Alberg was receiving reports in his office.

'Serge has left with his men?

　His subordinates are blue-faced.

'Ha, yes!　He said he would bring his friends back.

　Alberg shook his fist down.

　A loud bang echoed through the office, signaling that Alberg's frustration was great.

''Foolish. There is no point in reconstructing the Respinus family after all this time--'' Bring them back at once!　We can't have any more trouble with the kingdom.

　As his men ran out of the office, Alberg held his head in his hands.

'Serge, why don't you understand?'

◇

　It was lit from above.

　Luxion reports to me.

'Master, we have the main body of Ideal waiting in the sky.

　Looking up, it was a shade that seemed to blend into the night sky.

　The blue, square-shaped, boxy transport was a starship, just like the Luxion.

　It didn't even try to hide its massive hull.

'So you're not trying to hide it.

　It was Serge who answered my mutterings.

'I don't like to hide and chit-chat like you do. But by the way, it's just as I've heard. Was it Alloganz?　The motif of the seven deadly sins must have rubbed off on you in the middle of your life.

　The Seven Deadly Sins?

　I looked at Luxion to see what he was saying - and he looked at Luxion.

'Allogants means arrogance. It's one of the seven deadly sins.'

You could have told me the meaning of that earlier!

　-- I didn't know it meant anything.

　But I'm a little fascinated by it.

　Allogants -- isn't that cool?

"I wasn't asked.

　While being wary of the surroundings and protecting Noel on his back, something was ejected from the main body of the Ideal and came down to the ground.

　The blue fuselage is a slim type with high mobility, but it is one size larger than normal armor.

　Its figure with a spear - it had a lot in common with Aroganz, which shouldn't be similar.

　Could it be because the plane was created by the same artificial intelligence?

I named him Gia for simplicity's sake. Do you know what this means?

　Glancing at Luxion.

Greed.

'You treat people like they're in the middle of their lives, and you're the same way!

　Serge held out his hands.

'I went out of my way to get them for you. We're here to demolish your pride and joy. Come on, get in there. --I'll show you the difference between us.

　Noel stepped in front of me.

'Serge wait!　Leon isn't a bad person. Why are you doing this to me?

You shut your mouth. Besides, you're being cheated out of your mind. He's not the good guy you think he is. Well, you know, a budding countess.

　Noel turned and looked at me.

　I didn't answer him.

'Ugh, it's a lie. Leon was nice to me, and so--'

　The one who politely explains me to me is the child of Ideal who came out of Gia's cockpit.

''-- An outer knight. That's his two names. If you look into it, you'll find a rumble of deeds that don't disgrace the name of an outsider.''

It's not true! It's not true!

　Luxion looks at Ideal.

'You said you looked up information on the kingdom?

'There were people who escaped to the Republic when the kingdom was in turmoil. We've heard a lot about them.

　These women - the nobles who fled the kingdom.

　There are many of them who could have a grudge against me.

　Noel's eyes were a little shaky as he looked at me.

''Leon, answer me. You're just a little foul-mouthed, but you're actually a kind person, right?

　I suppose I could honestly say yes, but I hesitated.

　--I'm the good guy?　It makes me laugh.

　Good people don't kill people.

　I killed a man in a war - I'm pretty sure I'm an outsider.

　It would be best to get through this by playing the good guy - but I didn't want to lie here.

"I told you. I'm the kind of guy who doesn't tell lies. The blue one over there is right. I'm an outsider. I'm not a good guy.

　When Noel turned over, Luxion turned his red one eye on Ideal.

''You're doing a very dirty imitation.''

"Dirty?　Isn't that what you are, who walked into another country and put your own interests ahead of your own?　From the beginning, your goal was to get close to the priestess of the Respinus family, wasn't it?''

　Noel looked sad.

'I see. --Rion wanted the power of a miko too.'

　I close my eyes.

　Luxion was trying to protect me.

'No, sir. The Master is--'

　Serge was scratching his hair wildly.

'Ideal, you're the one who said we're not worth talking to, aren't you?　More importantly, I'm going to see how strong that outlaw is. I heard he defeated a famous knight?　Then show me what you're capable of.

　As Serge climbs into his armor, Luxion advises me.

''Master, it's difficult to escape from that thing. Please buy yourself some time. My main body will come to your rescue. As long as your main body arrives--''

　I dismiss that opinion while getting into the arrogants.

No. If you and Ideal fight each other, this whole place will blow up.

'I judge that there is a performance difference between Aroganz and Gia. With Aroganz, who is not carrying Schwerdt on his back, he is losing in terms of performance.''

