Volume 9, Chapter 9 “The End of Zora Family”
Volume 9, Chapter 9 “The End of Zora Family”
Part 1
Finley, who had been rampaging wildly, was taking a breath heavy on his shoulder, covered in blood.
I had no idea that my sister was so terrifying.
It’s like a Berserker who loves fighting and lives for fighting.
Zora and Merce are lying on the ground by Finley’s side, battered and badly injured.
“My sister is scary”
When I mutter my honest impression, Luxion comes to my side.
[She has excellent warrior qualities. However, the future will be a little rough.]
“Rough? When it’s already rough?”
[Let’s talk about it later. More importantly――]
As Luxion pointed the red lens at Zora, Lutoart, who had regained consciousness, was approaching her.
“M-Mother――”
Is he trying to save Zora? These guys seem to have a parent-child affection.
Luxion shouted as I tried to watch until the soldiers to capture him arrived.
“A faint reaction from the demonic armor? Master, Zora is holding a piece of the armor!”
“What ?! Everyone, get out of here now! Oscar, you protect those two.”
I pushed Finley backwards and hurriedly readied my rifle.
Zora was holding something in her hand.
Zora thrusts it, sharp as a shard of glass, into Lutoart’s neck as he approaches.
Lutoart was surprised.
“Mother――W-Why?”
After stabbing his son, Lutoart, with a piece of the demonic armor, Zora looked at me and smiled broadly as if she had won.
“You let your guard down! Lutoart, you’ve been a useless fool, but in the end, you’ll be of use to your mother in this way. I’m going to run away while you’re fighting.”
As Zora staggered to her feet, it seemed that she intended to use Lutoart, who was suffering from a piece of demonic armor that had pierced him, to buy time so that she could escape.
Merce was also standing up.
She held her face in her hands and stared at us through the gap between her fingers.
“I’ll kill you. I’ll definitely come back and kill you!”
As Merce tried to run away with Zora, Lutoart reached out and grabbed her ankle.
“Help me――Ane-ue”
Merce kicks at Lutoart, who asks for help.
“Let me go, you fool!”
They were about to abandon Lutoart and escape from the hideout.
His appearance, Lutoart’s behavior became strange.
He started to giggle, and a number of flesh eyes appeared on his back.
Lutoart’s limbs extended as his body was consumed by the demonic armor.
The tip became sharp and a large mouth appeared on his abdomen.
From the beginning, he could not keep his human form, but changed into a different form.
“Lutoart, you”
I eject the loaded rounds from my rifle and replace the magazine.
Lutoart had turned his body to Zora and Merce, who were trying to escape rather than us.
Zora and Merce are falling on their butts in front of the transformed Lutoart.
“D-Don’t come here!”
“Go over there! The enemy is over there!”
Hearing their words, Lutoart, his neck stretched out, smiled eerily.
“――Looks delicious”
Lutoart’s gigantic body jumped straight at the two of them.
I take the three of them outside while Lutoart’s attention is on the two of them.
“Let’s get out of here!”
As I hurried up the stairs that led to the ground, I even heard a sound I didn’t want to hear along with a woman’s scream from behind me.
Finley shouts.
“What’s that monster!”
Oscar had picked up Jenna like a princess and was running.
“I also don’t know anything about it!”
As for Jenna, she hugged Oskar tightly even at this moment.
“Everyone, hurry up!”
We got to the ground and went straight out of the building.
Outside was getting brighter, it was already dawn.
“Luxion, what about Lutoart?”
Luxion’s red lens glows.
[He’s already on the ground]
As soon as Luxion said that, the building collapsed and the monster that was Lutoart came out of it.
There was no trace of Lutoart left whatsoever.
The lump of flesh had a large mouth and five tentacles growing out of it.
I was horrified at the sight of him looking at me and licking his tongue.
“Oscar, take the two of them and back off!”
“Y-Yes!”
Oscar holds Jenna and leaves the scene with Finley.
Lutoart was looking at me.
And with a monster’s mouth.
“All mine. The position, the wealth, and the power ―― It’s all mine”
Luxion dutifully explains Lutoart’s feelings as he approaches me and says it’s all his.
[I think he was jealous of the Master. He thought he could have your title, your fortune, and even my power. It’s really beyond help.]
“Totally”
While avoiding Lutoart’s tentacle-wielding attack, I shot him with my rifle and the spot where the bullet landed exploded.
One of the tentacles blows off, and Lutoart starts to run wild.
When the four-meter-long Lutoart went into a rampage, it engulfed the surrounding buildings and destroyed them, creating a terrible cloud of debris and dust.
“There’s a part of me that feels sorry for you. I’ll finish you off quickly.”
I held up my rifle and Lutoart jumped on me.
It jumps up high with its huge body and tries to crush me and eat me.
