"What a beautiful day it is."

I was on Brunhilde's deck fishing.

Well, I wasn't exactly at it. The drones were collecting aircraft debris.

I didn't want anyone else to have this technology. It scares me to think that one day they will create ballistic missiles or worse, an atomic bomb.

That's why I'm making the exaggerated and selfish decision not to let anyone else but me have it. Obviously I won't use it for weird purposes like conquering the world.

I just want to prevent this chaotic and horrible fantasy world from killing itself by its own hands.

That's why I'm going to secretly spy on the world in the future. Not now, but one day I will.

"I will give the kingdom the undamaged and repairable parts. No doubt they will be happy for this gift, what do you think?"

He was sitting in a peculiar chair.

"I-I'm sure they'll be happy... if you'll excuse me baron-dono, I could ask you to have the magic stones delivered to the commonwealth..."

So they can also be called magic stones, sounds good to me since the name was so long.

My talking chair was in fact a person, none other than the coconut head.

When we caught him he was trying to get away by declaring idiocy.

But I grabbed his stupid hair and had Ixion shave off his mustache with his laser.

It was so funny how he cried when the laser burned off that ridiculous facial hair, not even the laser touched his skin to think he was crying about it. Then I put my butt on his head and rubbed it like a mangy dog, even a flatulence I unintentionally released.

I forced him to watch his allies abandon him.

For some reason there was a boat with an old man who seemed to want to turn around, but the minions wouldn't let him.

After watching the chickens escape I went inside my ship to tell them everything was fine.

The captain and some teachers came to ask me what we were waiting for to set sail for home. I told them I had to collect evidence of what happened, but they could all rest in the quarters.

There weren't many so they had to share. Some complained, but I threatened to send them to jail like the traitor girls, the prisoners and the fools who tried to use Liam as a trade.

That's how I ended up here.

The coconut head was very submissive giving me very interesting evidence.

Consigo brought a letter that had a minister by the name of Orwel written on it, asking for their cooperation. There was a lot more shit written.

It seems that the one responsible for all this was the son of a bitch Klein without his father's consent. He was also responsible for the pirates, the noble bitch who pissed off Airi and apparently he paid for much of the travel.

The cruise going to the extreme sports place was for Liam, the cruise I'm on was for Alisa and other annoying noble's kids, and where I was originally going was also going to be attacked.

I feel sorry for those guys, but there's nothing I can do for them.

No doubt that bastard Klein has a big mouth, at least in writing.

With this here I'm sure Mayer-san and Siegwald will be very happy.

Now answering my chair's question.

"No~pe~"

"I am the winner. Therefore, everything here belongs to me... umm, now that I think about it, there will be several pieces of ships and armed units that can't be delivered, so maybe I'll open a shipyard and repair shop at home. Yes, that I will do, thank you count mustache, you've made me very happy!"

I watched from above the face of this guy who gave the impression of saying "please don't, I beg you!", but I'm not a good or kind person, sorry, but fuck you.

In the distance I watched as a small fleet of ten ships approached, only one of them was the largest and most decorated. That was who this guy was waiting for, let's have some fun....

◇

A man with a very unhealthy pale complexion appeared in front of me.

He came from a boat with guards up to Brunhilde's deck.

His clothes were similar to Siegwald's with differences in that the shirt had stripes that made him look like a supermarket clerk.

His eyes were almost colorless gray, his nose had a large black wart on the right side. His eyes also appeared to be dead and to make it even stranger, his hair was shaped like a mushroom.

Is it fashionable in the commonwealth to have such strange styles?

The mushroom head introduced himself.

"Good afternoon, I am the prime minister of the Talis Commonwealth, Rocco Lagussa Borzak."

The guy introduced himself to me with a confidence that implied he wasn't watching where he was sitting.

According to this guy downstairs, the mushroom head was supposed to come see the person in charge to execute her or negotiate a mountain of money for her. For sure he didn't even make sure it was a woman he was targeting.

"Howdy, I'm Baron Rudel van Bradford. Look down."

