A new day arrived after an annoying night.
By noon, the cruise ship would set sail for the Kingdom, so I'd enjoy a little of the remaining sightseeing I had left.
I was in the forest that led to a temple at the top of the hill. I had somehow gotten lost even though I was on the straight path, and if it weren't for a temple maiden, I'd be lost and crying for Ixion's help.
Who, once again, had disappeared for some reason. Well, we were testing that all week, so it's natural he'd want to make improvements since I nearly killed myself not knowing how to use it correctly.
The surroundings of the forest were decorated with strange Eastern ornaments, showing I was getting close to the center.
After several steps, I finally arrived at the back of the temple.
It's just like the structure from my previous life.
Wooden buildings, rock gardens, and small trees that had mysterious papers hanging from them.
My eyes found an old monk sweeping, and I asked him where the place for prayers was.
He pointed it out, and after thanking him, I walked straight there.
As someone who died and reincarnated, I know there's life after death. I still don't believe in higher beings, but it wouldn't hurt to pray to some benevolent being to help me. Is it hypocritical of me?
Finally, after walking for several hours, I reached the blessed place. I had heard from the locals that this temple is the most prosperous of all because it's not the home of one but three gods who bless health, fortune, and love.
Health is always good.
Fortune—I've already been blessed.
So the most important is the love of a beautiful girl who would want me even with this terrifying face.
Taking out my wallet, I was about to deposit white gold coins as a tithe. Unfortunately, they fell, scattering all over the place. I definitely started the day very badly.
◇◇◇
Alisa was climbing the stairs leading to the temple.
She hadn't been able to come before because her friends told her it wouldn't be right to pray to other gods since they are believers of the Priestess's religion.
So she waited until the last day to come alone under the excuse of last-minute shopping.
Like the other students, she had changed from casual clothes to her school uniform. The only new detail would be that she wore a pair of sky-blue diamond-shaped earrings.
After several minutes of climbing stairs, she reached the top. As she peeked her head, she noticed someone else was there admiring the place.
When she finally placed her foot on the last step, the person—a student—turned to look at her.
"Ah!" both girls exclaimed. Alisa had once again run into Airi. She was also in her uniform, and like Alisa, she wore an accessory she didn't have before. It was a beautiful hairpin with a crystal rose of the same color as her earrings.
Both girls stared at each other for a while, and then Airi turned her face to walk toward the prayer altar.
Alisa made a sad expression and also walked toward the same place, which was visible from her position.
Both noticed someone crouched, picking up coins; even if they stood up, they couldn't see his face because of the huge bells at the altar.
They were both in the same position and simultaneously took out their wallets. Airi deposited a silver coin while Alisa put in a few regular gold ones.
They began to pray.
◇
Finally, I finished picking up the coins. Why did it take me so long if there were only twelve?
After standing up, I inserted all the coins as if it were an arcade machine. With a loud sound, I put my hands together and thought about what I was going to ask for.
(Hmm... what should I ask for? I'm not greedy, but it never hurts to have more income. So I'd appreciate it if my resort becomes a very visited place.)
That's one. Now the second.
(A long, prosperous, and trouble-free life would be good. Especially since I'm almost a member of the Prime Minister's faction now.)
Now the last one.
(The most important of all is undoubtedly obtaining a loving wife who loves me, who won't be unfaithful, and if possible, has big breasts.)
(No, no, no! I mustn't be greedy. If she has big breasts, it would eliminate all her other good qualities. What matters is everything else. Yes, that's it. That she loves me and is very playful since that's what every virgin desires.)
(Alright, all planned. So let's get to work.)
Wishes and prayers are usually asked silently, but in my case, I'll shout it to the four winds so the gods can hear me. Here goes...
I opened my mouth and...
"I wish..."
...Words came out that my head never thought, in the slightest possibility, of saying.
"I wish to return to those times when the three of us were together. I want to walk alongside those girls again and laugh with them once more."
"..."
"...But what stupidity."
