The Arcadia held by the Sacred Magic Empire was as large as a small floating island.

　A floating fortress, a mobile fortress - it is called variously.

　The master of such a fortress is Mia - [Mirialis Lux Erzberger].

　She is petite and has dark brown hair in a ponytail.

　Right now, she was wearing a dress and a tiara and other ornaments.

　However, her purple eyes looked sad.

　He is looking out from inside the fortress.

　He was sickly not long ago, but inside Arcadia, he was in good physical condition.

　At Mia's side, in addition to the maidservants who were taking care of her, was a magical creature with a black sphere and only one flesh eye.

　It was similar to Brave, but inside it was just as different.

''Master Mia, why do you look so sad?''

　Mia answers the magical creature.

'-- Why do I have to fight my friends?'

　The Empire was preparing in a great hurry to attack the kingdom from now on.

　There were many warships floating around Arcadia.

　They were about to challenge the total force.

''The kingdom is on the side of the old humans. If we continue to exist, they will eventually realize that only they are in danger. There are also artificial intelligences that know about us. They will gather in the Kingdom and eventually turn on the Empire.

　I'll do it before we get hit.

　That's all.

　This wasn't a war.

　It was a fight for survival.

　Mia also heard about the situation from her father - the emperor, [Bartolt], and he explained the situation to her many times.

　But I'm not convinced.

''I have friends in the kingdom, too.

"You have family and friends in the Empire. Can you tell them that you want them to be destroyed?

　Mia shook her head.

'I can't tell you!　I can't tell you, but--

　Mia was heartbroken.

(What on earth am I going to do? --Mr. Knight, why won't you stay by my side?)

　Finn Ruta Herring], who should normally be at his side, has returned to first place in the pecking order as the strongest knight in the Empire.

　Therefore, he is now busy preparing for the battle.

　He couldn't stay at Mia's side.

　The magical creature looked at Mia and felt that she was worried about whether she could win this war.

''Master Mia, it's no problem. The weapons on the old human side are a mishmash. It's impossible to sink this Arcadia.''

'--uncle -- no, the Emperor didn't think so. Boo-kun was wary of it, too.

　Boo-kun - Brave was wary of the weapons on the old human side.

　The magical creature says that he is too wary about it.

'You seem to be a cautious individual. It's true that we're not unscathed, but our victory is unassailable. We estimate our chances of victory at eighty percent.''

Does that mean we're going to lose 20% of the time?

'Barring a miracle, the kingdom will not be victorious. Besides, His Majesty Bartholt has asked for the cooperation of other nations as well.

　In order to ensure victory, the Empire was seeking the cooperation of the Holy Kingdom of Lachelors and other countries that were in dispute with the Kingdom.

　Although not all of them were on the side of the new humanity, the other countries who did not think that the competition for survival had begun were wary of the heroes in the kingdom - the heroes in the kingdom - and were in the direction of teaming up with him.

'Even so, it is ironic. Since there is a hero in the kingdom who knows the truth about this war, other countries will cooperate with us.''

　A man who single-handedly defeated the Republic.

　Having won many battles, Leon was held in higher esteem in other countries than at home.

　Therefore, he had created a reason for other countries to cooperate with the Empire.

''Rion-san--I'm friends with the knight-sama.

"Lord Finn has promised to fight. "One-on-one, I'm not sure, but under the circumstances, I think Lord Finn will win.

　Mia looks down.

(-- Sir Knight, I knew this is why I was crying before.)

◇

　There was a crunch that echoed through the room.

　I was slapped on the cheek and I couldn't blame my teary-eyed opponent for it.

　Angel's voice was trembling.

'You - you don't believe us?　Why would you want to fight alone?

　Angier and Livia apparently knew what was going on.

　Chatty fellow, I thought, and I turned my gaze to Luxion.

　But Luxion didn't respond.

''Rion-san, please don't be reckless on your own. We're going to have to wait until Rion-san is dead before we--'

　Libby spills a polo-poisoning tear and holds her hand over her mouth on the way out.

　I laugh bitterly as I look down.

''-- there's nothing I can do about it. Besides, everything else is in the way of this fight.

　In the corner of the room, Noel was leaning his back against the wall with his arms crossed.

'Interrupting--that's a terrible way to put it,'

　But they didn't say more, as if they understood that they couldn't help themselves.

　Angier took my face between his hands and brought it closer to his own.

''The Empire's movements have been felt over here as well. The Empire is going to use all of its power to strike the kingdom. That's not all. They're also asking other countries for help. --They're using all the tools at their disposal. So why are you doing it!

　The reincarnations on the Imperial side are serious.

　But I can't.

　I have a social standing in the Kingdom.

　But unlike the Imperial incarnations, I don't have the time or the absolute power to prepare.

　There are few forces that I alone can call upon to gather together.

　The only people who would gather would be those close to me.

　--You can't ask such people to give up their lives.

"I'm not very popular.

'Are you going to cheat me like that?　It's you, you don't want to get involved, do you?　But this fight is a race for survival. And we have a right to know.

But that doesn't mean I can't help you.

　You have a right to.

　But what happens when you know?

　The people would be confused and upset if they knew.

　Besides, do we really believe these stories?

　In a previous life, it's like saying that there was actually a civilization that died out in ancient times but was more advanced than we are now - and that's the same thing.

　It's very stinky.

　And what I fear on the battlefield is betrayal.

　Even if you forcibly scrape together a force, there will be nobles who betray you if the imperial side has the advantage.

　The lord nobles are especially dangerous.

　They are, in other words, the kings of small countries.

