The school's arena is in full swing.

　A large crowd of spectators are crowding in to see the Aroganz, the plane in which Rion, who defeated the Black Knight of the Principality and became a hero, rides.

　Then someone wagered a large sum of money on Elijah's victory.

　Thanks to that, the bet is made.

　That's why some students are betting big money that Leon will definitely win.

'This time we're going to make money,'
'I had a bad experience my freshman year,'
I'm gonna make up for that loss.

　Those around him had no doubt that Rion would win.

　In fact, Elijah's strength is not even close to Leon's.

　His body performance was also inferior to Aroganz, and on top of that, Leon was an experienced fighter.

　Everything was different from Elijah's.

　The evaluation of the people around them can't be helped, but Erica is looking down.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time.

''Erica, if you don't want to see it, do you want to leave here?''

It's okay. You have to take care of Elijah. It's the least I can do.

　Marie says to Erica.

'Erica, you can't get what you want unless you say you want it. It's okay to be selfish.　If you like it, you should tell her you like her.

I'm not allowed to do that in my position.

I knew you'd like it.

　Marije's eyes were downcast at Erica's answer.

'Is that okay with Erica?　My brother is your uncle. Marriage is ridiculous. Even my brother doesn't want to mess with my niece.

'Mother, royalty doesn't have the freedom to marry. Even if you were my uncle in a previous life, you're not a man by blood now. There's nothing wrong with marriage.

　We're not even close in blood.

　And Leon is a hero of the realm.

　It's worth taking in.

　On the other hand, it's impossible to refuse.

　Being an uncle in a previous life is not a reason to refuse a marriage.

"What about your happiness?

I'm still happy enough.

You have no idea what you're talking about, do you? Happiness is something you have to take care of yourself!

It's a misfortune not to be able to feel the happiness you have--mom.

'I don't know about that!　What's wrong with wanting to?　Tell your brother and anything you wish will come true!

　Erica clasped her hands on the railing.

'How much blood do you think will be spilled at the cost of the happiness I asked for?　I can't make that kind of decision for you.

◇

　The holiday arena was filled with spectators.

　Elijah's armor standing in front of Aroganz was a custom-made item typical of the marquis family.

　But even so, the difference in performance between him and Alogants is hopeless.

''Elijah-kun. I commend you for coming in front of me without running away.''

I'm not going to run.

　I'm sorry Elijah, but I'm better than him in every way.

　It's impossible for Elijah to win at this rate.

I'm going to compliment you on how you feel. But there are some things that are impossible in this world.

　The world is an unreasonable place.

　It really is unreasonable.

　In the cockpit, Luxion turns one eye to me.

''Rather than doing this, wouldn't it be more meaningful to make that black thing disappear?

You are persistent.

It's the enemy.

With an artificial intelligence, you should be more open-minded.

It's a priority.

Okay.

　When the duel is announced to begin, Elijah rushes in.

　His movements were poor.

　But he didn't falter in fear.

''Good step,''

　The sword that Elijah's armor was holding stabbed into the ground as he took a step back and avoided Aroganz.

''Ora, what's going on!''

　I kick away, and Elijah quickly gets up and comes at me.

　I only praise her for her courage to stand up to the allogants, which are bigger than the armor she rides.

'Don't think you'll get Erica for that!

　He punched away and then took the blade out of the container Aroganz was carrying.

◇

　Finn sat down next to Mia and watched Leon duel.

　He pressed his face with his right hand.

'How could that guy do this with impunity?

　Rather than a duel, it was more of a one-sided arogants teasing Elijah's armor.

　Mia clasped her hands in front of her chest, looking anxious.

'Knight-sama, I'm afraid of Rion-sama. I thought you weren't someone who would do this.''

　Brave, appearing from Finn's pocket, looked at Aroganz with irritation.

'You're disgusting!　That armor is a crack job using our data, isn't it?'

　Finn agreed.

'Oh, I see. Somehow it looks like your armor.

"That scrap metal, he got me.

　Seeing that Mia looked anxious, Finn put a hand on her head to reassure her.

'Don't worry. Rion is thinking straight.'

Are you sure?

Yeah, so you'll be fine. --Maybe.

　Even Brave was suspicious of Finn.

'I don't know. That scrap metal is a weapon of the old humans. They can trample people's minds without a care in the world.

　Then Mia begins to laugh, holding her mouth.

'Boo-kun, you put a weapon and a flat on your head.

　Neither Finn nor Brave knew what to say to Mia's laughter.