I don't know what the hell came over me to say that. As I was looking at the ground when I opened my eyes, I noticed there were two girls in different uniforms at the other end. They must have heard what I said, so I'd better leave quickly to avoid making a fool of myself.
◇◇◇
The girls were praying when they heard a familiar voice. They listened to everything. After a few seconds of the footsteps of that voice leaving...
Airi started to cry and tremble and ran out of the place.
Alisa stayed in the same position for a few minutes. Finally, she stopped trembling and took out her wallet, scattering all the coins on the altar.
She turned around and walked to the stairs, stopping before them.
Without looking back, she said, "I wish that too..."
From the bottom of the stairs, the voices of her friends calling her could be heard. Alisa just looked at them and went down as if nothing had happened.
◇◇◇
There wasn't a single soul in the temple. Not even monks or maidens. Only the empty place.
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew through the place, causing dust, branches, and leaves to shake violently.
A small tree, called the wishing tree, had several colored papers hanging from it by the locals.
One of those papers flew off, revealing native writing that, when translated into Rudel's language, would say, "Your wish will come true."
◇
I was on the deck of the cruise ship admiring the scenery.
The island was no longer visible, not even islands around—just clouds and a vast ocean.
I wanted to enjoy standing for at least the duration of the journey home. Ixion, who was for some reason by my side, was using his stealth mode as optical camouflage.
"Wasn't it a good week, Master?" For some reason, he was also talkative. What's wrong with him? (Did you finally accept that machines are cold beings and need a little affection?)
I wouldn't mind giving you affection... no, that sounded weird. Better not tell him that.
Instead, I responded.
"You're right. It was a very good week except for last night and this morning."
"Upon returning to the Kingdom, everything will return to normal. After the vacation ends, the last semester of the year will begin, so you will only have the need to find a marriage partner."
He's right. When I return to the academy, I'll only have to worry about finding a marriage partner.
Since I ended my fake friendship with my fake friends and don't have male friends, I'm just left to spend the remaining two and a half years alone.
That's right. Once again, both in this life and the previous one.
I could endure an entire life alone. What's the problem with spending my new life alone? Besides, I have a super-artificial intelligence with a huge ego as a slave-companion. I'm not alone. Just badly accompanied, it seems.
"I finally found you, Bradford."
Suddenly, I was called from behind.
I recognized that annoying voice. It was too good to be true. I hadn't seen him all week, so I thought he had gotten lost and wouldn't return home.
"Prince..."
I said his title after turning around.
There he was, wearing a black uniform, a black wig, and glasses of the same color.
I wanted to say something to him, but I'd better shut up.
He took off the glasses and wig and then, in an idiotic way, said, "It's me, Liam von Altfode."
(Didn't you hear me call you prince, or does your stupidity make you deaf too?)
(Seriously, is this guy going to be my future King?)
My thoughts about him will always be full of hostility toward you for being an idiot. Even if you were a girl with big breasts, I wouldn't stop calling you an idiot.
You're an idiot.
Better to ask him what he wants to finish already.
(Ohh! But it's His Highness the former crown prince. What are you doing here, and what do you need from my humble person?)
I said it as sarcastically as possible to see his expression react. That didn't happen; he remains serious.
"There's something I want to talk to you about. It's very important," he said, looking at me intently. It was the first time I saw that idiot's face making such expressions.
Just when I was about to respond, something else improbable happened.
"Master, this is bad! It's a surprise attack!"
Ixion shouted loudly while his optical camouflage seemed to short-circuit, making him visible to Liam.
A loud sound was heard from one side, and upon turning to look...
"What the hell is that!?"
...I couldn't imagine the disaster that would occur.
◇◇◇
At the same time, in the Royal Palace of Altfode.
A man with the surname Orwel was there—a minister and member of Alisa's father's faction.
He was sweating coldly while biting his fingers, locked in his office.
He only repeated the same thing.
"It's not my fault but that Kingsfort boy's!!"
"I was threatened by him because he would expose my thefts of the Archduke's goods!"
"That's it! I'm innocent! It's all that Bradford boy's fault for not having died before, and now all those young people will die at the hands of those guys!!"
