The Parliament Building - the tall tower known as the Temple of the Holy Tree.

　In the conference room of the six great nobles there, I'm negotiating with a holy tree sapling in one hand.

　My main negotiating partner was a nice middle named Arberg.

　I'm very happy to see that the faces of the six great nobles attending the meeting have very bitter expressions on their faces.

　In particular, Lambert, the head of the Fèvel family, was furious in front of me.

　I was talking to them while looking at the saplings.

　Rude?　I'm sorry, but I think that's enough for these guys. To begin with, I'm an exchange student and don't have very good feelings for the Republic.

So, how much reparations will you give me?

　Lambert shouted.

'Huh, don't be silly!　I wonder how much damage has been done to the Favell family's territory!　I will protest to the kingdom!

　I laugh.

'Oh, you're bullish. I'll tell His Majesty that.'

　Grinning, Lambert turned red in the face.

　He couldn't accept the fact that he was defeated.

　Not exactly a defeat.

　It was just a bunch of drunken Pierre's cronies going wild.

　The Republic is trying to push it through.

　The reason is that it can be treated externally as a conflict between our people.

'You want me to take the blame?　But that would mean that a single Einhorn ship attacked us to the front of the Holy Tree, right?　I wonder if it's okay~

　Mr. Alberg stared at Lambert and silenced him.

''........This one matter, the lawlessness of the Fevers' family is indeed unremarkable. The Republic will also apologize. But even if you want to make reparations, can you decide on your own?

　I was holding a holy tree sapling in my hand.

You'll have to make reparations to me personally first. This time, you don't say it was your fault for cursing your highness and the foreign students here, do you?　I'll let the state take care of that one. However, let's just ask you to be prepared to make reasonable compensation to me personally.

　The amount is presented.

　I presented a huge amount of gold, magic stones, resources, and so on.

　Lambert's eyes widen.

''Bah, that's ridiculous!　You alone are expected to pay for this!

'Of course. If you guys hadn't left Pierre alone, none of this would have happened. Besides, I've got my own situation. If you respond too weakly, you won't have a face to match His Majesty.

　Mr. Alberg looked at the amount.

All right, fine. I'll pay you.

　I've tried to huff and puff, but you're a rich man and you can afford it.

But I'll take my treasure back.

　The people around him had a natural look on their faces at Mr. Arberg's statement.

　The treasure ball, which is concentrated in magic power, is a valuable item for the Republic.

　There was quite a bit of it loaded as Luxion had been collecting it while going around destroying the Republic's airships.

''I decline.''

　The six noblemen said, "What? He looked surprised.

'No, by the oath of the Holy Tree. I told Einhorn to give me everything he had in him. Einhorn retrieved it before I got it back, so it's fine if it's mine, right?　The drunks were handed over, so it doesn't matter.

　Lambert stood up and pointed at me.

　A crest floats on the back of his right hand.

'Don't get your figure, kid!

　I held up the sapling.

　Lambert's crest lost its light, and then I told him.

''Do you really want to try to end your unbeatenness this time?　Don't think there's just one Einhorn.

　It's satisfying to see them all on alert.

　There's only one ship, though.

　It's called a bluff.

　Negotiations continued after that, but the Republic, which was almost defeated, drank my terms. Mostly because I'd found out in advance how much reparations Luxion could offer them.

　Negotiations, or rather, threats?

　It was like that.

◇

　I came home after a long absence.

　I was taking care of Noel.

　Luxion is watering the saplings of the holy trees while observing them.

''Even so, it's comical. These are the nobles who want to get a sapling of the Holy Tree, but they don't know that the cause of the withering is the Holy Tree.''

　According to Luxion's research, the reason why the holy tree saplings don't grow is because of the holy tree.

　They said that there should be only one holy tree in this earth.

　........I feel like it's the wrong plant, but it's not an ordinary tree, so it's no use worrying about it.

　And now I know why the nobles want a holy tree sapling.

　They wanted the saplings as a preparation for the power of the holy tree, just like me. Rather than for the future, it was to protect themselves from the cowardly means that Pierre used.......what an unofficial reason.

　It seems that he wanted a sapling for that reason, but after researching, I found out that saplings don't grow in the land where the holy tree is located.

　No matter how much he wanted it, he couldn't get it.

　It's certainly comical.

　I was more worried about Noel than that.

''You look weak.

"You seem to be on the edge of your seat.

　Then Marie came to visit me at home.

''Ani--Rion-san, can I have a word with you?''