　The annoying thing is that they are made with no regard for the level of technology in this world.

　Me and Luxion were able to add or subtract from the situation - the level of technology - but these guys ignored it.

''We'll cover it with our arms.''

"I expect the other side to be better than us.

Praise your own master, even if he's lying.

'If you're expecting such a feature, please give it up. It's an unnecessary feature.

　He really doesn't like me very much, does he?

　I wish I could take a few lessons from you, Ideal.

　As I jump up into the sky, Gia comes up too.

　I hear Serge's voice.

'Come on, let's get started!

　I wrinkled my brow.

'- the little bastard,'

◇

　The two armors soared into the sky and clashed violently with each other.

　The one who approached Noel, who was sitting on the spot - was Lelia.

''Lelia, why are you here?''

'Now you know. He's the one who tricked me. He's not a terrible outsider in the Kingdom. The rumors alone are repugnant. The documents that Ideal prepared and the soldiers I interviewed were so horrible I didn't have a word to say about it.

　Turning over, Noel hugged the paper bag.

　It contained skewers and was slightly warm.

'But now we won't have to go to the kingdom. You can get Serge to help you too, sister. If he's there, he'll take care of all our problems.''

　Noel shook his head.

'Do you understand?　The House of Raults is a house with a grudge against us. It's not right to depend on such a house. Because the current head of the House of Laults and my mother--

Yes, I did. She and Alberg were engaged to be married. And then she chose someone else to be her guardian. That's why you're holding a grudge, isn't it?　But Serge will protect you.

"-- Why do you trust Serge so much?　Lelia, you have Emile. Why don't you turn to Emile?

　Lelia expressed her displeasure at the mention of Emile's name here.

''Huh?　Don't connect all of this to our love life. It has nothing to do with Emile. You haven't gotten over it yet?　That's why I'm falling for that man.

　Noel shook his head.

'It's not. It's not. Leon is a really nice guy. Lelia is crazy. Because it wasn't Serge's family that destroyed our house!

　Leon took care of his dog while Jean was in the hospital.

　If it was really bad, he would have abandoned him.

　In contrast, Serge's family home was the house that had once tried to kill them.

　Noel couldn't believe Lelia's decision more.

　This was still something Emile would have understood.

'And they weren't terrible people. You know that because you've been with them, too.

　Lelia raised her right hand and then slapped Noelle on the cheek.

　The slap was clean, and Noelle dropped the paper bag she was holding with a blowout.

　She held her cheek and looked at Lelia's face.

''--Lelia.

'It irritates me. 'You have a habit of not knowing anything, stirring up like that!　You're the reason this happened to me!

　Noel looks down.

'Oh, my?'

'The Republic would have no problem with you as a sapling and a maiden. Those people who want to take it away from you can't be the good guys!

What are you talking about? Miaoli picked me to be the nursery tree, but she won't pick me to be the holy tree. But I can't be chosen to be a holy tree. What's the point of me staying in the Republic if I'm not-- wait, you just did!

　If the saplings and the priestess were there - that meant that the saplings were also headed to collect them.

　The movement of the allogants in the sky who were listening to that conversation changed.

◇

You're in Angers and Libya!

'What about it?　That thing was ours to begin with. You took it from us!''

　I grit my back teeth at Serge's words.

　--I've done it again.

　I was caught off guard again.

　Gia's spear pierced through Aroganz's arm, which was covered in wounds.

　Inside the cockpit, the alert continues to sound.

"Performance is down another five percent. It's descending further.''

　I'm getting sick of reporting on Luxion.

'Is this what you mean by pretending to be?

"Ideal--that's not just a supply ship. It's absorbing a number of ships.

A mish-mash?　--Hey!

　He clutches the control stick and catches a blow from Gia as she unleashes a kick.

　The impact is too different from the armor I've fought in before.

'I haven't seen you fight anything like this since your old Black Knight,'

　-- Thinking back, I've been given a hard time when I should have had a cheat.

　Is that the result of my carelessness?

　Arrogance - you're right.

　That's a good name for a plane that fits me.

　Gia squeezed Alloganz's left arm.

'Weak. You're too weak!　This is all the more impressive for being so chic!

　He kicked me off and dropped me to the ground, where I was stomped on.

　Luxion's red eyes were looking at me.

Master, you have a cut on your forehead.

It's nothing to worry about. I just need to get the data right--

　Gia kicks me as I fall, like I'm kicking a soccer ball.

　The wall of the building Alloganz had hit collapsed, and then I heard Serge's voice.