Orwel was scared because he was threatened to make some calls to certain people. Those people gladly accepted in order to receive financial compensation and weapons for their cause.
Those people were part of the Talis Commonwealth.
◇
I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing.
"Why?"
What I'm seeing is something impossible to believe.
"Why is there something like this here?"
It shouldn't exist in this world.
"Why the hell are there...?"
But I forgot it's a fantasy world, so maybe this is possible.
"Airplanes in this place!?"
A large number of combat planes, as if from some game, were emerging from among the clouds. The number could be two or three dozen. I can't count them because, like flies, they surround the ship's vicinity.
The sounds of the engines and their propellers spinning are so loud that even with the wind's sound, they can be heard.
"What kind of bad joke is this!?"
The situation before my eyes is something I never imagined would happen or was possible.
I turned in panic toward Ixion, who was trying to activate his optical camouflage.
When I was about to ask him what was happening, something else appeared from among the clouds.
It was a large fleet of warships, numbering twenty-eight.
They all came from the same direction, looking like a line for some festival.
Little by little, they positioned themselves in a circular formation to surround the entire ship.
This is bad.
Very, very bad.
Why was this happening?
◇◇◇
The invading fleet had a special crest representing their country. It was called the Talis Commonwealth.
It was one of Liam and his friends' enemies in the game.
They normally would appear in his second year after Liam foiled an assassination attempt.
But there was a secret option that very few players knew about, and that was to unlock an unanticipated invasion event.
The developers thought it was an excellent way to add mystery and unexpected events to the game.
There was only one requirement to activate it, and that was if Liam, upon taking any of the three cruises, ran into Airi, finding her by chance.
That had happened.
Therefore, the current situation was part of this world's "plot."
◇
Liam suddenly called me, amazed—not by the planes or the ships but by...
"Bradford, what is that strange floating sphere next to you?"
...Ixion, who was visible.
Shit.
I didn't want anyone to see him.
What lie can I tell him so he believes me?
"Rudel!"
"Rudel-san!"
I suddenly heard voices.
When I turned to see where those voices were coming from, I saw those girls running from different directions toward me.
Alicelotte was coming from inside the ship, while Irisdina was coming from the other end of the ship.
Why were they coming to me?
The other students, servants, and sailors here were screaming in panic and running straight inside, but why were you coming in my direction?
Just when both were in the other's range of vision, they stopped for a moment to then pay attention to me. Then their gazes focused on the still-visible Ixion.
What the hell are you waiting for to disguise or hide yourself?
"Rudel, what is that floating thing next to you?" Alicelotte said, alarmed. While Irisdina said, "Is that another one of your robots with strange magic?" You're not that wrong.
Let's avoid revealing its origin with something more fantastical.
(Come on, think, think... I've got it!)
I opened my mouth to mention the most believable thing in a fantasy world while putting my left hand to point at it in an elegant manner.
"It's a fairy."
For some reason, everyone was stunned. Please don't make me feel like an idiot. Instead, the only one who reacted was the self-proclaimed fairy.
"What kind of ridiculous joke are you mentioning? Please don't insult me or compare me to the absurd things you mention!"
Don't pay attention to him. Nice to meet you, my name is Ixion. I already knew you beforehand, but it's the first time we've conversed. I am an artificial intelligence from ancient—
"Anyway. Rudel, do you know what that fleet means?"
Without warning, Alicelotte cut off Ixion's long-awaited introduction. I didn't feel bad for him, but well done and thanks.
Now returning to the matter.
"No... who are those guys?" I asked Alicelotte anxiously while watching as some boats came out of the largest ship—that must be the flagship.
"Those over there are crests of the Talis Commonwealth."
"Talis Commonwealth?" I said, and she responded, "That's right. They are one of the countries that have the most enmity with us. My father told me that for a few months now, they haven't been attacking us, so it's weird that they're attacking us now."
What she says is very weird. If they haven't attacked for months, why decide to do it now?
"Rudel!!" She immediately yelled at me for no reason.
"Take His Highness and hide him!" Or so it seemed.
