94 The secret of the Respinus family




 Facing each other through the bars is the daughter of the man he once loved.

 He's not the only one, but he's the only one.

I was supposed to be a guardian.

 Noel listens in silence.

'I will marry your mother and become the guardian of the holy tree - that's what your grandmother, your predecessor, told me.

 Alberg was engaged to Noel and the others' mother.

 But Noel's father was a common man - not from the six noble families, not even a nobleman.

''I've heard that my mother chose my father as her guardian.

'Yes. And the House of Respinus, touched by the wrath of the Holy Tree, has lost its coat of arms from your mother's generation.

 Noel was surprised to hear that, but muttered, "I knew it".

 Alberg could tell from his appearance that Noel had noticed.

'Did you know?'

'I knew my father and mother were hiding something. It was strange to me how they could lose to another family when they had a miko's coat of arms.

 Alberg's heart ached as he recalled those days.

'-- She broke off her engagement to me and chose the man she loved. And as a result of trying to make her a guardian, she had lost her priestess status there. For a very long time we were deceived.

 But the mother of Noel and the others announced that her husband was the patron.

 If that was the will of the Holy Tree, the people and nobles of the Republic accepted it.

'The annulment of the betrothal was a sleeper for me. I would have liked to speak to your mother, but I wasn't even allowed to see her. But I wasn't even allowed to see her.

 At the time, Arberg was the laughingstock of the nobility.

 He was treated as a man who had been given up by a priestess.

 Noel looked sad.

'My mother - from my point of view, she was arrogant.

I'm a good sport. And some of it's quite extreme.

 Noel's mother was never a special personality.

'She wondered if the Republic should continue as it was. I agreed with her opinion - but I met a man at the school. That's your father. People can live without the blessing of the Holy Tree. He's the man who said that.

 Noel nodded, as if he remembered.

'He said the Republic was going down the wrong path because of the Holy Tree.

'- Though from my point of view, that man's words and actions were the jealousy of those who couldn't get the blessings. He said that he would make the power of the Holy Tree equally available to people. He said that they wouldn't be used by the Holy Tree, they would use it.

 It seemed right, even from Alberg's point of view.

 He also thought it was too right to admit it.

'She took him at his word like that. Because she didn't believe that the Holy Tree was like a god. The priestess is closer to the Holy Tree than we are, so there must have been something that only she knew about.

 -- so he fell in love with Noel's father, who was not even a nobleman, and abandoned the Arberg.

'Your father, who couldn't become a guardian, wanted to rule the Holy Tree with the hands of men. He tried to use the Holy Tree without relying on the nobles. That was wrong.

 We were so close to each other.

'Did you kill him because you couldn't admit it? Or is it revenge?

I'm not sure which one.

 Alberg recalls the time.

'That's when I spoke to your father. I felt a strong urge to kill him. Because I was angry that that was the extent of my thinking. But now that I think about it - I feel like I was manipulated by something. No, it's just my imagination. --I am the one who killed your parents. Hate me. You can get your revenge on me now.

 Noel glares at Alberg in frustration.

'--Why did you kill your parents?

'Because it was our decision to go from being the seventh great aristocracy to being the sixth great aristocracy.

 Not only the Fevers, but the heads of the family at the time knew the facts - they decided to destroy the Respinus family.

 It was only ostensibly because the rash Lambert of the Fevers was chosen as the executor, and the Rault family took the form of standing behind him.

'I had my reasons for revenge, and Lambert was a troubled man at the time. In return for helping him become the head of the family, I had him attack the Respinus family - the other great nobles kept quiet because there was a story behind the scenes. The current head of the family doesn't know the story, though.

 The heads of the family at the time took the fact to their graves and kept it a secret.

 Now, the only person who knew this fact was Alberg.

 Lambert was the perpetrator, but because of his indiscretion, he was not told the truth.

'No such thing!

'One wrong move and we could have lost everything. We could have lost our blessings, and no one could have forgiven the House of Respinus for deceiving us--no one could have forgiven us.

 If Seiki decided that he was inadequate as his protector - the Republic was likely to cease to exist as a nation.