The guy made a strange face and when he looked down where he was sitting.

"Count C-c-cornello!"

"I'm sorry, Prime Minister."

The coconut head apologized looking down at the floor as it was my chair. I glared at the mushroom head and said "you and I should talk, not here, but in the kingdom."

He looked hostile and when he gave the impression of telling his guards to use their weapons. It was where my newly reloaded partner Battler had appeared.

He was lashing down the good parts of the ships and armed units. Brunhilde is so strong she can haul hundreds of tons without suffering engine overheating, Ixion rejoiced that he could piggyback everything that fell into the sea, but he didn't want to get that on his head.

Battler aimed his shoulder machine guns at these guys while Brunhilde pulled out a cannon to target the front flagship.

"You have no choice but to come the easy way with me, if you try to escape you will perish before you turn around."

The mushroom head's face was very angry so he fell to his knees from helplessness.

He then cursed this event as his fists pounded the deck.

Don't dirty my ship with your filthy mushroom hands.

◇◇◇

Airi and Alisa were in the same room. Because Rudel had a fight with them Rudel turned their rooms into single rooms. So now they were sharing a single room.

From the moment they entered the room, they both threw themselves on the bed to rest.

They haven't even showered, they are so tired that with their sweaty clothes and wounds they rested happily.

"Hey, what did that happen with?"

Airi was answering very intrigued about what Alisa told her.

They both looked at each other while their opposing hands gripped tightly so as not to let go of each other.

"Yes. It seems Clovis' family was involved in fraud. When father finds out about this, he's sure to break off the engagement."

Alisa found out from a sailor who was nearby when Rudel made a fuss that her new fiancé's family was involved in fraud and illegal acts.

Deep down Alisa was happy not to get engaged for now, she felt only a little sorry for him. But after a while of talking with Airi, that sorrow, like other things she had been holding on to, came to the surface.

Airi also did the same.

They would both tell each other everything that happened in their childhoods up to the moment they parted.

"What was your wish in the temple?" -Asked Alisa out of curiosity as Airi would have run while crying.

"How about at the same time if we say it?"

"Okay."

"One... two... and..." said the girls at the same time.

The girls who according to the plot of the game would never get along and never be close.

"I wished to be together with you and Rudel-san again."

"I wished something would happen and bring us together again."

They were expressing their purest wishes for friendship.

Airi was puzzled at Alisa's response, while Alisa herself was astonished at that.

Sincere laughter came from the back of their throats.

Laughter that expressed happiness, joy, purity and friendship between two people from different social worlds and roles. They were proving that the heart is what unites them all.

Suddenly Airi stopped laughing and Alisa asked her strangely "what's wrong?".

Airi answered her in a somewhat worried tone.

"Do you think everything will go back to normal with Rudel-san too?"

Alisa thought for a moment and then answered her.

"I'm sure it will, since if it wasn't. He wouldn't have done so much for us let alone save us again while yelling for that man to stay away."

Airi remembered what happened several minutes ago. Suddenly Alisa asked her another question.

"If you want we can go ask him?"

"But he must be dialoguing outside still no?"

"From the window you can see how we passed a cloud. We're probably already moving."

Airi was a little scared thinking that she wouldn't talk to Rudel again, but Alisa reassured her because of what she told her when she rescued her.

Then Alisa got up and so did Airi. Holding hands together they went to Rudel's room to ask him.

They knocked on the door, but there was no answer. It was there that Airi noticed that the door was open and not closed.

With both hands they pushed inside and what they found was a rarity for them.

Rudel was sleeping as if he were a small child.

The sheets were in disarray and his mouth was open showing his insides.

The girls giggled at the sight.

Suddenly Airi walked over to Rudel, Alisa was about to ask him what was wrong when out of nowhere Airi laid down on her right side.

Alisa didn't say anything to her, she just smiled and did the same to the left of a sleeping Rudel.

The girls giggled and then whispered "let's surprise him when he wakes up."

In the end they both fell asleep too.

