Epilogue
It was the day after the duel and I was inside my room within the boys’ dorms.
I sat on top of my bed.
“I didn’t intend to break it. But, Luxon said that it would be dangerous unless I dismantled it, and anybody would pull the trigger if they were told that Greg could die in front of them. Anyone who wouldn’t pull it would be inhuman. Yet, everyone looks at me with disgust for pulling the trigger. Did I do something wrong? Is this my burden to carry alone?”
While I was grumbling to Luxon, I was looking at the people who would be participating in the ceremony, my parents, my brother Nicks, and my sister who no longer had ties to the viscount household.
My sister’s cat-eared exclusive servant, Meole, was standing by outside the room.
There were guests outside of my family as well, making the relatively spacious room feel cramped.
Anjie looked at me with a troubled expression.
“You’ve been like that since yesterday. Not a good image for a baron. You at least changed into your ceremonial suit, though.”
An apologetic Livia had already talked about my circumstances to my family.
“Leon, a lot of people have been condemning you about yesterday’s duel.”
Everyone had been telling me that I had crossed a line. My mentor was the only one who didn’t criticize me. Being the extraordinary gentleman he was, he kindly said “You must have had some reason for doing it,” to me.
I couldn’t stop my tears in face of my mentor’s kindness.
“Ah~, your tearing up. Look, your ceremonial suit will get stained with tears, so go put a towel to your eyes.”
Clarice was also here for some reason.
It seemed the reason for that was somehow related to the Atlee household. She had spoken about her reason, but at that time I was zoning out and had ignored whatever she said.
In addition, standing there while folding her arms was the queen──no wait, it was Deirdre.
Why was she here?
“How pathetic. The great ambition of the one who fought against the principality is nowhere to be seen.”
“What kind of guy are you?! Can you not hold a dignified appearance just for today?! Also, there have been an increasing number of girls who I don’t know about. What in the world have you gotten yourself into?”
My father, who wore a knight’s ceremonial uniform that didn’t match with his bearded appearance, scolded me while troubled about the group of women. It seemed that he couldn’t help but feel confused about why there were so many wealthy girls in my room.
“Who knows? I’d like to ask that question myself.”
My mother was wearing a dress that she normally wouldn’t wear. It seemed that she felt bothered by all of the prestigious girls.
“R, right. You’re about to receive a medal. You’ll be the star of the show today, so you should be more firm. B, by the way, what are you to these people here?”
Deirdre answered while rolling her hair around her hand.
“He’s the first man who laid his abuse towards me.”
I immediately denied it. What was with this easily charmed upperclassman, and why did she seem so delighted?
“Stop phrasing it so weirdly. Also, why are you all glaring at me? I don’t have any strange hobbies.”
I pulled myself together and sighed.
“Why do I even have to wear a specific suit for today’s ceremony anyways? Wouldn’t my uniform be enough?”
Today’s ceremony only involved handing out congratulatory medals to the students who participated in the battle with the principality.
I was told that the whole school was gathering in the morning to publicly acknowledge them.
So, why were my parents here?
When I made an expression of bewilderment, my brother looked at me with an exhausted face.
“Did you, by any chance, not hear what they said?”
When I nodded my head, Anjie glared at me. She was pretty scary.
Or rather, she had been maintaining a frightening glint in her eyes ever since Deirdre spoke.
Did I do something?
“Oh──I explained it to you yesterday, but did you not listen to it all?”
Livia stood up for me to the angry Anjie.
“Wait. Leon’s hurt. He really planned on losing against his Highness and the others, but ended up winning. So──please forgive him!”
When Livia said that, Anjie once again explained the situation to me.
Thank you for the help, Livia──I’ll get you an amazing necklace for a present. It was supposed to be yours from the start, though. Though, what reason should I come up with to give it to her?
While I pondered about such things, she spoke.
“You were the one who had accomplished the most, Leon.”
“Huh? That’s supposed to be Chris, right?”
Anjie didn’t understand what I was saying.
“It’s true that Chris drove away the Black Knight──at least that’s what people were led to believe, but you were the one who seized her Highness Hertrude, Leon. You also plundered the enemy nation’s new airships and armor. Presenting them to the royal palace was a grand feat. You also saved the students and sailors. Looking at it as a whole, both you and Chris were extraordinary. So you’ll be awarded a genuine medal.”