 This was because it meant that it would not be able to receive any of the benefits it had received until now.

 This is the negative effect of relying on the Sacred Tree.

 And the most unforgivable was the Respinus family who denied the seven great nobles.

 The six great aristocrats could not accept that a maiden had denied the Holy Tree.

 Moreover, they tried to break the current ruling system.

 That meant that she intended to destroy the Six Great Nobles.

 For the Six Great Noblemen, it was the House of Lespinas that betrayed them.

''If the Respinus family continued to hold power, there was a possibility that the Republic would eventually be destroyed. Using the Holy Tree and other things that are beyond the control of people, but that man--''

 The fathers of Noel and the others had ideas that were unacceptable to the six great nobles.

 Because of this, the Respinus family was destroyed.

''But as an individual, I can understand your resentment. You have the right--the right--to take revenge on me.

 Noel shook his head.

 She had tears in her eyes.

'Killing you won't help. --I wasn't even interested in being a miko after all this time. I just wanted to live a normal life like I used to.

 Alberg closed his eyes.

'I'm the same way. When I found you guys, I wanted to make sure you could live quietly, as I should have. I had my doubts about moving to the kingdom, but I could have closed my eyes.

If only you hadn't run so far away then.

 At the time, Noel and Lelia, who were able to escape from the burning mansion - were overlooked by Alberg. The plan was to have them flee to a foreign country at the very least, but the survivors of the Respinus family hid them within the Republic.

 Noel looks up.

''--What happens now?''

 Alberg shook his head.

'I can't see it coming either. If Serge hadn't been seduced by that one eye, none of this would have happened.

 Biting his back teeth, Arberg could see the future of Serge being turned into a puppet.



What are you doing here?

 I was about to attack the Rault family in Einhorn, and the four of us, including Zilk - without Julius - were here.

 Also, Erik is here, so there are a total of five people.

''We'll help you. We don't like the Republic's ways either.''

 When Zirk said that, Brad was playing with his hair.

'I don't think you should attack alone. If you want to increase your success rate, you'd better have an ally.

 I let out a sigh.

'How much more successful would you be if I took you guys with me? You're in my way, so keep your head down.

 Greg looked serious.

'I suppose. But hey, you might be able to help Olivia by that small margin. I'm not getting my revenge on you. If you die here, I'm not going to wake up in my sleep.

 These guys are still a**h*les.

 They think I'm gonna die, you know.

"You're an idiot. I'm a man who values my life. I believe that my life is the most valuable thing in the world, and I'm not thinking about suicide.

 Chris was a little surprised.

'I honestly admire that about you. But I mean it when I say I want to help you. Besides, we can't just end up getting licked like this. We have a stake in this.

 I was about to turn him away, telling him he was in my way, when Eryk stepped forward.

'I'll show you the way. I've been to the Raults' mansion a few times. Besides, if you're going to fly over the skies of the Republic, it's more convenient to have me around.

You? I don't trust you.

'Then! --You'll get me first. If you betray me, shoot me in the back.

 I was wondering why Eryk had gone to such lengths to help me.

"I don't know much about this Olivia person. But I - I hurt Noel. It's not something I can apologize for now. So I just want to help him move on. If I help you, then I can help Noel. Isn't that right?

You.

 I'm impressed.

And I want to be able to look you in the face.

 Can't these guys talk without a punchline?

 Luxion, who was at my side.

"Master, I have five armors ready for you. I'm sure they can handle it.

When did you get it?

'I've been making a lot of preparations since I met Ideal. Other than that, we also have airship parts for you, my friends.

-Did you know he was going to turn on you?

'I was just being cautious. 'I didn't really expect it to go this far. I didn't know what the hell Ideal was thinking.

 I don't know how the ideals of fighting with us feel.

 In the first place, it is better to be non-interventionist with each other.

 Five containers descended from the sky onto Einhorn's deck.

 When the containers opened, they revealed the five armor made by Luxion.

 Zirk was surprised.

''This--you've prepared our armor?

 The mistake of thinking that it's theirs - but it's not.

 It's because it's very similar to their armor that I broke.