◇◇◇

Ixion was in Rudel's room to check on a strange rising temperature.

He was observing a strange scene.

The girls were sleeping next to Rudel. They were very attached to him to the point of generating a feeling of happiness in his body.

Ixion with his thermal visor watched as Rudel's blood gathered in one place and his temperature increased.

He hoped to finally observe the mating act of the new humanity. At the end of the day his illusion died as when the girls woke up they watched Rudel's body greet them happily from the sheets.

They both slapped him and ran out of the place.

That day Ixion again became angry at not getting samples.

◇◇◇

We had arrived at the kingdom.

What I expected happened. A large number of mobile knights greeted us as we saw a fleet of the commonwealth approaching.

I explained everything to them and the prime minister himself came to see the commotion as we were in the Royal Palace.

He could not believe his eyes, but I calmly explained. I immediately went to meet Siegwald as well.

We talked for a while and then a guy came in crying.

Apparently it was the famous Orwel, begging Siegwald for forgiveness. But Siegwald gave him an annoyed face and ordered the guards to take him away.

Mayer-san explained to me that this guy was the finance minister of the kingdom and part of the Bismarck Household faction.

I spoke in detail about what happened. The other witnesses will also give their report, but since I ended up winning I went to give them my report.

Mayer-san left the room very cheerful.

I was left alone with Siegwald and told him what happened between Alisa and me to clear my conscience.

At first he seemed angry with me. But when I told him about this Clovis guy that Ixion told me to tell him and then about how I heroically rescued his daughter, he seemed happy.

For me and him he poured us a drink of an expensive and strong drinking liquor.

Before he took his drink he told me "if you ever do that to my daughter again, I will kill you with my bare hands."

It was the first time where I felt real fear towards a man.

◇◇◇

"Ehh? Why is the credit of defeating that knight something going to the prince and not Rudel-san?"

Airi was talking to Alisa. They were both at the Royal Palace due to the fact that the investigations about what happened included Duke Kingsfort's house, his heir to be more exact.

Alisa was a bit sad when she heard about it, but then she pulled out her strength and said, "Klein committed a horrible sin, trying to murder not only me, but even the heirs of other houses. He also cooperated with enemies of the kingdom so he is someone who deserves to receive a proper punishment for his treason." Alisa didn't look sad as she said that, Airi stayed with her in case she maybe crying, but not a single tear came out.

Alisa had already gotten over Klein thanks to the events that happened.

"That's right, it's not as weird as it seems, it's even understandable."

Alisa was explaining to her friend why Liam was awarded for being the one who defeated Bandell when Rudel was the real hero here.

"You see, the prince entered the cruiser he wasn't. His guards who were assigned to him notified that he wasn't in his special room, they found out too late."

"And since he ended up involved in the trouble on our cruise, he would be punished severely. But Rudel thought of that too and that's why he stated that it was His Highness Liam who defeated that man using an armed unit from the cruiser and a weapon of Rudel's."

"I understand..." nodded Airi a little sadly.

Rudel had lied to save Liam's ass, but there was something deeper to it that no one but Rudel himself knew about.

"Because of that statement his Highness was able to become crown prince again and now the ministers and other officials treat him as the greatest hero this country has to offer."

Alisa was talking about Liam as if he had received what he needed most, while Airi was a bit somber due to the fact that Rudel will receive nothing.

They were awarded a medal for bravery while the others who fought for their lives were awarded the medal for honor and effort.

Rudel further stated that he alone rescued Alisa and brought her ship back after fleeing to look for her.

Airi knew that much of that was a lie, but there was nothing he could do. It was there that an unexpected person arrived.

"Alisa."

Being called she turned around and found an all too familiar face.

"Onii-sama!" -Alisa shouted at the surprise of finding her older brother with some papers in his hands.

As always he was wearing elegant armor, his body was tall and despite wearing armor his toned body showed. His face was just as handsome as his sister, both eyes and hair color indicated that they were true kin.

"What are you doing around here?" -Asked Alisa quizzically as her brother would normally be serving in the knight corps of her household.

