The mansion where Marie and her friends live.

　In the kitchen preparing dinner are Marie, Cara and Kyle.

'Pasta, pasta!　Anyway, I'm just going to rinse a lot of hot water and cheat with the amount!

　Kara, who is preparing bread and soup, asks Kyle for a favor.

"Can you take them to the table, Kyle?

　It's dinner for eight people.

　They don't say that Kara has a different status, or that Kyle is a slave, so he's separate.

　This is "No, you can't do that! How cool it would be if Marie could say that, but her true feelings are different.

　........It's too much trouble to clean up.

　It's because we don't want you to prepare dinner separately and then have them move apart afterwards.

　It's just that we all eat together for the sake of efficiency.

　You can't share a meal based on your status!　I can't afford to say what it is.

　Kyle is dumbfounded.

'I wish the other two could at least stay for the evening.

　Even though they have servants, two of them, one of them is a gardener.

　One of them is a woman, but she leaves before evening because she has a family.

　The presence of Julius had caused problems because he couldn't have anyone other than people from the kingdom who had a strong identity on his side.

　In the first place, they hadn't expected a royal like Julius to come to the foreign students.

　Even if they complained to the embassy, all they could say was, "We're in trouble too.

　Everything was decided in the midst of a flurry of activity, and there was not much to do.

　When Kyle brought in the food, he found Greg waiting for his meal.

'Is the food ready yet?'

　Kyle is annoyed with Greg, who is propped up at the table.

'If you want to eat quickly, you'll have to help me.

I'm so hungry I can't move.

　As he lays out the food, Kyle asks about the other faces.

'What's wrong with your lordships?'

'Julius should be ready for class tomorrow. Zirk will be back a little later. He wants to take a look around at whatever teasets he can find.

　Kyle looked at his watch.

'I'm hoping you'll be back before we eat.

I don't know. Also, Chris is a thing. Go outside and pretend.

'Doesn't that man pretend to do anything in his spare time?

He's not busy.

　Kyle thought as he heard Greg's answer.

(Looks like you're bored too.)

Then you should go get Chris.

You go. I'm hungry.

　Greg is uptight on the outside, but in the mansion, he is carefree and shows his no good side.

　At the academy, he was surprisingly serious due to his position as a foreign student and a nobleman of the kingdom.

　In reaction to that, he is too carefree in the mansion.

　When Kyle laid out the food and was about to return to the kitchen--.

''Huh?　Where is Mr. Brad?

　Greg looks up.

'Come to think of it, I haven't seen you. I think the girls are following you around.　That guy likes to be chipper, so maybe he's playing around.

　As a narcissist, Brad loves to have people complimenting him.

　Kyle is even more annoyed when he imagines he's feeling good about being surrounded by girls.

(I wish I could skip dinner. I can't get it done and I wish you'd eat sooner.)

　Then, in a hurry, Zilk returned to the mansion.

'Ta-oh my God!'

◇

　When Marier, wearing an apron, ran to the gate of the mansion, he found Brad tied up with what looked like plant ivy.

　He was badly battered and had terrible injuries all over his body.

　His face is puffed up and his teeth appear to be broken.

　Pierre was sitting on such a Brad and waiting for Marie and the others.

　The cronies are also in front of the house with wooden swords and other weapons.

It's a good idea to have a good time.　What the hell did you do to Brad!

　Pierre blurts out to an angry Marie.

'Huh, this guy is named Brad?　He attacked me out of nowhere, and I had to pay him back.

　His cronies are laughing.

'How are you going to pay for this?
How do you think the people of the Holfert Kingdom will make amends?
'We're hurt too, you know. You need to be sincere!

　When she heard that Brad had gotten his hands on her, Marie thought it was impossible.

　He was certainly an idiot, but he was more sane than before.

'Don't call me an idiot!　There's no way Brad would do that. Even if he did, there must be a reason for it!

　Carla and Kyle were watching behind Marie.

　It was Greg and Chris who stepped in front of Marie.

'Get off Brad,'

　Pierre laughed at Greg, who was glaring at him.

'I don't care what you guys say,'

　Chris narrowed his eyes.

'What do you mean?'

　Pierre was smiling at the corners of his mouth.

'This is Arzel, and you are strangers. If I tell you that I was attacked by this guy and turned back, it's the truth. Do you understand?

　From the mansion, Julius and Zilk come running in.

'What happened!'

　Marie tells Julius and the others what happened.

　Then Julius turns to Pierre.

I understand. But Brad is a Kingdom man. He's a man of the realm and he deserves it. You will be handed over to him.

　Pierre held out his hands to Julius, who said he would prioritize Brad's treatment anyway and find out what was going on later, and suggested with his hands outstretched.

'Do you want them back?　Then let's play a game, shall we?

　Marie and the others are like, "What is this guy talking about? He looked seriously pissed off.

'You, what are you saying in this situation? Just give me Brad back!

　Pierre yells at Marier.

'It's a messy May!　Just you guys can play the game. Just do it and I'll give you this piece of garbage back!

　It didn't make any sense.

　There were circumstances that prevented them from fighting with Pierre's cronies.

　And then Julius confirms the game Pierre is talking about.

I'm not going to be able to get my hands on any of them, right?

'I'll give it back to you whether you win or lose. But there is one rule before we begin. "Swear to the Holy Tree you'll do this."

　Marie is suspicious when she hears that it's Seiki.

(What on earth are these guys--well, not good!)

　Marie remembered her forgotten knowledge of the game here, but Julius was ahead of her--.

''All right. I swear by that holy tree, so get on with it. Get Brad patched up quickly--

　Marie's face turned blue as her blood drained away.

'No!'

　But Pierre opened his mouth and began to laugh.

'Enough!　In the name of the Holy Tree, this match has been officially recognized!