"No matter what happens, make sure to protect him. A hostage situation will definitely occur, so His Highness must not be a hostage. Protect him since it's your duty as a knight."
I don't want her giving me orders, but looking at the situation, it's better to listen to her even if I don't like it.
"Let's hide, Prince."
"I don't want to!!"
The instant I said that, this idiot responded with something that definitely showed he was an idiot of planetary proportions.
"What the hell do you mean no!? Do you understand the situation, or do I have to kick your royal ass again to take you?"
"I understand the situation, but... but I think we should fight instead of hiding..."
"..."
"Your mother definitely gave birth to an idiot... I feel sorry for those wonderful wide hips that had to bring you into this world..."
"No, wait! What do my mother's hips have to do with this, and why are you mentioning them!?"
"I also want to know where those extra details came from, Rudel!!"
"Me too, Rudel-san!"
I understand I went too far with my statement and that the idiot got annoyed, but why you two as well?
Anyway.
Let's get out of here.
I grabbed the idiot by the collar of his shirt and dragged him with me toward the inside of the ship.
He tried to break free, but those girls grabbed his arms so he wouldn't fight.
◇
The enemy fleet's boats had anchored on the cruise ship.
I was hidden with Liam at the back of the lobby, crouched among the crowd.
The sailors didn't even try to defend themselves. I don't know if I can blame them since these guys had long-range rifles while we only had pistols.
Most important ships have a device that activates magical shields that repel monsters and minor attacks. But for some reason, they weren't working. Even Ixion's optical camouflage was somehow affected. He went into hiding, trying to find what was causing it.
At the lobby entrance, there were almost twenty armed guys. They wore black armor; their faces were terrifying. Two stood out.
The one who was clearly a superior by appearance alone and the other who was the captain of these guys.
The guy with the uniform and medals was thin, tall, with brown eyes and hair. His hair was shaped like a coconut; his eyebrows were very thin, almost non-existent. His face showed signs of being in his fifties, with a very strange brush-like mustache.
In contrast, the guy in black armor was much more striking. Its color was jet black, looking like armor made especially for his muscular body. I say he's the captain of these guys since he wears a red cape attached to his shoulder pads that look like frying pans. Unlike the guy next to him, who is shorter than him, this guy seemed to be almost 170 cm tall—the same height as Chlust's red ape.
His face was old, very old—he seemed to be seventy or eighty years old and yet looked very intimidating. His beard and mustache were so long they covered his entire mouth without a trace of his lips. His eyebrows were as thick as his arms. His head was strangely bald in the front, but upon turning sideways to say something to the guy next to him, I noticed the back of his hair was tied in an Eastern-style bun like on the island we were on recently.
It seems the guy with the medals will say something.
"Good afternoon, nobles of the repulsive Kingdom of Altfode. I am the commodore in charge of this fleet. Count Cornello Galliast Askewell."
After his introduction, he told us unnecessary things about his life and why they were here.
Only the last part was important.
"You entered our range of secret tests."
You shouldn't reveal that to us or say they're secret. Is stupidity normal in this world?
"And, coincidentally, you belong to that despicable kingdom. Which is a good opportunity for us. Don't worry; we'll take you as hostages, so if you behave well, we won't harm you."
The voices of these guys rose upon hearing that.
"Thank heavens."
"For a second, I thought I'd die."
"My house will pay a lot since I'm the heir of House Arkwright."
I stood up slightly to observe the coconut-head guy, and for a moment, I saw a terrifying smile on his frog-like lips.
"Of course, I only speak of the one with the highest rank of all. I can't count all of you, so it's hard to take all of you, so the one or those with the highest rank will be taken with us, and the rest will be sold to slave traders."
Suddenly, the students, servants, and sailors began to scream.
"That can't be!"
"I don't want to be a slave!"
"Please, my house will pay anything! My father has been evading taxes for years and makes secret deals!"
(Who said that last part? It's irrelevant, but what the hell?)
The coconut-head spoke again.
"Shut up!!"