'What's the matter, is this the extent of it?　So you've called people little turds, and you were this much of a small fry. It's a loss to be wary. In a kingdom with no enemies, you rampaged alone in a kingdom with no enemies, you're just like the general of Monkey Mountain!''

　Trampled and shaken in the cockpit - "Master, you have permission to attack.

Master, permission to engage.

No. Don't make me say it again.

　If you call Luxion, he will fight hard against the Ideals.

　I don't expect to lose.

　Just what about the people around here?

　As far as I could tell, they didn't evacuate them.

'You're not even close to being prepared. Think of a better way to do it, you little shit.

　Serge raised his spear and aimed at the cockpit.

'You're relentless,'

　I envy this guy who is wild and doesn't suffer like I do.

　I'm more than that.

Why?

　As the spear was about to be swung down, Noel stood in front of Aroganz, who was rolling on the ground, his arms outstretched.

　Gia carried the spear on her shoulder.

'What do you think you're doing, Noel?'

"Don't do any more harm to her. I'm just gonna follow you guys, okay?

Do you know how far out of line that guy is?　Ideal has checked, and this is someone who shouldn't be alive.'

　You can be told all you want.

　Luxion was muttering in a low electronic voice.

''--You've done it, Ideal.''

　It's Lelia who runs up to Noel.

　She's looking at me with very cold eyes.

''Sis, come on!　What are you going to do if you get hurt!'

"Serge--if you kill him here, I'll die here, too. You don't want that to happen for you, do you?

　I can't see Noel's expression.

　Why are you covering for me when you called me an outsider and didn't deny it?

　Is this also the protagonist's intuition?

　You know, I've saved my ass so many times, it's pathetic.

Do as you please. I don't care what happens to you.

　When Serge said that, he flew up into the sky and returned to the main body of Ideal.

　As for me, I may have hit my head or my consciousness is fading.

I'm going to have to ask for painkillers or something to keep me unconscious. I don't think I'm up to it. If you don't have any, use that. I don't want to lose consciousness.

"I will not allow you to do so, as it would be too much strain on your body. Please continue to lose consciousness.

You're a really annoying guy.

　Then, on the monitor in the cockpit, I saw Noel's face as he turned around.

　He was close to Aroganz's head and put his forehead together.

'Thank you for everything. Take care of those two.''

　As I watched Noel being taken away by the gathered soldiers, the remaining soldiers began to kick Aroganz.

''I knew the knights of the kingdom weren't much of a challenge.
"The Republic is strongest when Serge is here. Do you understand, you piece of garbage!
"Hey, there's some food scraps over there. Let's put up some trash to match.

　Soldiers doing whatever they wanted.

　For a moment - the scene when they beat up Julius and the others came into view.

　I wondered if those guys felt like this too.

'Luxion, you must protect everyone in the mansion at all costs. This is an order--

　I thought I could hear Luxion's reply from very far away.

'There's Claire over there. They must be doing something about it.'

◇

　Marier's mansion is surrounded by the Raults' soldiers and airships.

　A rattling and trembling Marier--.

''We don't have enough men at a time like this!

　--he was crying.

　It was the reason why he had kicked those five people out himself, but it was heartbreaking that Leon wasn't here either.

　It was Eryk who was next to him, comforting Marie.

''Sister, don't worry. If it happens, I'll protect you, sis!

"You've been kicked out of your house for being bastardized. I don't trust men like that. I don't want you to take it easy on yourself.

Ugh.

　As Eryk's shoulders slumped at his own pettiness, Angel looked at Creare.

'Most of the men in the mansion are non-combatants. They can fight some, but they have no chance of winning. I'm sure they can handle it once Leon arrives, but I'm not sure they can hold out until then.

　Creare did not agree with such an idea of Angier.

It's not good. I'm sure the master is going to be on the back foot if he continues like this. And what's more, the other person's demand is that, right?

　Libya has a letter in her hand.

　It's a piece of paper with a demand thrown in by the soldiers.

　It said to turn in a sapling.

"Surrender the saplings and he'll guarantee your life. They'll guarantee your life if you give it to them. But it also says that if you don't give it to us, we will take appropriate action.

　Angier narrows his eyes.

'You mimic surprise. Apparently there's no pride in nobility.'

"Fighting to win," right?　I don't know much about pride or anything else for me.'

'Yes. It's a way of fighting to win. But that's it.

　Creare, looking at the saplings.

"Then why don't we just throw it off the wall?

''What?!''

　Marie made a startled sound.