With a bit of a smirk he answered her.

"Father called me since we apparently have more problems in our faction. There's also a big diplomatic mess thanks to Rudel-kun."

"Rudel you say?" -Alisa wondered a bit quizzically.

"You see, the prime minister of the commonwealth filed a complaint towards Rudel-kun. He seems to be mentioning a lot of lies and problems. Normally this wouldn't happen, but Marquis Balzac is talking about how this would be a very annoying international problem."

"They asked us for several silly things to concede, the only grudging one we complied with was to hand over the prisoners and magic stones. Of course, that man we wouldn't give him up, not even as a joke. Prime Minister Ritzburg presented a counter measure to the ridiculous order he was asking for, apparently only he matters of all the prisoners."

Airi was the one who spoke now.

"Marquis Balzac? Who is that?"

It was Alisa who was answering a confused Airi.

"The Marquis, or rather Minister Moldred von Balzac, is one of the most politically influential men and leader of one of the three main factions in our country."

"I understand..." -said Airi still not quite understanding that.

Alisa noticed and explained it to him in a simpler way to understand.

"He is someone who is on the same economic, social and political level as my father."

Airi made a big "oh" because of that explanation.

Alisa further added.

"Father has been complaining about him for as long as I can remember. Since he rules the office of minister of the interior and foreign relations. Being the only man with two positions leads to a lot of distrust of those people, even if he does an honest job."

"Your father does have a lot of distrust for him doesn't he?"

Alisa was a little quiet and then answered Airi without the smile on her face.

"That's because that man is an ultranationalist..."

"Ultra-nationalist? What's that?"

"..."

This time it was Vayne, Alisa's brother who spoke.

"It means he's a very extreme patriot. He is the kind of man who would trample commoners if they threatened the peace of the country or anyone else who has hostility towards our kingdom. For that reason he wanted to execute Rudel-kun."

Airi made a panicked expression upon hearing that.

Vayne continued speaking.

"To make it even more annoying, he is a close friend of one of the three lords, the leader of the other faction with influence. Duke Belmont, he's also an ultranationalist."

Airi didn't quite understand what Vayne was saying about faction leader, but he did know that if a terrible person and someone just like him are allies it means trouble.

"Duke Belmont is not a sociable man, he turned down the position of minister several times despite having great power and influence... this conversation got very scary, I'll switch to another topic."

Vayne understood that the good atmosphere the girls had changed to bad because of about an extreme person who wanted to execute Rudel for possible treason.

"Alisa father is already selecting your new entourage, you should go check who they are before-"

"Stop, please!"

Alisa suddenly cut off her brother's words.

She had something very important to tell him.

"Brother, I... I..."

Alisa was panicking about what she was going to say next, but seeing Airi who was smiling at her made her face gain strength and conviction in what she was going to say.

"Brother, I do not wish to have an entourage or a fiancé again! I wish to have by my side the one I love and my only friend whom I consider my own sister!"

Alisa grabbed Airi's hand and Airi responded by squeezing it very tightly to give her more security.

Vayne saw that and grimaced with laughter.

"I understand. Anyway, the problems you've been having with your fiancés have been very upsetting so father opted to put it off for now. And about your entourage... I suggest you never let go of your friends' hands again."

Alisa smiled and looked at Airi. They were both smiling in happiness at no longer having to deal with that problem.

Vayne half turned to leave when she stopped for some reason.

"Oh, I forgot, have you seen Rudel-kun?"

They both shook their heads and Airi would reply, "All we know is that he's spending at his house making arrangements and contracts about the workshop and shipyard he'll be opening."

Vayne was thoughtful about that.

Alisa asked him "what's going on?" -Concerned.

Her brother replied a little intrigued about what they said.

"You see. He filled out correctly and applied for the documents to build both structures on his house."

"Is that a problem?" -Anguished Alisa asked.

"It's not, it's just...forget it. More importantly, did you hear the news about him?"

"News?"