Livia looked glad.
“You rushed to rescue Anjie by yourself! The people of the duke household praised you for being a knight among knights!”
Huh, that happened? I had those kinds of achievements? What?! Wait a minute!! I never heard about that!
I couldn’t believe what Clarice then said.
“The Atlee household had been vouching for your promotion before as well, but with this event, your merits were acknowledged. Also, Chris’ household had vouched as well. The Field household and Seberg household too had also written a letter of recommendation for you, Leon. Lastly──the Roseblade household as well.”
Deirdre made a loud laughter.
“If you were just all bark and no bite, I would done everything in my power to crush you. However, you carried out your words──just like a genuine knight, and proved yourself as a noble. If we didn’t recognize you, the Roseblade name would lose meaning.”
──Why did they all do this to me?! I wasn’t happy at all!
While I stiffened, Livia spoke to me with a smile.
“You’re amazing, Leon! From today, you’ll be in the ‘lower fourth rank’ as a ‘viscount.’ Rumors have spread about you in the royal capital, and you’re like a hero, Leon.”
I couldn’t comprehend what Livia had said. My mind refused to comprehend.
A, a viscount? A hero? How strange. That was impossible! That shouldn’t have happened!!
My sister was there in the corner of the room, getting smaller and smaller. She was distressed when hearing about me being a viscount. She was probably remembering about the boy she definitely couldn’t marry. She was letting her feelings of resentment show.
I calmed down a bit after seeing my sister like that. Right, now that I had regain my composure, I would be able to cope with most of these things.
“Why? Even though he said he’d get married, he rejected both my friend and me. Wasn’t he a little too cruel to say ‘No, not a chance’?”
As a matter of fact, I was actually acquainted with the upperclassman my sister had a crush on. The place I sold the sky pirates to was the household that both my sister and her friend wanted to get married into.
I heard a lot, but it seemed that there were other partners than my sister and her best friend.
I smiled and spoke as if I didn’t care about my sister.
This would make up for how much a nuisance she had been. As her brother, I will make her apologize for being an awful sister.
In addition, it seemed that my sister had reconciled with her friend.
Apparently, that they reconciled once they both complained about their anger towards the man they had been aiming for.
──Who was it that said a friendship between girls would be short-lived? Their relationship had gotten stronger!
I collapsed onto my bed and lied down.
“This is just a dream. Once I wake up, I’ll be at the beginning of my school life, the school entrance ceremony. Daniel, Raymond, and I will all grumble about how hard it is to get married. My mentor will guide me towards the Way of Tea, I’ll challenge the dungeon in order to buy a new tea set, then I’ll find a modest but kind girl with big breasts, save her when she’s in a pinch, and have her fall in love with me. I’ll safely spend three years with the those breasts, marry her, and then return to my home town. We’ll happily spend our time soaking in hot springs and eating Japanese food. A viscount? You must be mistaking me for someone else.”
Seeing my desires leaking out, my older sister clicked her tongue.
“You really a hopeless man. Just what do you think of women? You’re the worst.”
My older brother was cruel as well.
“In the end, you’re just getting married for her breasts.”
My father also acted cruelly.
“What matters most is her bottom, you know? A round bottom, just like the one your mother──ouch!”
“You!”
My mother slapped my father, who had ended up saying something extreme. Way to go, do some more to him.
Clarice showed some interest.
“Oh, you have a hot spring? How nice.”
Anjie glared at her.
“What do you mean by that?”
Clarice maintained her composure towards Anjie.
“Oh my, could it be that you’re bothered?”
I thought of Clarice as being a little cute, but Anjie’s glare was staggering, so I averted my eyes.
Deirdre heard about the hot springs.
“So that’s what suits your fancy. I can buy each and every floating island with one for you.”
Livia seemed troubled.
“Huh? Well, but, buying an island is a bit much.”
“The Roseblade household has that much fortune.”
Anjie spoke quietly.
“Oh, you’ll just buy an island? Leon has a relationship with a duke household. Do you not know that, Deirdre?”
“Anjielica, that face of yours──it’s giving me the shivers.”
This person was definitely abnormal.