　I go to the door, dismayed by Marie's unsteady language, and when I go to the door, there's a painful boy with a bandage on his head.

　He bows his head in a small way.

　It's the boy who was assaulted by Noel's owner - Pierre.

''Oh, um, I heard you're taking care of Noel!

　I lead the way to the room.

　As the boys enter, Noel looks up on the crib.

　I knew he was waiting for his owner.

'Noel!'

　The boys cried and reached out to Noel, approaching him.

　Noel licks his hand with a chirp, and it looks like Noel is sniffing at his master's scent with his nose in the air.

'I'm sure he can barely use his nose anymore. I wonder if he can even see.'

　When Luxion said that, I said.

Idiot. You just have to know he's there. The owner's gonna be there, Noel realized. That's good enough for you.

　The boys are crying too.

'I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Noel.

　It's an emotional reunion.

　We decided to leave the house and go outside to talk.

◇

　We walked outside and we talked.

　Marie had lost the bruises on her neck.

　It seemed to have disappeared when Pierre lost the crest - when he became without the blessing.

'Brother, um, well...'

　Marie hands me a bunch of stuff.

　They were evidence of Pierre's ties to the organization he had been associated with and evidence of what he was dealing with.

'Oh, more bargaining chips.

　Marie is still scared of me.

''Wow, I'm sorry, or rather, I tried my best to be sorry this time... I'm sorry, brother!　Please forgive me!

　Even though it's a courtyard, I look at Marie, who's getting down on her knees outside, in a daze.

''......................Stupid. I've already forgiven you long ago.''

''What!?''

　I looked up and saw that there was dirt on Marie's forehead.

'Didn't you notice that?　In the first place, I was working behind the scenes when Pierre did all that stuff, too. I just sent him to Luxion to have him do some research as well.

'This is what you mean by repugnant, isn't it? Did you think you could transfer me with that level of curse?　It's too stupid. It would have been annihilation if not for the Master's orders.''

　Marie became teary-eyed.

'Oh no!　I tried so hard!

　I put my hand on Marie's head.

'Yeah, good job. I'll put this one to good use. And while you're at it, I've contacted the kingdom to loosen their stranglehold on you guys.

Eh!

　I explain to Marie, who becomes cheerful.

I explain to Marie. The cook and some servants are coming with the upcoming delegation. A cook and some servants will be coming with the delegation that will be sent to you.

　And from my pocket, I handed Marie an envelope with a wad of Arzer Republic bills.

Here's some money. You can use that to pay for your immediate living expenses. It's a good idea to have that much to spend on a few luxuries, even if there are eight of you.

　Marie was crying tears of joy as she tucked the thick envelope into her pocket.

　Marier sits on my leg.

''Brother-ii!''

Get away from me, May!　For the record, I only put the story on because I was remorseful. Remember, if you didn't do anything, it was the status quo. And if you misbehaved, you'd have to forfeit your allowance, too!

　Marie folded her hands in prayer and thanked the sun.

'I'm glad you did your best!　God hadn't given up on me yet!

　...No, I don't know.

　When you're reincarnating in a world like this, I think.

　Marie looks at me as she remembers.

'Huh?　More importantly, my brother beat up Pierre, was that a good thing?　You'll ruin the event.

　I shake my head.

'You're an idiot. You've seen the hero and Emile.　It's crazy not to be in a relationship like that, and it's an event where you can get along, right?　You can support it here if you have to, and you don't have to stick with it, right?　I mean, it's not surprising that there's already a physical relationship. What's with that sweet atmosphere? It makes me sad to see it.

　I'm away from my two fiancées and we're just going to text each other....

　Marie thought for a moment and nodded, as if she didn't think it was necessary.

'Right!　I could have beaten that bastard to a pulp, and that's more important!

Yeah!

　As they were laughing at each other, a boy came out of the room with Noel in his arms.

　--Noel was drawing his last breath.

◇

　The boy's name was [Jean].

　He came from the countryside and worked hard on his studies at the school.

　He brought Noel, who had been with him since he was a child, with him because Jean had no family.

　In her last days, Noel must have been waiting for Jean for a long time. She passed away, perhaps because she felt relaxed or relieved to see him.

　While we were listening to various stories, it was completely nighttime.

　Jean was holding the box containing Noel's cremated bones.

'So what do we do now?'

　I ask him what his plans are for the future, and Jean shakes his head.

'I don't know. But I have to pay off my scholarship. I think I'll have to work.

　I let out a sigh.

'Well Pierre is gone. Go back to school.

