and baronetcy are raised.

　But when you are raised in rank, you are obliged to provide the appropriate forces.

　There are many noblemen who do not want to be promoted or promoted because they do not want to do so.

　On the contrary, the nobles who want to be promoted or promoted to the top of the rankings have a number of airships to look good.

　Raymond turned his gaze to the girls nearby.

　The faces of the girls looking at me looked very complicated.

''But if you're sure of a fifth higher rank, won't you have trouble getting married?

　...marriage.

　That's right. That's why we're here at the school. And like finding a diamond in the desert, I'm not going to give up on it.

Yeah, you're right. Sure, it's true but it's a pain in the ass.

　Raymond laughed.

'We've got a school trip, and maybe some of the girls will come up to you then. I'm jealous.'

　A girl calling me out now is like saying that my status is what I'm after.

　Oops, I was wrong. This school was full of girls like that.

　Danielle looks bored.

"Separated from you guys. That's a shame.

　There is a school trip to this school every year.

　There are three different destinations. We are supposed to visit one place every year, and me, Danielle and Raymond each have a different destination.

　That's why we get on different airships.

　In the game, we have to go to the same destination as the boy we're aiming at to gain favorability ratings. In addition, I can collect items that can only be obtained there.

　I'm heading to the floating island where the item I'm after is located.

'You can expect to get a souvenir,'

　We both laughed at my words, saying, "I'm counting on it.

　

　I guess the reason this seems so precious is because I have a previous life. When I was in school, I didn't realize how much of a luxury this was.

　When Raymond looked at me.

'Come to think of it, the special student and the duchess are in the same boat. Leon, it doesn't look like things have been going well lately, so you should apologize for this.

'Why are you making it sound like I did something wrong?'

　Daniel is surprised.

'Yeah, because it's mostly caused by Leon, right?'

Yeah.

　Raymond agrees. I'll have to listen to them once to find out how they're looking at me.

◇

　The day of the school trip.

　The airship that was prepared for us was quite luxurious.

　We boarded the airship like a luxury liner and headed to a warm floating island in the south.

　The season is different; it's summer now. The island is a popular school trip destination.

'It's like the northern and southern hemispheres?　But still.....

　I had heard it was a school trip, but the students looked like they were just playing on a luxury cruise ship.

　I was circling the casino with [Rukuru] senior, a third year senior from the same bottom group.

''They're calling it a school trip, but it's just for fun. The floating island we're going to head to is a tourist attraction, and there's a festival this time of year.

Festival?

'It's a place with an exotic atmosphere. The girls wear yukata and enjoy the festival. If the boys can be escorted, they will be able to get closer to each other. It's time for you to do your best, Leon.

　.... yeah. If I'm going to get married, I have to work hard here.

　That's what I thought, but the popular girls were already surrounded by boys.

　The rest of the girls were surrounded by their resident servants and were being chilled out.

　The one who caught my eye - was Angier, who was talking at the counter. His cronies, who had lost their credibility, were desperately trying to entertain him but were bothering him.

　If I looked elsewhere, I could see Olivia-san going outside to see if the atmosphere of the casino was no good.

　Lucretien says to me.

''You have chosen a difficult partner.

'What are you talking about?　Neither of you are in a position to go after me.

Yeah, that's fine. We've got our own people. So have they. Some people just don't get along with each other. If you ignore them, you'll be badly burned. Well, do you need to tell Leon-kun that?　And you're watching your lordships.

　Their highnesses, though, are wonderfully discrete and arranged.

　His Highness Julius and Jilk are together, but Marie is with Brad and Greg.

　Lucru-senpai found Chris.

'Oh, it's the swordsman.

　He seems to be playing poker and doesn't look happy, though he seems to have won the game.

　He gets out of his seat and heads elsewhere.

'Chris alone?'

　However, the girls were swarming around them.

'Chris-sama, which one do you want to play with this time?'
"Would you like to swim in the deck pool with me?
No, I'd like to have dinner with you...

　The girls are wooing her, but she leaves with one sigh. The girls seem very happy despite that attitude.

　If I let out a sigh, they would glare at me with a blue streak on their foreheads.

　Lucle-senpai invites me to join him.

'Do you want to play roulette?'

No, I'm--I'm not a gambler.

　Senior Lucrele has a surprised look on his face.

''........Huh?''