I quickly moved to avoid it, and Lutoart, who had his big mouth pointed at me, shouted.
“Everything is mine! What’s Leon’s is mine! All of them ―― even those girls”
“――Ah?”
I couldn’t forgive Lutoart’s line, so I quickly readied my rifle and pulled the trigger.
Not one shot, but all the bullets in the magazine.
When the bullet landed, the area exploded, and most of Lutoart’s body was blown away.
“GYAAAaAAaAAa!!”
Lutoart seemed to be screaming as he writhed in pain and destroyed his surroundings. Then he dripped a large amount of black liquid and quickly stopped moving.
“It’s over”
Luxion speaks to me in a tone of amazement at my anger.
[Did you become enraged when you were told that Angelica and the others would be taken from you?]
“――Shut up”
[Rather than being enraged, you should stop wooing Milene in front of them.]
“Like I said, it was just to reassure her.”
[You usually hit on her, though? Well, it seems like it’s all over.]
I heard Greg’s voice from a distance.
“O~i!”
Greg is riding on the back of Jilk’s air bike, and when I look up at the sky, I can see Einhorn and the armor Chris is riding in.
Apparently, they worked well.
I look at the pieces of demonic armor that remain after Lutoart disappears.
“Even so, where did they get all this stuff?”
[The Holy Kingdom of Rachel is suspicious. That being said――]
Luxion called the main body up into the sky ―― and irradiated it with a laser to make the debris that was lying around disappear.
[――This made me feel refreshed.]
I let out a sigh of amazement at my partner who seemed to feel like he had accomplished his task.
“You never change”
Looking up, I saw that the huge spaceship had blended into the surrounding landscape with its optical camouflage.
It was only slightly uncomfortable, but if I hadn’t been told, it would have looked like a normal sky.
I put the rifle on my shoulder.
“The demonic armor wasn’t a threat, except for Herring. The old black knight was still more terrifying.”
In response to my impression, Luxion gave his theory.
[The size of the fragments of the demonic armor has a significant effect, but I think it is also greatly influenced by the specs of the user.]
“Because Lutoart was weak, was he still weak when he turned into a monster with demonic armor?”
[I guess that’s the price you pay for taking on a great power you can’t handle. It is wrong to rely on demonic armor in the first place.]
The price of great power, huh.
Then what did I pay for to get Luxion?
Or will I lose something in the future?
――Well, there’s no point in thinking too much about it, and it’s not really suitable for me.
.
Part 2
“You tricked me, Roland!”
Audience room.
I grabbed Roland by the chest and screamed as I squeezed him, who was sitting on his throne with his legs crossed.
After all, it was only natural that Roland, who I had thought would not be around much longer, would show up in good health when the commotion was over and the cleanup was almost complete.
Roland seems to be having a lot of fun even though I’m grabbing him by the chest.
“I feel good today, so I’ll forgive you for your disrespectful behavior at the award ceremony.”
A riot in the royal capital has been suppressed, and a merit award is to be given.
So now we have the nobles and soldiers who participated in the suppression.
They are also bewildered when Roland, who was dying of poison, appears.
The same goes for the royalty at his side.
Milene was holding her mouth with both hands, and Julius and Jake had ―― “Ah~, I knew it” kind of looks on their faces.
These guys seemed to think that Roland was a man who wouldn’t die even if they tried to kill him.
Minister Bernard and others looked either dismayed or indifferent.
I question Roland.
“Did you lie to me about dying of poisoning?!”
“Idiot. It’s true that I was poisoned, and it’s true that I’m sick. But when it was all over, I was strangely restored to health. In the meantime, I’m heartbroken for all the trouble you’ve all gone through.”
I felt my gut churning at the lie that was being spoken.
“You――Did you deceive me?”
“Remember this, kid. In this world, it’s the deceived who are bad. I have a certain amount of appreciation for your devotion. I’ll give you credit for successfully crushing Raschel’s ambitions and eliminating the troublesome people who were lurking in the capital”
I looked at Roland, who was grinning at me, and I started to break out in a cold sweat.
“Wait a minute”
“I’m afraid I can’t grant you that wish. ―― Marquis Bartofalt will be raised to the rank of Duke for his services!”
“Wha?!”
I thought I would never rise any higher, but I was awarded a further title.
Roland pushed me away with his hand and stood up from his throne, waving happily.
“Rejoice, kid! The Holy Kingdom of Raschel’s anger has reached its limit after you defeated the Holy Knight. The bounty was raised by the Holy King’s order to the equivalent of 10 million Dia. This amount is unprecedented even in neighboring countries. That’s amazing, a celebrity!”
Ten million Dia. In Japanese yen, that’s a billion yen on me.
It seems that when the Holy Kingdom of Raschel learned that their plan had failed, they immediately raised the bounty on me.