"I changed my mind! Bring me only one—the one with the highest rank! If there are several, then the one with the highest income!"
Suddenly, all these bastards fell silent.
Only someone raised their voice and stepped forward.
"In that case, I am the right person."
The person who said it was an idiot.
"My name is Alicelotte von Bismarck, daughter of Duke Bismarck. I offer myself as a hostage only if the students and ship members are not harmed."
(What the hell are you doing, you huge idiot!!)
(I don't have the Brynhild or Battler here with me. We were supposed to just stay as hostages until they arrived so Ixion could destroy them all.)
(Why the hell are you offering yourself as a hostage!? They'll take you to their ship, and who knows what will happen.)
(Did those huge, splendid breasts of yours suck up all your neurons!!?)
I watched from my position as Alicelotte walked toward the guy in the large armor.
For some reason, my body started moving forward upon seeing that scene.
"Wait!"
In a low voice, Liam spoke while being held from behind.
"These guys asked for the one with the highest rank. That means me! Alicelotte is going with them so that no one else goes or tries to use me!"
I don't know what surprises me more—your cowardice or that you can now recognize there are people who use you?
The instant I was about to stop, another voice sounded.
"Alisa, don't go, please!!"
A girl ran through the crowd, and after pushing the people in front away, she shouted.
It was Irisdina.
"I don't know why, but I don't trust them. Please don't go!!"
Alicelotte turned to look at her with a sad face and then a smile before turning her face away.
That angered me more.
"What the hell are you doing!?"
I shouted while running.
Why did you make that sad face knowing what you're getting into?
Immediately, these guys—the students—grabbed me.
"What do you think you're doing!?"
"My lady is sacrificing herself for us!"
After grabbing me, one used earth magic and covered my arms, which were behind my back, with mud that solidified.
My legs were also immobilized with earth magic.
The coconut-head said something to Alicelotte, but I couldn't hear it well.
"What was that?"
"...Nothing."
I used a bit of magical power to stand up and jump toward her.
The guys tried to stop me, but my body was surrounded by physical reinforcement magic and muscle strengthening. So a blow from any part of my body was fatal.
Even though I have a scarce level of magical power, I still have just enough for something like this, only it wouldn't last long.
After hitting and sending many flying, she and the coconut-head were in my sight.
"Alicelotteeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!"
Why am I shouting angrily at her decision?
Is it because she didn't wait for my ship to arrive?
Or...
Because she's not allowing Liam to be in danger?
In any case, I'm furious with her.
Immediately, I tried to free myself while jumping from my position.
The coconut-head saw me and said, "Who is that? Those who get beaten won't be sold as slaves."
Upon hearing that, many students, servants, and even sailors used me as a punching bag.
They stepped on me, kicked me, and even used debris to hit me from the door these guys blew open.
It hurts, a lot.
I can't cover myself, so my head is being kicked too.
I clearly saw how a purple-haired boy in a white uniform kicked my face as if it were a ball.
If it weren't for the reinforcement and strengthening magic, I'd be convulsing from several hemorrhages and internal trauma right now.
"Stop it now!!!"
A woman's voice sounded loud and clear. It was Alicelotte who, with a shout from her, made these bastards stop.
I won't thank you for it.
Even if I used magic to avoid damage, my body couldn't withstand all the impacts.
Blood covered one of my eyes.
With my good eye, I stared intently at Alicelotte, who gave me a smile.
Why are you smiling?
Hey.
Don't smile.
Are you amused by my pain, or are you happy I'm getting beaten up?
She turned toward the coconut-head and said words that annoyed me even more.
"Please, Count—no, Commodore Askewell. There's no need to use violence against a mere commoner."
Commoner! She called me a commoner!?
(What kind of bad joke is that? I'm not a—)
"Guhh~ a commoner. I thought he was a noble and would have executed him immediately for bothering, but if he's a commoner, then this scum isn't worth it. Throw him in a dungeon, and we'll resume our chat about the hostages."
I was thoughtful about that while being grabbed by the sailors.
(If that guy had known I'm a noble, he would have killed me to heighten the fear in the others.)