"Are you talking about the rumors about him or his blatant harassment of the queen? He mentioned that none of that was his doing and he didn't know he had flirted with the queen, he ran off to apologize when he found out...brother, Rudel is not someone horrible, he's an idiot who does weird things, but he's no threat to the palace!"

"Calm down, calm down, I'm not talking about that, I'm talking about his reward."

Alisa was glad that the problems enveloping Rudel had abated, but now she was intrigued by what he said.

"Reward? Wasn't he not supposed to get anything?"

"No. You see, this is what was discussed..."

◇

"I don't understand why I'm here?"

I was in a bad mood as I was suddenly summoned to the palace.

I was dressed as I was at my knighting ceremony.

In this waiting room, there was me sitting on a piece of furniture thinking about what went wrong with my brilliant plan.

(I made sure to say that everyone participated in the battle and fought heroically.)

(Then I made sure that when I came back, Liam was guarding that bloody bastard, I even made sure to give him his rare weapon as another evidence that he was the one who defeated him).

(I finally said that I rescued Alisa and fled to find my ship).

(Where did I go wrong?)

(Everyone but me fought fervently was what I reported. I don't understand how they will give me a medal instead of a demotion?)

Every minute I was here I was feeling very sad.

I didn't want to be harassed again by a bunch of old strangers, I want to enjoy the rest of my vacation peacefully!

No doubt this day sucks. My family even feels weird about coming to the palace again.

My parents wearing the best clothes they can buy with my money and trying to look nice.

My siblings, especially Lyle, were combing their hair since usually our hair doesn't manage to stabilize for styling.

And last but not least my sweet little sister, Pola. She was in a beautiful dress smiling at me and giving me loving words.

"Onii-chan, did I tell you that if you said sorry everything would be all right?"

"You were right, I'm sorry for not believing you."

The reason I was saying that was not only because I told them that I redeemed myself from my wrongdoings. There were also other guests who were not my family that were present.

"Rudel, stop acting so pitiful, soon the ceremony will start so you must put your best face forward."

"She's right, Rudel-san, you can show your best smile so they can see how great you look."

My friends, Alisa and Airi, were present for some unknown reason. I have no problem with it, but it's weird that someone other than family is here, what was going on?

I suddenly opened my big mouth to tell how I felt.

"I don't understand why you guys are making such a fuss if it's just the awarding of a medal like to you and even more so wearing this?"

Alisa was about to open her mouth, but someone beat her to it.

"That's because it's not a normal, run-of-the-mill award."

I looked in the direction of the person speaking, it was someone who truly didn't understand why I was here.

"What are you doing here?"

The person who heard that became annoyed by my question.

"How rude you are."

She was approaching me walking in a beautiful dress that was the same cyan color as her lips and hair.

She was a girl by the name of Eleonora von Roseblaire.

I really don't know what she's doing here?

Even her cliché ninja was sitting in a corner meditating while wearing her yukata.

The curly-haired girl was a third-year senpai and stood in front of me watching me.

Her full lips moved to tell me about a strange occurrence.

"You should thank me and Madarao, as we were able to gather evidence of people who wanted to blame you for what happened and even wanting to use their restored title, His Highness the crown prince."

I blurted out a silly "huh?" At that revelation.

"It is just as you hear, I asked my father to deliver the gathered information to the prime minister. As well as telling part of the truth."

Again I blurted out a silly, longer "huhhh?"

"Doesn't sound bad at all to pass off his Highness Liam, as the hero of this country by defeating a worldwide threat."

(Ehhhhhhh!!! Is that guy that dangerous? ...But it doesn't matter since I kicked his ass and now he's in the subway palace jail).

The senpai kept moving her fleshy lips.

"I was a little skeptical about what you were talking about, but it was noticed that you are a man of more action than dialoguing. It's good of you to demonstrate the power of a patriot in the face of a possibly invading force from abroad."

"...Invading?" -I said a bit strangely about that.

(Patriot?)

(Invading force?)

(Wasn't that just an exaggerated assassination attempt!?)