'I'd like to, but my scholarship has already been terminated. If I go back to school now, I'll have to stay on for another year and I won't have the money to pay for living expenses.

　I put the money on the table.

"What?

It's all the money I took from Pierre's family. Take it. You see, they hurt me. You see, he hurt me.

But...

　Jean looks down.

'It's something to do with picking up Noel. You'd make more money graduating from the academy, wouldn't you?'

Yeah, that's true. It's different when you're a graduate.

　Forcing it on them.

'Then go back to school.'

　Jan looked at me.

'The noblemen of Holfert are very kind, aren't they?

No, no. It's just that I'm extra nice. Marie - the other foreign students. Especially the beautiful five, who are good-looking, but they're idiots. Be careful.

　Jean thanked me and left the house. He hugged the box containing Noel's bones with great care.

　Once, he's going back to his parents' house.

　When I'm alone, Luxion speaks to me.



　I agree, looking at the crib.

'Yeah,'

　Noel is gone.

　I'll miss him a bit, but I'll get to work.

◇

　The Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Horfath.

　Roland, who had shades under his eyes in his office, was crushing a letter from Leon.

'How are you, Your Majesty?
Are you sick or something?　Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.
That said, it looks like it's going to come together nicely.
I'll send the details back to the official who sent me, and send the negotiator back to you with the details.
You can squeeze a good deal out of it now. I'm going to be busy (laughs).
By a vassal who is too good for you

'What do you mean?　How did you get the letter so quickly!　You've just sent someone over there, and you've only just gotten there!

　Before I knew it, I noticed that the tussle with Arzel was over, and it seemed to be coming together in some good way.

　Roland, who was worried about a lot of things, plops down on the desk.

'I want to execute that guy.'

　It was Milene who disagreed with Roland's words.

　Milene received another letter from Leon on her end.

　Milene, who had been reading the letter with a bit of embarrassment, turned a straight face when she heard of the execution.

''No. How dare you judge a knight who showed the will of the kingdom!''

"That guy's got some bad coaching skills!　He just got in trouble and worked it out on his own!　You stole my moment of grace...

　Milene is dismayed.

''From now on, the officials will have to work out the terms and conditions among themselves. Besides, we'll need to send a reasonable person to be the negotiator. Have you decided who you're going to send?''

　Roland looked up.

'There's no one I'm sending him. It's almost summer break for the school.''

◇

　School in the Kingdom of Horfert.

　While Ange and Livia were looking on, Creare was projecting an image into the air.

　The people watching the image - the friends who were bound to Rion with chains called contracts.

　They are friends bound by a relationship that is much more like a contract than the oath of the Holy Tree.

　Daniel is shaking with a wannabe.

I'm not going to be able to say anything about it. You should come visit us during your summer vacation. You'll find many things to do in the Arzer Republic.

　Raymond is stunned.

'No. What do you mean you want me to get the airship out of there because you have so much stuff?　We have so much going on during our summer vacation!

　When the video cut off, Danielle was angry too.

'This one finally got to take her home to her parents!　I'm going to have to go to Arzel and come back and that's going to destroy most of my summer vacation!

　The other boys were also in distress.

　Livia looks apologetic.

''Oh, um, let's talk about the reward for now, shall we?

　When Livia told them the reward, the boys changed.

　Daniel talks to Raymond.

'It's a lot, isn't it?'

We'll have magic stones and supplies for the trip to and from Rion. The reward isn't too bad either. With this much, we should be able to pay off our debts.

　Ange summarizes the story.

'Leon got compensation from Arzel. I'm not lying about the compensation. A long sailing trip to a foreign country will inevitably require the skill of the sailors.

　No matter how high the performance was, it was dangerous if the sailors were not trained.

　That's why Leon turned to his friends.

　In order to have them carry a large amount of resources and other items obtained as compensation from Arzel.

　Livia was taken aback by the boys' willingness to do this.

''You weren't even motivated earlier.

　Angier shrugs.

'It's all about paying people to work, you know. Well, we'll let them do their best. Besides, the more airships we have, the safer the journey will be.

　Claire sounds like she's woozy.

'It's going to be busy. We've got to get ready!　I'm getting a new airship for you.'

　Livia puts a hand to her chest.

'Would you be surprised, Mr. Rion?'

　Angel smiles.

'You'll be surprised.'

　Daniel and Raymond's faces turned sour as they looked at the two of them.

''I'm starting to get angry at Leon.

That's odd. It's the same for me. I'll buy you a drink when we get there.