“T-Ten million”
I hate the look of happiness on Roland’s face.
As I staggered back a few steps, Roland came up to me, put his hand on my shoulder and gave me a whisper.
“Thank you for taking care of all that trouble. How does it feel to be promoted and placed alongside the Redgrave Family? I’d love to hear about it.”
“――It sucks”
When I stared at Roland, he gave me a hateable big smile.
“It was worth all the hard work just to hear you say that.”
While everyone around me looked at Roland with a complicated look on their face, I swore that I would get revenge on this guy.
.
Part 3
“Roland is my enemy”
After finishing the Distinguished Service Award, I returned to the waiting room, sitting in a chair, hunched over and folded my hands.
While I was thinking about how to get revenge on him, Livia, who was in the room, seemed troubled and smiled at me.
“It’s only Leon-san who can call His Majesty an enemy.”
“He’s been resented by a lot of people, so everyone is complaining behind the scenes.”
That bastard put me in charge of all the trouble, while he rested.
When the people in the audience room found out, they looked as if they were chewing on a bitter bug.
Milene-san had a cold, expressionless look on her face as she looked at Roland.
Are those the kind of eyes that look at filth?
If there was a flaw in the perfect Milene-san, it would be the fact that her husband was Roland.
Noelle, who is in the room and sitting with the backrest in her arms, laughs at my hatred of Roland.
“Leon may not like it, but you know what. The fact that you are allowed to do something like that to the king is proof that you are recognized.”
“And the result is a Duke. Where did I go wrong in life to be on par with Ange’s family?”
I look out the window with distant eyes, and Noelle shrugs her shoulders.
“Are you really that unhappy about getting a promotion? Isn’t it like a margin of error when you rise to this level?”
“There is a big difference between a Marquis and a Duke! ―― Are? Is there, right?”
Ask Angers for help with his arms crossed against the wall and he will explain that my perception is correct.
“It’s not an error. There are three Dukes of the Lords and Nobles in the Kingdom today. My parents’ house, Duke Redgrave, and the former Principality, the Duke Fannos. And there’s Leon’s Duke Bartofalt. As a lord and nobleman in the service of the kingdom, you’ve become one of only three dukes.”
Higher than the Duke is the Grand Duke, who is considered a nation.
However, there is no Grand Duke in the Kingdom of Horfalt today.
In other words, I’m in a position that only a few people in the kingdom have, in terms of titles alone.
I hold my head.
“This is terrible. I worked so hard, but he’s giving me a promotion, what a demon.”
As I was lamenting, Ange had an indescribable look on her face.
“All that hard work has gotten you a promotion, right? In the first place, Leon has gone too far. What do you want to do by showing off Luxion’s performance?”
Luxion was floating in the room, watching us, and even he was amazed when our eyes were drawn to him.
[It was Master’s fault for not thinking deeply. Roland was dying, and it was wrong of you to give it your all because it was his last request.]
“Don’t tell me, you know Roland was okay?”
[No, Roland was poisoned.]
“Eh?”
.
Part 4
When Leon was suffering from his promotion.
Roland was drinking in his room.
“Did you see that kid’s face, Fred! Kah! Today’s sake is the best!”
The man Roland was drinking with was his friend Fred, who had concocted the poison.
Why are Roland and Fred drinking together in the daytime?
There is a reason for that.
Fred was crying at Roland.
“I don’t want to have to go through that again! I questioned my sanity when you wanted me to mix the poison and give it to that woman.”
The poison was prepared by Fred, but it was in Merce’s hands under Roland’s direction.
Roland celebrates the success of the plan as he looks at the amber liquid in his glass.
“It was great poison. It allowed me to fool the kid, and I was in bed avoiding a troublesome riot act.”
Roland had sensed the commotion in advance and had used his friend Fred to take advantage of the enemy’s plan.
It was also Roland’s plan to drink the poison himself and let Leon solve everything.
“I didn’t feel like living!”
Perhaps Fred was drunk, and he drank it all down in one gulp.
Roland pours a drink into his friend’s empty glass and says something meaningful.
“Well, I guess that’s a start. Thanks to you, I’ve completed the first stage of my plan. Thanks to you, Fred.”
Fred was praised, but he didn’t look happy in the least.
“Another evil scheme? Your Majesty never tires of it.”
Roland smiled when he was told that he was up to something bad.
“It’s the scheme of a lifetime. There’s a lot going on these days. Let’s hope the kid can continue to do well.”
He seemed to be plotting against Leon in some way.
.
Part 5
School corridor.
The one walking with Creare was Marie, who was growing taller.
Next to her, Erika is walking with her.
Marie and Creare were talking about the latest disturbance.
“We managed to get through this one, too.”
[Yes. As usual, Master seems unhappy with his promotion.]