'It was funny to Mia, wasn't it? 'Well, not that it matters.'

"Hey, buddy, you might as well just say it. "You've got a funny sense of humor. I mean, can you stop making it sound like I was trying to be funny?　I'm getting sad for me. 'Hey Mia, don't laugh anymore,'

Because. You'll make me laugh.

You have really bad taste.

　Finn watches the duel from the audience.

　A one-sided fight could not be called a duel.

　People around him were quick to say, "Isn't that a bit much? That's what the voice says.

(Leon, what are you thinking?)

　What do you want to do with Elijah?

　Finn thought as he looked at Leon.

◇


　Erica held her chest in a one-sided fight.

　She closes her eyes.

'Uncle, please stop this. This is terrible. You said you wouldn't ruin Elijah's face, but this is the opposite.'

　Leon's voice echoed through the arena.

'Weak, one year!　I think you're taking the upperclassmen too seriously.　You're pathetic for challenging me to a duel and not being able to land a single blow!'

Well, I'm not done yet.

'What's the matter with you?　Did you really think you could beat me with such trash-like abilities!''

　Marie calls out to Erica.

'Erica, look at this. For your sake, Elijah, you've stood up to your brother many times. Are you sure this is what you want?

　Erica shook her head, and her dark hair shook too.

'I don't like it. Don't pick on Elijah.'

　Erica is crying and tells Marie about Elijah.

'Elijah is actually a good boy. She told me she loves me and she's done so much for me.

　He wasn't excellent.

　In that damsel-in-distress game, he was a henchman-like fiancée who didn't defy Erica's selfishness.

　That was also because he was in love with Erica, the villainous princess.

'I wasn't even allowed to meet her when she broke off the engagement.

　It's Milene's decision.

　She thought that letting her meet with Erika any longer would leave her feeling unfulfilled.

"Did you complain to that queen?　Did I tell you I'd rather be Elijah?

'I can't tell you. Your mother thinks it would be better for me.

　For the sake of the country and for Erica.

　Milene had made the decision because she really meant it.

　What if this is what happens if she goes ahead with her engagement story with Elijah as she had originally planned?

　The country would be in civil war, and in the midst of it, Erica might lose her life.

　It was a conclusion that Milene came to in her own way, considering the national interest and her daughter.

　Because it would be known, Erica couldn't say anything.

　Elijah shouted to Rion, who was riding the Allogants.

''Even if we don't win!　--Even if I don't win, I have to try. I know I can't do anything about it. I know it, but I can't stand it!'

　Considering the situation in the kingdom, it would be a bad idea for Elijah to challenge Leon to a duel.

　I know that much, but I guess I couldn't stop myself from doing so.

　Rion is laughing.

'I can't win, but do you want to challenge him?　That's called being an idiot!'

　Elijah rolled on the ground as Aroganz punched him away.

　Seeing the figure, Erica closed her eyes tightly.

''--Because you don't say how you feel, even the queen thinks she's right!　If you don't like it, just say no!　I don't know!　You'd never know if I couldn't tell you!　If I tell you, you might be able to do something about it!

　Marie cries and expresses her feelings.

　The crowd in the arena was watching the duel and didn't care about the two of them.

'When I let you go, I knew it was for your own good!　I figured that was better than me raising them!　But you said it. "I liked it better with my mom"!　Tell me. If you don't tell me, I won't know!

　In a previous life, Marie left Erica with her parents, and her life became even more self-defeating from there.

　As a result, she fell for a no good man.

　When Erica opens her eyes, she says to Marie with tears in her eyes, "You can't change the outcome of this.

'You can't change the outcome of what you say!　If I was selfish, what would you have done?　Hey, what about it!

　For the first time, it was Erica who resisted Marier.

　Marie was surprised by it, but somewhat happy about it.

　Marie has been hit where it hurts, but she's not alone now.

　Inside the arena, Leon is tormenting Elijah.

'I'm telling you because you will!　Do you have any idea how out of character, cowardly, infuriating and irritating your brother is?　You're a terrible brother. He's a terrible person, but he's a great helper!　I'm sure he's ready to solve your problems.

'You can't do that. This is a national problem. I can't bear the thought of people dying so many deaths for me.

　Seeing Erica crying, Marie turns her gaze to the arena and screams at Leon.

　She gets on the railing and shouts out.

　In the noisy arena, Marier's voice is drowned out - but.

'Brother!　Do something for my lovely niece!