The purple-haired boy in a white uniform approached me.
(She knew that would happen if she said I was a noble.)
He raised his fist, making a macabre smile.
(She protected me. Why did you do that, Alisa?)
I couldn't finish analyzing what was happening because his fist was buried in my entire face, and after that, I lost consciousness.
◇
Once again, I had that dream I hadn't had in a long time.
It was about my cousin from my previous life.
She had returned home covered in garbage.
She said she had fallen while messing around out there.
I knew it was a lie because she had bruises on her small body.
The next day, I went to her school and waited for her at the entrance.
I waited for her to come out to accompany her home, but... I don't know what else happens because that's where the dream ends, and I wake up.
◇
I opened my eyes, and there was darkness wherever I looked.
The place was clearly a prison—there were bars, storage boxes, and other things. It looked like the jail in some sheriff's office from a movie.
The bed I was resting on was made of what the cows on the farm eat. There wasn't even a sheet or anything to put on top.
I got up and settled to sit and analyze what happened.
(Let's see... some guys came to take us as hostages, and then...)
For some reason, my clothes were dirty and damaged, but my body wasn't.
(That's right! Some bastards beat me up, and I should have serious internal problems. Why am I fine?)
(And more importantly, how much time passed?)
My eyes scanned the room until they saw something out of place.
A person.
Of course, I was scared. I didn't show it, but the panic was visible in my eyes.
I tried to make out who the person sitting on a box near what looks like a door was.
Before I could realize, the person in question lifted their gaze and found me looking at them.
It seemed like a horror movie.
When I was about to ask who they were, they spoke in a very familiar tone.
"I see you've finally woken up."
It was Liam.
"Don't scare me like that," I said without hiding that I was scared at first. There was no light in this place except for what came in through some windows.
For some reason, this kid seems quiet, which doesn't fit him.
"What's wrong?" I asked, puzzled and a little worried, besides the fact that there's a bit of noise upstairs.
Liam was a bit in the clouds and then spoke.
"You were unconscious for thirty minutes. Let me bring you up to date."
"..."
"After taking Alicelotte, that Commodore said it was all a joke."
Huh.
"He said he only wanted her, that there was a mole among us. He didn't point out who, but several girls from Alicelotte's entourage started saying things like 'that's not what they promised me' and 'the minister didn't tell us anything about that; we did it for our families!' Things that students or members of the Kingdom of Altfode shouldn't say."
Huh.
"Before leaving with a smile on his face, he said to finish, 'I forgot, none of you will become slaves because you'll all die in an hour.' He seemed to enjoy seeing our faces after saying that."
"Immediately, those strange flying things that made noise blew up the cockpit and placed a prana bomb on the magic stone that powers the ship. It can't be removed either."
This kid was bringing up more annoying things. Please, my head is hurting.
"After they left, some guys grabbed me and yelled that they'd exchange me for their safety or asylum in their country."
"Then Alicelotte's new fiancé tried to escape in the lifeboats, but before anyone could board, those things blew them up again."
"Since they dragged me outside with them, I could clearly see how one of those strange things had painted on it the flag of the most dangerous mercenary group of recent times. The Black Ouroboros."
(The what?) My mind focused on that strange word. I never heard it in my life, but I feel it's something very bad.
"The students ran in terror all over the place, looking for a way to contact the kingdom or nearby islands."
"...No one responds, so no one can help us. It's not even a trade route for any merchant ship to pass. We're alone and surrounded by enemies."
"And, as the cherry on top. The bomb will explode in an hour, so we have 30 more minutes of life left."
I have no words to describe all the shit you just dumped on me in bomb format.
"Are you telling me all this for something, or what?"
I asked a dejected Liam, and instead, he responded with something else.
"I had something important to tell you, but it doesn't matter anymore. I'll just tell you that you were right about past events."
"...I am still a child. People who seemed honest become savage in dangerous situations where they trample others to save themselves. Loyalty is something that can be sold for monetary value. And I am a hypocrite."
"..."