Anyways, could I not bail out of this ceremony and make everyone go home? Livia was slightly angry while trying to have me get up. “Leon, the ceremony is about to begin, so hurry and get going! C’mon, get up.” Anjie averted her gaze from the two she had been glaring at and turned towards me. She pulled on my arm, getting me off of the bed with Livia. “Look, you should go. Your father and older brother will be participating in this ceremony. They both admire you, Leon.” ──This wasn’t how things were supposed to go!
◇
It was the first day of winter break. A grand ceremony was held at the academy. The young students were awarded medals for their efforts, beginning with a baron who played an active role in the battle against the principality. Many schoolboys were recognized as knights, and many girls would be receiving just the medal, but would also get an annuity. The boys weren’t given an annuity, but that just went to show how severe this world was. In addition, Leon Fou Baltfault had risen in rank. He had received a large promotion to the lower fourth rank. Leon was the only one in the history of the kingdom to get promoted this much in such a short period of time.
There were reasons for his promotion, but the fight with the principality was the largest factor.
In addition, his promotion had also resulted from the letters of recommendation by numerous prestigious families, beginning with the Field, Seberg, and Arkwright households.
On this day, Leon carved his name into the history of the kingdom.
◇
After the ceremony ended, I loosened up the collar of my knight uniform and fled towards the back of the school building.
The back of the school building was in the shade, and that combined with the weather made it cold.
I was getting a headache from both the party and from my thoughts about what would happen from now on.
“Why did things come to this?”
Luxon, who was by my side, acted the same as ever.
[It would have been better if you hadn’t done anything.]
“The stupidity of those guys has gone beyond my expectations. I’m not getting involved with them again.”
Was it bad to get involved with Julian and the others? At any rate, my heart calmed down while speaking with Luxon.
I was at my wits’ end.
“What does being a viscount mean? What about the lower fourth rank? What in the world am I expected to do?!”
Even if people were expecting a lot from me, there wasn’t much I could do!
As I was wallowing in sadness alone, Livia came to the back of the school building, looking for me. Come to think of it, this was the place Livia originally occupied when she had been in low spirits before. “Ah, so you were here, Leon.” “Livia──”
I suddenly became embarrassed since this was the first time we’ve been alone ever since the fight with the principality. Somehow or another, we had been operating with Anjie there as well.
No, we had been deliberately operating as a group of three. However, I remember what she confessed to when we were alone. Perhaps remembering the same, Livia’s face turned a little red. “U, um!” “Y, yes?!” Since Livia had raised her voice, I replied while surprised. Livia took one deep breath and then made a very wholesome smile. “Perhaps I may be a bother to you Leon, but what I said back then wasn’t a lie.” “──You’re not a bother. However, I don’t know what’s the best thing to do.” Livia made an awkward smile. “You’ve been avoiding me, haven’t you?” “I just wasn’t sure on what I should say.”
As I dropped my shoulders, Luxon beside me said something along the lines of [You’re quite pathetic, Master.] I wanted to throw this ball thing.
Livia held onto my hand.
“Please give me your answer someday. I’ll be waiting until then.”
“──Livia.”
“Now then, let’s go. Everyone’s waiting.”
With Livia leading me by the hand, I was taken out from the shadow of the school building.
◇
It was winter break.
I returned home, looking at the new residence.
The countryside was nice. It felt like the events that transpired in the city were all lies.
This location was tenderly welcoming me.
“Quite the large residence.”
My father, who was embarrassed yet prideful, was very delighted.
“The number of visiting guests have increased. I wanted to greet you to our tidied home, so I had been working hard. I owe it to you.”
My parents had a large amount of money, so they had been sending me a small allowance, but it seemed that most of it went towards rebuilding the residence.
The former residence was──how do I say it? Oh, I got it. Let’s just say that it had only kept up appearances.
My older brother made a complex facial expression when hearing about our rooms from my father.
“Though I won’t be able to come back here that often after graduation, this feels a little nice.”
My older sister, who seemed dissatisfied, broke the serene mood.
“──What about Meole’s room?”
My father was troubled. It seemed that he didn’t think Meole would need a room.
“Huh? We have a room for servants.”
My sister got mad.
“Are you saying that he’ll use the same room as the residence’s servants? Normally, people would prepare exclusive-use rooms. Besides, if you were going to rebuild the residence, then tell me. Since there’s room, I could have brought Meole.”
It seemed that this time Meole was house-watching back at the academy.