　--Aroganz stopped moving and grabbed up Elijah's battered head of armor.

　He showed it to Erica.

'Erica-sama, your ex-fiancee was a pathetic man.'

　Erica shivered in front of Leon, who was agitating towards her.

　Silence prevailed as the crowd turned their gaze to Erica and closed their mouths.

'Aren't you glad to be rid of your ex-fiancee like this?'

　Erica wrinkles her brow at Rion, who asks her a question.

'--no.'

"Yes?

Elijah is not pathetic!

"How?　He is the heir to the failing Fraser family. Isn't Lady Erica glad she didn't marry?　Are you actually relieved?'

◇

　Elijah, bleeding from his forehead, heard Erica's voice.

'It doesn't matter. I've seen Elijah by my side and thought I was lucky to be married to this person. Please rescind the word 'pathetic'!'

　Elijah looks up.

　Seeing that figure, majestically, straining his voice at Leon, Elijah clutched the control stick.

''--Erica.''

"You can say whatever you like about it.

'Yes, I did. I--I loved Elijah. Elijah is a better man than you are now.

I'm telling you!　--Don't forget those words.

　Rion's low voice echoed in the arena.

　The strangely powerful voice had a kind of awesome power that had experienced many real battles.

''Kukk!''

　Elijah maneuvered the armor away from Aroganz's arms.

　The armor was in terrible shape and couldn't move properly anymore.

　One arm couldn't move and the hand holding the weapon was wobbly.

　--I knew from the beginning that I couldn't win.

''Still--I am!

　At first, it was a political marriage.

　But I met Erica and immediately fell in love with her.

　He's a very important person who looks after himself and sometimes chastises me for being too harsh.

I'm going to make sure that Erika gets it right...

　--I just wanted to say I love you.

　I wanted to show him I loved him.

　The armor's legs disintegrated from their joints and fell down.

　As soon as he fell, he swung his sword down at Aroganz, and Rion didn't avoid him.

　For the first time, the blow hit Aroganz, but it didn't leave a scratch.

The first time you are hit by a blow, you won't be hurt. I will continue to love you forever and ever!　So be happy. Please make her happy. Please, please make her happy. Please--I beg you.

　He said this while crying and was about to admit defeat and tell the judges.

　But it was Leon who spoke up first.

'Referee. I lost.''

◇

　Luxion calls out to me as I come out of the cockpit.

''The villain looked very good on you.

'Oh, my heart hurts. It brings tears to my eyes to be hated by my sweet niece.

'Didn't it hurt before?

'What?　I think it must have hurt.

'-From what I can see, your master's mind is already a wreck.

I'm pretty bold.

'You understand what it means to let Elijah win, don't you?　Are you going to take care of the hassle after that?　I - if you decide that the Master will be broken, I'll force you to restrain him and then I'll take control of the country.'

Oh, I'm scared. I'll be careful at best.

　The crowd in the arena was stunned.

　After all, there were a lot of idiots staking their lives on my victory.

　So I raised my voice.

''Eh~ Everyone who bet on me and lost brilliantly. It will be a congratulatory gothic celebration for the two of you for your new beginnings~!

　I show him the bundle of tickets I was holding.

　It's proof that I bet on Elijah to win.

　I had bet a lot of money that Elijah would win - I had bet a lot of money that I would lose.

　Seeing the bunch of blue tickets, the students who bet on me throw the red tickets into the arena.

'Screw you!'
I want my money back!
This isn't working!

　I didn't mean to fool you in the first place.

　It just came down to that.

　Or rather, I'm going to accept a refund.

'You'll get out of the betting business when you've learned your lesson!　You guys who lose have no talent for betting!

　I laugh at him, and he throws garbage at me in the arena.

'Cowards!'
I knew Leon was Leon!
You cheating bastard!

　I would retort to such a voice.

'You're just realizing that now, you idiots!

　I laugh at him and a voice rises from all over the place.

'I'm glad Erica-sama didn't marry that guy!
Absolutely!
It's not Baltfalt that Lady Erica deserves!

　You can hear the familiar voice of the five idiots.

　It's funny because the audience says the same thing, as if in tune with it.

''Are we on schedule?''

Well, yeah.

　He descended the arrogants and dragged Elijah out of the cockpit.

'Oh, um,'

　He looked like he wanted to say something, so I gave Elijah an earful.

'If you make Erica cry, I'll take you seriously next time. Don't forget that.

Yes!

　Lending a shoulder to a frightened Elijah, I made my way to Erica and the others.