　The kingdom is only silencing them with its powerful military force and playing the role of a master.

　So when someone more powerful comes along, they betray them with impunity.

　Furthermore, if they have the power themselves, they will come to destroy the kingdom.

　The kingdoms that they follow will not be comfortable with it.

　Just a little bit - I'm beginning to understand how it feels to have created a trend of female dominance.

　In the first place, the lord nobleman was an untrustworthy opponent for the kingdom.

　And now I feel the same way.

''Angier--you know what I mean, don't you?　Will the kingdom lend a helping hand when I call on them?　Will you do everything in your power to help us?

　Angier's gaze left me.

'It's--I can't promise that.

　If you're not careful, you can turn the kingdom against you.

　After all, we're the only ones who know this is a struggle for survival.

　Even the upper echelons of the kingdom don't know this.

　How do they expect the leadership to react to a serious challenge from the Empire?

　What if I told you that you would fight - but if they turned me in, I'd let them go?

　The kingdom will undoubtedly sell me.

　Sadly, that is the Kingdom of Horphath.

　If the Empire would bear the brunt of the sacrifice of me alone, they would surely offer it.

　Well, after much thought - they're in my way.

''They're in the way. We don't rely on it because our chances of winning will be lower.

　Angel took his hand away from me.

'--Rion, will you ever change your mind?　You won't trust us to the end?

I believe in you. So I hope you survive.

　Angier burst into tears.

'You are truly a terrible man. You're even worse than His Highness Julius.'

I think so. So it's best to forget about guys like me.

　With that, I'm about to leave the room when Angel hugs me back.

'Rion, if you really believe in me, will you trust the kingdom just one more time?　I'll make sure I get it together.

I can't.

　What should we expect from this goofy country?

　As I thought that, Angel--

'There's only one way to put it all together. You have your work cut out for you. It's not just me - or Livia. Noel needs to be prepared. But the three of us have already made up our minds. If you agree, we will hold the kingdom together. And I can help you. So--please. For once, just once, trust me.

　I was silent, and Livia stood in front of me.

'Mr. Leon, please. Let us help you.

　He was looking straight at me.

　Normally, it would be Livia who would be crying and Angel would be imposing - but today the position was different.

　Noel scratches his hair in embarrassment.

'I'll do what I can do, too. So I'm hoping you'll appreciate what we do.

　What are they going to do?

　I look at Luxion.

'Did you know what the three of you were going to do?

"Yes.

Don't involve the three of us in anything dangerous.

'I'm already involved. Besides, you're safer than your master.

　As I'm wondering what to do, Angel says to me in tears.

'I know it's bad for Leon. But this way we can hold the country together. I can help you. Please," he said, "just listen. Just listen to me.

　I brush my hair.

'Luxion, are you all right?　--the three of us won't be in danger, will we?

''- there's some risk, I suppose, but we'll have an escort. Then you won't have a problem.

Okay, then, go ahead and do it.

"Leon?

　Ange pulled away from me.

'Do what you want. You don't have to think about the burden I'm putting on you--you just have to put yourself first.

　I'm sure they won't come back.

　But if we continue to push the three of them away, there's no telling what they'll do.

　It would be better to leave them under Luxion's control.

"Then you'll have to explain--

I'm sorry, but we're in a hurry. --We'll talk about it later. Luxion, let's go.

"Yes.

　Now I have items to collect.

　I left the room, leaving the three of us alone.

　I wanted to get away from the three of them as soon as possible.

　I wanted to get away from them as soon as possible, because my resolve was about to be shaken.

◇

　The room that Leon had left.

　The three remaining people were in a delicate mood.

You still don't believe me?

　Livia hugs Angier, who sounds somewhat resigned.

'It's okay. Leon-san will believe me.''

　That being said, Livia could sense that Leon didn't believe in them either.

　More importantly, she feels like she's hiding something from him.

　Noel puts his hands in his pockets.

'Anyway, what are we going to do now?'

　Angier wiped away the tears.

　Then the sparkle in his eyes returned, showing a strong will.

'I'm going to go to my parents' house now.'

　Livia nodded.

'Be careful,'

Yeah, I'm fine. I know you're mad at me for being hostile, but I'm not going to take my life with a stone.

　Livia also talks about the future.

'I'll head over to collect Arle and Weiss.

　Noel shrugged.

'Then I guess I'm the young tree of the Holy Tree and - Republic relations. I've sent a letter over there, though I'm afraid of what kind of response I'll get.

　Ange showed an imposing demeanor that made it hard to believe she had been crying earlier.

''Then let the action begin. Because this battle, it won't end with just winning.''

　Angier and his team had assumed that it would be after the victory.

　This is because although Leon only thinks about winning, he doesn't think about what happens afterwards.

　Even if Leon won, he would be treated as a dangerous person who had won a single victory over the Empire in the eyes of a kingdom that didn't know what was going on.

　It would be good if Luxion was safe, but at worst, it was dangerous if Rion survived alone.

"He'll survive. I promised him I'd make him happy.

　Livia smiled and nodded.

'Yes. 'You promised, right?'

　Noel scratches the head of his nose with his finger.

'I don't know about that story, though.

　Angier had a small smile on his face.

'I'll tell you later. But it's a love story, so it's too late to regret it. --Well, now that I've gotten Rion's permission, let's get moving.

　When Angier said this, Livia looked a little uneasy.

''Rion-san, I didn't listen to you properly, though. --Is it okay?

　Noel nodded his head as he put his hands in his pockets.

'You know what I mean.' --maybe.