“W, well, I wanted to surprise you.”
“You need to pay more attention to people’s needs. Leaving that aside, did you touch my room without permission?”
My sister scolded my father.
My mother stood up for him.
“I was the one that tidied up your room. So don’t worry.”
“No! Why did you touch it without my permission?! If you were going to rebuild the residence, then you should’ve contacted me! Leon could have dropped me off here!”
I spat. My brother criticized me. “You idiot. Stay out of this or you might complicate things.” “Is it okay if I knock some sense into her?” “I know how you feel, but control yourself. Look, she’s only angry because she was rejected by a boy.” I suppose. She gave me a good laugh when I saw her getting rejected along with her best friend, so I decided to turn a blind eye to this matter today. ──I’ll use this topic to poke fun at her for a while. After watching my sister angrily enter the residence, we placed our hands on our depressed father’s back and made compliments about the mansion. Coming back to look at the status of the territory after a long time, a lot of development had happened. At this rate, it seemed that it would make for a splendid baron household in a matter of two years.
◇
──Greg regained consciousness the day after the duel. When he opened his eyes within the medical office, he saw Julian and the others gathering around. “Greg! Hey, wake up!” While Brad was calling out to him, Greg could presume what the result of the duel was, judging by how he was in the medical office. “Sorry, everyone. We lost because of me.”
Jilk smiled in response to what Greg said.
“We were the ones who left it to you. If you lost, then it’s everyone’s defeat. Besides, we also misjudged his strength.”
The craftsman who claimed to have had experience with armor was also to blame. He was a con artist, but the five weren’t aware of it.
Julian spoke to the depressed Greg.
“Don’t feel down. There’s always next time.”
“Your Highness?”
“It’s fine if you call me Julian. Greg, we’ll challenge Baltfault again. We’d like it if you could lend a hand as well.”
Greg sat up and made a slight smile.
“As if I can be the only one withdrawing when everyone else is so eager.
I’ll help you again and again, Julian!”
Chris took off his glasses and wiped his tears.
He devoted himself to being the cool character.
Greg looked around.
“Is Marie not here?”
Brad shrugged his shoulders.
“Yeah, it seems that she’s busy with a bunch of things. She spoke with
Kyle about something. Furthermore──”
Brad, remembering what Marie had asked of him, checked something with Greg.
“Greg, among the sky pirates from earlier, there was the leader that Baltfault defeated, right?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Did you see Baltfault taking a necklace from the armor that the sky pirate leader was using?”
Greg recalled that Leon took something out from a sky pirate’s armor.
“I don’t know if it was a necklace, but Baltfault was saying something. It seemed that the opponent stressed out about something being taken. What about it?”
Brad pondered.
“Well, Marie asked me about it. When I told her that the opponents belonged to Winged Shark, she made a very serious face. It seemed that she was very invested in the topic.”
Greg put his hand over his chin.
“A necklace? Marie had shown me a ‘bracelet’ beforehand. She also had a pretty serious expression at that time. Perhaps the two might be connected.”
Chris nodded.
“It seems that she found it in the royal capital’s dungeon. It’s probable that there’s a relationship.”
Julian worried about Marie.
“I hope that she doesn’t do anything rash, but they seem like important objects for some reason.”
Julian noticed Jilk’s serious face and called out to him.
“What’s wrong?”
“I recall Marie going to the temple recently. She’s hiding something from us. Then again, perhaps I’m overthinking it.”
Since the five couldn’t figure out an answer, the topic ended there, and they then got excited discussing about what present they should give to Marie next time.
◇
My father and his legal wife, Zola, were inside the newly built residence.
Zola, with a cocky attitude, was accompanied by a distinguished priest from a temple. The priest was a woman wearing round glasses.
She seemed to be on close terms with Zola.
“You scoundrel! Return the temple’s treasure!”
I was suddenly summoned and labeled as a thief.
“Huh? The temple’s treasure?”
While pondering about what she was saying, I had just come back from working in the fields, my shoes dripping with mud. The priest saw the attitude I was taking and said “What’s that smell?” She definitely seemed like a woman raised in the city.
I judged that personality-wise, she was the same as Zola.
The priest cleared her throat.
“Viscount Baltfault, you’ve suppressed a group of sky pirates before, right?”
Armed temple knights had been placed outside the residence, causing my mother and father to be very wary.