 It's probably a bit smaller than an arogant.

"You're in trouble if you don't help me.

 Brad touched the purple armor.

'You're really cold to us, aren't you? But you've done so much for us. This won't slow us down.

 I turn my gaze to Luxion.

'Performance?'

'It's a few steps above the conventional machines of this world. ''It's a few steps above the conventional machines in this world, though it's probably not as good as the Arroganz. If we had a little more time, we could have increased the performance, but this is the limit for now.''

 One last container comes down.

 When I opened it, I saw Aroganz already carrying Shwert on his back.

'Has his appearance changed a bit?'

 There are some changes in the details, but they look almost identical.

'There's not that much change on the outside. What's important is what's inside.

It must be.

 Eryk was standing in front of one of the remaining armor, not the armor the four of them had each headed for.

'A white aircraft? That's not my color.

...and you'll be...

 Then I hear a voice from the sky.

 --I get a headache.

'Haha, long time no see--Count Baldfalt.

 They all looked up and Chris pointed to the man.

'You are! What, some kind of knight?

"The masked rider. "The Masked Knight!" --I think you're in trouble. Why don't I help you?

 I see Greg hold his tongue and I'm dismayed that these guys haven't noticed it yet.

 This cloaked man with this weird mask - it's Julius.

'Why are you here?'

'I'm here to help you, who stand by righteousness, why not? Count Baltfault, I'll have one ready for you, too. You can use all my powers to your advantage.

 By righteousness? This guy is a real piece of shit.

 When did I become a justice of the peace?

 But

I'm afraid there's not much time. Besides, the plane I got for you is already with Erik on board.

 Eryk, who had gingerly climbed into the white armor, was registering the pilot.

''What?! Hey, you there! White is my color. Get off, you pushy bastard!

 Eryk looks disinterested.

'Huh? It doesn't say the name of who it belongs to. Or rather, it's Count Baldfalt's plane. You're more brazen than I am. Your mask is funny, but are you crazy too?

You!

 The masked knight who appeared had no armor to ride on.

'Then you're staying home.

"What?

The masked knight is staying home. Go to Ricornu and stay there. --You'll be safe there.

 When I say this, the masked knight steps on the ground.

''Why?!''



 An emergency meeting was being held at the Raoult family compound.

 The six great nobles are coming together around Serge.

 The facilitator of the meeting was--Ideal.

''We have information from the port. We have received information from the port that Einhorn is on the move. However, it's coming towards us with a single ship.''

 Lambert was slapping his own big belly.

'That's funny. 'You're here to negotiate to get your woman back? I can't wait to see what kind of face the little bastard will have to apologize to us for.

 The other heads of the family also smiled.

''Let's start by getting all the treasure back. Then we'll talk.

"Let the kingdom be held accountable for its actions.

I'd like to see them pay at least three times the amount of damage.

 In the midst of all this, only Fernan is looking down.

''What's wrong?''

 When Serge called out to him, Fernand--'

'Have you come to apologize for a single ship? Is he that kind of guy?

 Lambert laughs at Fernand as if he were a fool.

'What's the point now. No one would be stupid enough to challenge a fight in this situation. Serge-kun defeated me. He'll change his mind a bit.'

 But Ideal's answer was.

''No, it looks like they're planning to attack us with one ship. Two ships, to be exact. It's accompanied by his lost item airship.

 While looking at the six great nobles who were buzzing around, Serge smiled wryly.

''You're finally showing your true colors. Ideal, you can win, right?''

'Of course. I've already calculated Luxion's strength. There is no reason for us to lose. The other Einhorn-class ship and the Kingdom's airships that we prepared are left in the harbor. It's less strength than we expected.''

 Serge laughed.

'You breaking ranks? He's not very popular.

But we're less than two hours away from our estimated time of arrival.

 Serge stood up.

''Shall we prepare for the interception? Let's make a big show of the refurbished airship and armor as well.

"With great pleasure, sir.

 As he watched Serge and the others begin to move, Ideal thought.

(They move so far as I expected. After all, you're just as wonderful as I expected - a puppet.)