"I told you things about guaranteeing my safety and letting her sacrifice herself for us... I'm sorry, you were right. I'm just a piece of furniture."
I looked at him in silence as he let out what he had kept inside. I never imagined someone like him would say something like that. It shows how bad the situation is.
What should I do or say at these moments?
Before I could even say anything, he continued his tragic conversation.
"Bradford, I know you and I are on bad terms, but as classmates from the same academy, I'd like to ask you this. Could you save all of us? Right now, you're the only one I trust."
Honestly, I never expected that result. Incredible, truly.
Feelings like that deserve to be reciprocated in the best way.
And that is…
"No~"
"I flatly refuse to help these miserable bastards who beat me and threw me in here. I'm sorry, but I'll escape alone. If you want, I can take you with me. Or you can stay to perish with them."
Huh? What the hell am I saying?
"Why should I help that idiot Alicelotte?"
Stop it. Stop saying absurd things like that.
"If she sacrificed herself, it was for you. It has nothing to do with me."
Seriously, stop saying shit like that.
"I'm sorry, but I'll escape as soon as possible on my own."
Liam looked at me and then stood up to open the door and leave.
"I'm sorry. It seems I didn't take your feelings into account—another failure of mine."
Liam was leaving, and before closing the door, he stopped to say one last thing.
"I forgot. You were very badly injured before coming here. They threw you down the stairs, and I placed you in the cell so you could rest. As I was going up to see what was happening upstairs, a commoner girl came down and used magic I've never seen in my life to heal you."
"That's all. Goodbye, Bradford."
I heard Liam climbing the stairs until his footsteps stopped sounding.
At that moment, I…
"What the hell did I say!?"
…lost my mind.
Abandon the prince?
Leave behind heirs of families of higher rank than me?
Allow the daughter of an Archduke to be executed or worse?
There's no way any of this shit is okay!
The retaliation from the families would make me live in fear!
Mayer-san wouldn't protect me and would accuse me of treason!
And the worst of all: that old wolf Siegwald would hang me with his own hands.
I can't allow any of those things to happen.
I must abandon them.
"No!"
I must flee and say it was an accident.
"Impossible! They'd never believe me!"
The blame for everything is on those girls.
"Damn it, brain! Stop making excuses. Everything is wrong for me if I escape. I must save everyone!"
A great headache came to me after that.
It was so strong it seemed to want to split my head in two.
"Gyaahhh! Now is not the time for this!"
I grabbed the bars and repeatedly hit my head against the cell until I could feel a liquid on the bars dripping down.
"Disappear once and for all, ahhhhhhhhh!!"
After the last hit, the pain disappeared, and I stopped moving for a while.
I reacted after a few moments of thinking, thanks to the blood releasing oxygen from my veins. Weird, but that's how I feel.
"Now I know what I'll do."
Immediately, I called the only one who turned me into the strongest person in the world.
"Ixionnnnnnnnnn."
After my great shout, a metallic black sphere with thin arms descended from above.
"Did you call me, Master?"
"You heard everything, right?"
"Yes. A while ago, I deactivated the bomb. Apparently, it was a mix between magic and science, resulting in something I'll call artificial magic."
"You scare me sometimes. Could you communicate with the outside?"
"It's not possible. They have some device that prevents telecommunications from being possible. It must be on their ship. What do you want to do, Master?"
With a mocking smile, I said, "First, get me out of here."
His red eye glowed, and a laser cut the bars in a square shape.
After the last bar fell, I got out and stretched a bit.
He asked me the same thing again. I made a terrifying grimace to respond.
That's right. I'll do what I do best.
"First, I'll go kick those idiots' asses."
I'll show them that I'm the kind of man who fights dirty.
"Then I'll give those girls a big scolding."
I, Rudel van Bradford, am the kind of man who doesn't enter a fight he can't win...
"And last but not least, I'll make the coconut-head kiss my ass!"
...whether using tricks or not.
________________________
Villain's Awakening Arc concluded.
Now begins the mini-arc: Frontal Battle in the Skies! Black Ouroboros vs. Rudel.