My sisters, the second and third daughters of the household, didn’t leave the house.
My brother had gone to a different field and wasn’t at this location.
“I subdued them. What about it?”
The priest’s face turned red as she shouted.
“Those sky pirates had taken a treasure from the temple! They must have had it! It’s a necklace etched with the temple’s crest! I have testimony that the sky pirates possessed it, and that you took it!”
Should I have kept silent about it?
Well, there were more pressing matters to deal with right now.
“So why are you acting like I’m a thief? I have a right to own whatever treasure I obtain from the sky pirates. That’s the kingdom’s law.”
What I said seemed unfair, but I did have the legal right. I wasn’t the one in the wrong.
The priest was enraged in response to my objection.
“Since the temple’s emblem was engraved on it, that should tell you to return it to the temple!”
What kind of irrational argument was that?
What was common sense to her was absurdity to me.
I thought about driving her away, but I was currently unarmed. In contrast, the other side had many armed knights and I could see an airship in the distance.
Luxon communicated with me.
[Master, unfortunately, you might have to give in.]
I waited for Luxon to explain.
[It’s easy to cut your way through this place. However, there’s a fatal problem with that in terms of the peaceful life you like. Based on what you said before about your objectives, you’ll have the fewest problems if you hand it over.]
The religious organization of the temple also possessed military strength, but it seemed that they had gathered quite a lot of people here.
As Luxon said, they had more than enough war potential to take on a baron household.
They had quite the fighting spirit.
I listened to Luxon’s explanation while ignoring the boisterous priest.
[It is not a good idea to take an aggressive position against the might of the temple. They’re the organization who wields the authority to recognize Olivia as a saint, right?]
Religion was quite the annoying thing, wasn’t it? Indeed, it wasn’t a profitable plan to go against them.
I had also thought about preparing a counterfeit of the necklace, but──
[They’ll see through any replica.]
I held back the urge to click my tongue and glared at Zola. Her triumphant smile infuriated me.
“I’ll go ahead and get it, so stay put.”
Thereupon, the priest spoke to me.
“I’ve heard that Viscounts hoard quite a lot. Preferably, you should donate your fortunes to the temple.”
Zola agreed with the arrogant priest.
“She’s right. Nobles cannot disobey the temple.”
However, Luxon spoke.
[That you can refuse. It seems that the matter of the donation is unrelated to the organization. I assume that she made that demand herself.]
It seemed that Luxon managed to get drones to sneak into the temple’s airship and gather information.
They seemed to have gathered because of the temple’s treasure that I had. According to their reports, a diabolical knight was concealing the treasure of the temple. It was also stated that a fight may be possible and warned then to exercise extreme caution.
That meant they were scared of me, someone who repelled a principality’s army by himself.
Furthermore──diabolical? Who was the heinous one here?
“I’ll think about it.”
When I said that, the two exchanged glances with a grin and whispered to each other. They were probably discussing their share of the assets, but I never said that I would hand them over to anyone.
I thought about it, and since I didn’t really want to hand them over, I wouldn’t.
Whatever floats their boat, though.
Luxon and I took the necklace and brought it to the two──not. I brought it to an official of the temple who was at the harbor.
◇
A general in his forties was at the harbor.
Perhaps having heard the rumors about me and my rapid promotions, he was awfully tense.
“Are you in charge here?”
“Yes. I lead this fleet. Viscount Baltfault, if possible, I’d like to avoid any rough behavior. Could you please return the treasure of the temple?”
They could have just said that from the beginning.
When I showed him the necklace, the general’s eyes went wide and soon called for an appraiser. The appraiser confirmed that it was the right necklace and violently shook his head.
“T, there is no doubt. It’s just like the legend had said!”
The general trembled when hearing that.
“T, this is the lost treasure!”
If was such an important item, then they should properly safekeep it at the temple.
I spoke to the general.
“Leaving that aside, take back all of the people you’ve brought to the residence. I’m in a bit of a pickle since I was told to take out more treasure in addition to the one you came here for.”
The general was surprised at what I said.
“T, that is inexcusable! We only came here for the necklace. I’ll soon get everyone to leave.”
It seemed that they didn’t intend on fighting.
Luxon sure is convenient. Things ended without any needless battles.