　He looked like he wanted to say, "No way," or something like that. But I really don't like gambling. Fighting when you don't know if you're going to win or lose?　I'm just a guy who wants to win.

　I'm a man who only challenges the odds.

I'm a guy.

　School trip.

　Livia rented a yukata on the floating island where she arrived and walked around the city at night.

　Normally it would be dangerous, but today was the day of a festival on Ukishima.

　Stalls were lined up and the red lanterns gave a unique atmosphere.

''It's ... beautiful.''

　The sound of drums and flutes.

　And the voices of people enjoying themselves.

　It was different from the festivals in her home town.

　Libya felt like she was experiencing a new culture, and she was walking through such a festival by herself.

　I haven't even talked to Leon since the slaying of the air bandits. Angel was also difficult to talk to, and apparently the distance was created while doing so.

　Angel was surrounded by his cronies and at the festival, so he couldn't talk to them.

　The smell of sweet and spicy sauce.

　The smell of sweet sweets.

　The smell of sweet and spicy sauce.

　I was surprised at the sound of the fireworks, but I couldn't really enjoy them.

　My eyes are on Angier and - and I'm wandering around looking for Leon, but I can't find him now.

　I couldn't even think of trying to find a friend from that thing.

　I'm inevitably feeling sneaky after the Kara one.

''Well am I right to be here?''

　I was happy when you told me before that I could have Rion.

　I'm ashamed and shameful for saying such horrible things to Leon.

(Why did I put the opinions of those around me ahead of my own?)

　I didn't know what I was doing, but I hadn't been enjoying myself lately.

　As I wandered around, I left the festival grounds.

(Oh, I have to get back--)

　But what I could hear was a voice that sounded like a struggle.

'Just give it to me!'

No, no!　I can't give you this!　Not just because you're a nobleman!

　Livia jumps out when she hears such a voice.

'Oh, um--!

What are you doing there?

　But Livia wasn't the only one who jumped out, and Angel, whose yukata was a bit disheveled, jumped out with her.

　The two of them looked at each other in surprise and then awkwardly averted their gaze and saw someone in trouble.

''........Rion-san?''

"...what the hell are you doing?

　But, sadly, the person being threatened was a local - and it was Rion who was threatening him.

　Rion's gaze wandered.

'This, this is that,'

　Then the locals cried out to them.

Help me, please. This nobleman wants us to give him everything we have.

　The two men who were crying out to the men looked at Leon. It's like a bad aristocrat trying to forcibly steal goods from a weak person.

''No, no!　I told you to give it to me and I'll buy it all!　I've got money!

　The man shook his head.

'Duh, no. There are people out there who are going to enjoy this!　No matter how much money you have, I won't let you take away everyone's fun!

　If you look at what the man is holding, it's something small, wrapped in white paper with no idea what's inside.

　Angier asks the man, "What is this?

'What's this?'

　The man smiles and explains that he's happy to be interested.

'Yes. My grandmother made this amulet. It's very popular because it's a good luck charm. There are different types that you can't see inside, so it's a test of luck or something.

　Leon was looming just behind the laughing man.

　He's holding a wad of cash.

'So sell it. I'll take it all. All right. You'll get ten times the price.

　The persistent Leon was ready with a lot of money, saying he would buy everything.

　On the contrary, the man is frightened.

''What is it, you!　This isn't a problem that can be solved with money. This is about seeing everyone's smile!

　The men wouldn't give it up either, as they would be happy to sell their amulets to the festival goers.

　Leon took a bag of gold coins from his pocket.

'Here, how's this?　Gold. There's 20 of them in there. I'll put this on too.

　The man thought for a moment, then shook his head.

'Grandma made this to make everyone happy. I will never give in!

　Leon laughed meaningfully.

'Good nerve. Then I can buy it, can't I?　Here, let's get everything for the right price. Now, give me the whole thing!

I told you not to!

　Angel grabbed Leon's ear.

'It hurts. 'It hurts, Mr. Angier!'

You're not needed. Go on, get going. We'll take it from here.

　Then the man thanked him, holding his precious goods.

'Oh, thank you!'

　As he left the scene and headed toward the festival grounds, the man disappeared into the crowd. He reached out his hand and lamented as Rion grabbed his ear.

'Wait!　My item-duh!

　Livia didn't know what to say to Rion.