　A distinctive magic circle emerged on the ground of Marie, Pierre and the others.

　When Marie saw that magic circle, she recalled.

(Holy Tree--Yes, the name of the Holy Tree is heavier than anything else for these guys.)

　It was not only faith.

　In terms of practicality, the Holy Tree was also very important, and it was also the one who ruled over this land of Arzel.

　As Julius looked at the ground.

What's happening?

　Pierre and his friends are laughing.

'The game is simple. The game is simple: kill each other. If you're fifty-fifty, you win. If it's not, you've lost. I'll take the airship you came in on, and its contents.

　Chris's eyes widen.

'What do you mean!　I've never heard of such a thing. Besides, Einhorn is an airship of Baltic Fart. We don't own it!

　Pierre and the others say it doesn't matter.

''This is the game we swore to Seiki about. If you break it, there will be a fitting retribution. Besides, why don't you guys just kill each other among yourselves?

　Pierre says, "Come on, let's kill each other and show me," and laughs.

　Julius says.

'You can't do that!　You guys have had enough--

　Then, ivy grew out of the magic circle and tangled around the necks of all of Marie and the others.

　Marie sat there without resistance.

　Greg tries to pull the ivy off of her, but

I can't. It won't come off!

　Zirk took out his pistol and shot at Ivy, but that wasn't enough to help him.

'What's the point of doing this?'

　Zilk in distress.

　When the ivy comes off, they all have a small, pale green mark on their necks.

　Pierre looks at it and laughs.

'It's the mark of the defeated. If you try to take the airship and its contents back from me, the Holy Tree will kill you without question.'

　Julius and the others are stunned.

''You think you can do this and get away with it for free?''

　He glared at them, but Pierre and the others laughed.

'It's bad enough you swore to the Holy Tree. You didn't seem to know anything about it, but it's already been decided. You guys, let's go get the airship.

　Pierre and the others, sitting up from Brad, began to head toward the harbor.

　Marie put her head in her hands.

'Duh, what should I do. 'Oh, Ani--I have to tell Leon.'

　He didn't manage to say brother because everyone was there, but a dismayed Marie was scared of what Leon would call him.

　Kyle runs with his neck in mind.

'I'll go tell them!

　Chris is coming with me.

"Wait, I'm going with you. You two, take Marie and the others into the house!

　While everyone around her was moving in a hurry, Marie was just stunned.

''........I'm going to be killed.''

◇

　I was taking care of Noel at home.

'Noel, you eat a lot. I love a healthy boy. So let's work on it some more.

　I was watching him as he ate.

　Luxion is looking at me.

''Master, I've already prepared the immediate needs in the basement. As for Noel's meal--''

　Then I heard a violent banging on the door.

'We'll talk later. 'Yes, yes~'

　When I opened the door, I found Chris and Kyle there, out of breath.

　Chris was naked on top and holding a wooden sword.

''Well you'd better be a little more careful about how you dress.

'Baltphalt, this is no time for jokes. Your ship!

Is this about Einhorn?

　Kyle was wiping sweat off his face.

'That's not all. They took away the allogants too!　The ship and all the contents of the ship were stolen by a nobleman in this country named Pierre!

　I narrow my eyes and Chris invites me to go to the harbor.

'They're at the port. We'd better hurry.

　Kyle showed me the bruises on his neck.

''They made me swear on the holy tree or something and put some kind of curse on us. Please be careful. Those guys aren't normal.

　Anyway, I lent Chris my shirt and we decided to head to the harbor.

◇

　There was a reasonable amount of light from the streetlights in the harbor at night.

　In the midst of all this, a villain named Pierre, who was waiting for us in front of Einhorn, opens his arms to welcome us.

You're late. You're late.

　He pulled the allogant out of the ship all the way and then laughed as he finished his trial run.

It's a nice armor. It doesn't look good, but it's powerful. If we can mass produce this thing, we can destroy your country in a heartbeat.

　Pierre and the others familiarly touch the allogants.

　Chris yells at Pierre and the others.

'That's Baltic Falt's stuff. We can't just play our own game and make it a bet!'

　Pierre scratches his hair.

'You don't understand. It doesn't matter, you know. It doesn't matter, the thing is mine now. Look at it.

　Hull.

　And there was a green emblem on the allogants as well.

"This is the proof that Seiju recognizes that this is my property. Do you understand?　Your logic doesn't work, you guys. But I'm not a demon either. I'm willing to take on that dull piece of garbage over there one more time.

　Hearing that, Chris and Kyle both turn to me impatiently, but--''

''I'm not going to compete. Do what you want.

　When Chris heard I wasn't going to compete, he looked down in frustration, "I'm sorry.

　Kyle gives me a slightly skeptical look.

　Pierre laughed.

'What?'　Don't the pseudo-aristocrats have any willpower?

　Even my cronies are laughing at me like I'm an idiot.

''This is the end of the kingdom for such a count, isn't it!
'You're really dumb, aren't you? I can't believe you swore to the Holy Tree that you'd play the game.
Now you're a little smarter. That's a good thing~

　They're annoying little fish.

　........I've learned their faces, you know.

　Then Luxion, who was floating on my right shoulder, approaches Pierre.

'What?'

　Luxion began to introduce himself to Pierre.

''I am an artificial intelligence that manages the airship. Due to the change of ownership, from today onwards I will be serving you as the master.''

　Pierre and the others look at him curiously.

'Are you an errand boy?'
Airship management?
'Come to think of it, I didn't see a single sailor on board. This guy's a one-man operation?

　Cronies discussing.

　Pierre walks up to me and spits in my face.

　I get his spit on my cheek.

"How does it feel to be betrayed by your errand boy?　Let's hear it.

　I gave Pierre a smile.

''That ... sucks.''