Anyways, since the treasure was now in the temple’s hands, I suppose it would do good to quickly go into the dungeon and retrieve the bracelet. The general, having received the necklace, was relieved.
“It seems you’re different from what the rumors say.” “Rumors?” “I heard that you were outrageously arrogant. I suppose the saint being angry at you is reasonable, but you’re calmer than what the rumors suggest.” ──What did he say just now? “Wait a minute. Saint?” “──Ah.” The general leaked some information due to his relief, causing the surrounding people to facepalm. I pressed the general. “Are you saying that──you found the saint?” Perhaps it was Livia──or so I thought. However, the name that came out of the general’s mouth was too shocking. It was improbable. Impossible. “I believe you’re acquaintances with her, but──she is ‘Marie Fou Lafuan’. She showed up in the royal capital’s temple with the similarly lost bracelet.” How had she obtained the bracelet? I could still accept it if it was just that she had it. That wouldn’t have been a problem as long as it fell into Livia’s hands. However──however, it was impossible that she would be labeled as a saint. She was someone who reincarnated here. I couldn’t tolerate how she skillfully ensnared the five guys, but I could understand how it happened. However, I could not allow her to name herself as a saint.
If she had knowledge about the game──and if she cleared the game, then she had to have known that her actions were absolutely forbidden.
After all, what would be necessary in the end was not the power of the saint, but the power of Livia herself.
“Marie is the saint?”
“Indeed. She’s a sacred user of healing magic, and her abilities already exceed that of the priests. The cane’s response to Marie──”
A nearby personnel then cautioned the blabbermouthed general.
The general realized that he had said too much.
“E, excuse me. Now then, with this, we will withdraw. The priest will take these people and carry them back.”
I stood still, watching them leave, until they were no longer in sight.
Then, Luxon soon contacted me.
[What happened?]
“Marie became the saint. That tramp, I definitely won’t forgive her.”
◇
Anjie and Livia were at the duke household’s domain.
They went to a horseback riding facility near the residence.
Anjie watched Livia, who was frightened to be on a horse.
“See, it’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“It’s high up here. It’s higher than I thought!”
“I wouldn’t really call an elevation of that degree as being high.”
It was winter break.
Anjie, who had invited Livia to the residence, taught her how to ride a horse.
“Second year students will have practical tests like these as well, not just academic tests. You should get accustomed to this.”
Livia, who was trembling, had no problems in terms of her academic abilities. However, she had problems in areas other than that.
Since Livia had asked about what she should do, Anjie decided to guide her.
The two actually wondered whether to go to Leon’s household, but Leon held them back since he was busy with launching the factory and other such things.
“Look, your posture is worsening.”
As she was instructing the frightened Livia, snow began to fall.
(It’s quite early this year.)
Anjie yearned for the hot spring in Leon’s territory.
Then, Leon’s face came to mind. At the same time, she remembered the clamor from before the ceremony.
(His own father and mother were trying to win Leon over as well──but Clarice and Deirdre are scheming something. Wouldn’t it be better for him to find a partner soon? Leaving out relatives, who would become Leon’s bride? Now that he’s a viscount, would it still be difficult to find someone who matches with him?)
Leon’s options for marriage had widened.
When he was still a baron, he would have had to marry a girl from a fellow baron household, but now he could marry a viscount girl.
However, as a viscount, girls from baron households below and earl households above were also viable candidates.
There were also margraves, but at any rate, his options had expanded.
As expected, he still couldn’t match up with a duke household, but it was now possible that he could marry an earl family’s daughter.
At the same time, there would also be many girls who would try to approach him. A third of all the students had seen the active role Leon had taken back then.
Even if they hadn’t seen the fight, anybody who thought for a bit would realize who it was that defeated the Black Knight.
In addition to Leon’s role in the battle with the principality, there was also the matter of his status as a viscount. He was in the lower fourth rank. He possessed a giant airship named Partner and a unit of armor named Arroganz that defeated the Black Knight. She wondered what a nearby girl who had seen him, or any girl who had caught wind of the rumors, would think.
Anjie was troubled.
(What could Clarice and Deirdre be after? Certainly, they would be able a match for him in marriage. However, handing Leon over to them is──)
Anjie, who felt strangely uncertain, shook her head.
Upon which, Livia, who seemed ready to cry, asked Anjie for help.
“Anjie. I think I’m getting a leg cramp.”