“That idiot brother should at least be happy about his promotion. What does he mean, I don’t want to get a promotion? I don’t understand what he’s complaining about.”
[Master also said that he couldn’t understand Marie-chan, you really are a lot alike. It’s fun to observe.]
“That I resemble my idiot brother, it’s really annoying.”
A displeased Marie was curious about Erika, who seemed to be enjoying watching them.
The benevolent smile on her face makes Marie uncomfortable.
(Hm~m, how can I treat someone who looks younger than me but inside is older than me?)
Although they are the same reincarnated people, Erika is much older than her.
Marie was worried about the distance between her and Erika.
The two of them are walking side by side, and Creare is enjoying watching them.
[Even so, it’s amazing that Erika-chan is also a reincarnated person. Aren’t there a lot of reincarnated people? I wonder if there’s some kind of law to it. Let me examine your body carefully next time.]
Marie looks sideways in amazement at the curious Creare.
“You call the princess “chan” too?”
[For me, royalty has nothing to do with it.]
The royal family is not important to Creare.
Erika looks a little troubled and smiles.
“When I have time”
[Is it okay! Yatta!]
Marie urged a pleased Creare to behave herself.
“Didn’t you just get scolded by aniki the other day! If you do anything strange, he’ll dismantle you this time.”
[I just have to do a thorough examination. Besides, Master may say a lot of things, but he won’t go that far.]
Erika, who had been watching the noisy Marie and Creare, showed interest at the mention of Leon.
“What kind of person is the Duke?”
When Marie was asked with a tilt of her head, the gesture made her feel nostalgic for some reason.
Remembering her daughter from a previous life, her heart ached.
“――Well, he is kind or rather soft-hearted? As long as you keep rolling him around in the palm of your hand, he’s a convenient brother. But when he runs wild, he becomes out of control. Thanks to that, I’ve been in a lot of trouble.”
(That child used to make this gesture, too)
[Marie-chan was repeatedly to be given a hard time by Master, wasn’t she.]
“You’re so noisy”
Frustrated by Creare’s teasing, Marie tells her about their previous lives.
“My brother and I both played that Otome game in our previous lives and came here when we died. It’s the same for you, right?”
“――Yes, I only played the third work.”
“I’ve only completed the second game properly. The first game was really hard, so I pushed it to aniki. Then that idiot stayed up all night and fell down the stairs and died. It was really stupid.”
Marie talked about Leon as if to mock him, but her expression was dark.
She regretted her actions that caused it.
Erika sees through Marie’s feelings.
“You liked your onii-san, didn’t you?”
“Haa? You don’t really listen to me. It’s just an inseparable relationship with a fool brother from the previous life.”
If Leon had been here, the bickering would have started, but since he was not here, Marie felt a little lack of something.
“You’ve always regretted it, haven’t you? That you caused your brother’s death.”
“T-That’s”
“From my perspective, you seem to be a very close brother and sister.”
“We’re strangers now!”
Embarrassed at being told that she and Leon were close, Marie denied it for the time being. However, when she thought about it, it was not an answer.
Erika looks convinced when she sees Marie pouting when she realizes this.
“The way you’re angry, it’s really the same as ever.”
“――What?”
Irritated a bit by Erika, who sounded as if she had known her for a long time, Marie gave her a sharp look.
Then Erika stops. Marie moves on without noticing.
“I’m glad Kaa-san looks fine.”
For a moment Marie didn’t understand what was going on, then she stopped and looked back at Erika.
Looking at Erika’s standing figure, she finally realized the strange feeling she had been having.
Normally, she would say, “Ha? What?” and made a disgusted face, but tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Y-You’re lying, right?”
Erika shook her head, and her long, habitual hair shook.
“Gets carried away easily, kind Kaa-san. Maybe, that’s what I thought at the very beginning. But I wasn’t so sure about that. But, I’m quite certain from hearing about onii-san ―― oji-san.” (Note: Uncle)
It’s not a typical story, such as how she pushed a game on her brother and killed him.
Marie held her mouth with her hand and tried to hold back her urge to cry.
She couldn’t remember the name of her daughter from her previous life, but she could certainly see her daughter’s face overlapping with Erika’s.
“How did you know――”
How did you know about me? She couldn’t say anything when she tried to ask, but Erika guessed and answered.
“I’ve always had that feeling. I’ve been hearing about the Saint and the Baron ―― now the Duke in the royal palace. I had a feeling that it was Kaa-san somehow. And we met, and your gestures were very similar.”
Before they actually met, Erika apparently guessed that Marie was her mother from a previous life.
Marie hugs Erika.
“Tell me earlieeer!! I, I aaaam!!”
Erika gently hugged Marie, who was crying hard.
“Sorry, Kaa-san”
Erika looked like a mother caring for her child, and Creare, who was floating beside her, spun around on the spot.
[Marie-chan’s more like a child]