“C, could it be that you don’t get much exercise?”
After coming to the academy, Livia, who was normally the indoors type, didn’t have many chances to move her body anymore like she had when she helped around her household.
Due to that, her endurance had diminished.
“How inconvenient. At this rate, it’ll be hard to conquer the dungeon before graduating.”
“Conquering a dungeon? U, um, wouldn’t it be bad to conquer the royal capital’s dungeon since it would disappear if you do that?”
Anjie explained while getting Livia down from the horse.
“Even though I said conquer, I meant getting to the thirtieth underground floor. You’ll be judged as a fully fledged adult if you make it there. On the other hand, if you don’t reach that point, you’ll always be seen as half a person. You could also hire escorts. However, it would be difficult to travel there and back without having any physical strength.”
Conquering the dungeon was necessary unless there was a special reason. It was also a requirement for graduating the academy.
Livia dropped her shoulders upon hearing that.
“I, I’ll do my best.”
Anjie chuckled while hugging Livia, whose legs were shaking.
“You’re trembling, aren’t you? All things considered, you’re pretty genial, Livia.”
“Anjie, don’t hug me that tightly.”
Maids and guards were watching over the two as they interacted.
◇
The temple had a room for noble visitors.
Marie put her arms behind the back of a sofa and looked over at a low table with her legs crossed.
“Hehe, I finally got it.”
Marie, who had obtained the necklace, immediately put it around her neck. A bracelet, the “Holy Bracelet”, glittered around her left wrist. The “Holy Necklace” decorated her neck. Furthermore, standing nearby was the “Saint’s Cane”. Marie displayed a definite reaction to them.
“I took away the protagonist’s position, but there’s no problem with me being the saint in the first place. I mean, healing magic is my strong point. I worked hard to learn it.”
Her efforts to learn healing magic were fueled by the cruelty of her viscount household. Whenever Marie slipped away from the hands of her brutal parents and her heartless siblings, she would temper her healing magic.
Being a person who reincarnated, she used her knowledge as a player of that otome game to learn it.
Marie’s knowledge definitely came from the game.
“In the cutscenes, things were okay as long as the saint prayed──so if anything happens, I can deal with them instead. So please let me have this, Olivia, since nothing good has ever happened to me up until now.”
For someone who reincarnated here──Marie’s knowledge mostly came from cutscenes and CGs. In addition, she had some information from a walkthrough online, though it was incomplete.
After all, she gave up midway when the game became difficult.
The one who cleared it was her “older brother” from her previous life.
“Even so, it was hard. It was extremely risky to retrieve the bracelet, and furthermore, I had a hard time persuading the people in the temple.”
There was also one other factor.
“There was also that mob who defeated the sky pirates. There were some people who confirmed that he had the necklace. Could it be that the boy knows something?”
In the first place, Marie wasn’t familiar with the Baltfault family name.
It did not appear in the game.
“It’s also unnatural that he helped Anjelica. Besides that, there’s his strong armor. Wait, maybe he’s the same as me? Is that why he’s been getting in my way? I definitely won’t forgive him!”
Enraged, Marie pondered about how she could get revenge.
“However──I’m in a better position now. Though he similarly reincarnated here and has been rising through the ranks, I’m now in a position to become the queen in the future. I’ll make Julian the crown prince again and become the queen no matter what! The city of my dreams, a grand and luxurious life awaits me!”
Leon and Marie were very similar.
However, their goals were different.
Leon aimed for a modest life at the countryside while Marie wanted an extravagant life at the royal capital.
“I’ll have beautiful men serving me and live almost every day lavishly. I had a rough time in my previous life as well, so I should be allowed to do this much. The protagonist suits that mob. Huh? In that case, isn’t it fine to leave them alone as it is? No, I can’t. My anger isn’t settling.”
Marie recalled her previous life.
“My previous life really was painful. I worked in a night-time entertainment establishment, and though I got some popularity, I got mixed up with worthless men──ah, I wonder why such misfortune had befallen upon me.”
She had experience with working in the night-time entertainment industry.
In her previous life, she had polished her skills in ensnaring good-for-nothing men.
Marie’s ensnaring of the five boys was more than just her appearance, but also largely due to her previous life experience.
Marie got up and smiled. “I’ll definitely find happiness in this world!”
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