I was even more weirded out by that. Then she spilled the disgraceful straw.

"The prime minister was right to make your promotion the best final presentation."

"..."

The whole room was silent for a few moments.

"... W-w-w-w-wait s-s-s-s-s-senpai?"

"What do you mean by promotion!!!?"

I watched everyone looking for an explanation, but everyone averted their gaze from me with the exception of my cute little sister.

Alisa answered me as she noticed my panicked look.

"I don't know what surprises you if it's natural? Did you think at some point that's what you did?"

Huh, what are you talking about?

"I didn't misbehave for you to say that to me."

"That's not what I'm talking about... listen."

"What was it you did back there that day?"

I was momentarily in thought and told him to analyze the odd reason for my promotion to knight.

"I rescued you."

That's one.

"Brunhilde came."

That's two.

"I rescued everyone."

That's all I did.

"You're okay, but you're missing." -Alisa added that and more.

"You fought alone with no backup and being someone with no combat experience against enemy armed units while everyone evacuated."

Certainly true, but it was for everyone to escape.

"You infiltrated into enemy zone to rescue me while we were under attack from all sides."

Also true.

"You single-handedly took down a mysterious technology that had never been seen before with more tools than were in your lost object."

(Th-that's also true.... Huh? Are they taking into account the small, omitted details?)

"You even saved the prince who had snuck in."

"If you add that and your accomplishments of defeating pirates and making the kingdom's trade and travel routes to other places safer."

"I don't understand what surprises you?

"Ehhh!!! That old man is rewarding me?!?"

Mayer-san said that he would reward me for my services in the future.

Is this what he meant?

I reluctantly accepted my reality.

*sigh*

"I guess a knight promotion is kind of annoying after all..."

"Rudel..."

Alisa suddenly called out to me.

"What's up and what's that face?"

Both Alisa and Airi had the same expression of knowing something and not wanting to tell me.

But the one who spoke was not her but the senpai.

"Roseblaire Household was your ally in this case and as their future heir it gives me pleasure to inform you that because of your achievements committed in the last few months. You, Rudel van Bradford, will be promoted to both knighthood and the lower eighth rank. Congratulations, you will shortly be a Viscount."

There was an awkward silence.

But the one who was the first to speak was the person who was most afraid of this.

"Eeeeeeehhhhhhhhh!!!"

Lyle, the firstborn.

He let out a strange scream as his eyes and tongue seemed to want to escape his face.

Of course then my family and I did the same thing.

Only I'm more upset about this weirdness.

But I have a question about what I heard.

"What the heck is eighth rank and even more so lower?"

This time it was Alisa who spoke up.

"Don't tell me you don't even know about the court ranks set by the palace two hundred years ago? The whole hierarchy and social structure is based on it!"

Looking away from him I said in a sorrowful voice.

"S-sorry, but I don't care to know that."

When I said that, she tightly grabbed my cheeks hard as she criticized me.

"You are without a doubt the worst nobleman I've ever met!!!"

"I-I'm so sorry!"

I was telling Alisa to forgive me for being honest while pinching my fragile cheeks tightly.

"I can't believe that an individual like you would-!"

Alisa suddenly stopped and looked toward the back wall for some reason.

Her face turned red before she turned around, Airi spoke to her to ask her what was wrong.

But seriously, what the heck is this about court ranks?

Senpai spoke again.

"What she says is true."

I looked at her a little sad that I was going to be promoted.

"In what thing?" -I asked her and she with a strange smile replied.

"In that you are the worst nobleman ever. You lack education, manners and to express your words better. You are a pitiful man."

I replied "thank you very much for your criticism." -But suddenly his smile grew wider and his fuchsia pink eyes looked at me intently.

"I wasn't criticizing you." -She said. "I was just pointing out your negative points, you can change those faults and improve." -I added.

I thought it was very nice of him to say that about me, but his next line was very strange.

"For that reason I would like to educate you myself."

His long, thin, thin gloved hand touched my chin as his face moved closer to mine.

"You are the kind of man who leaves others with words in their mouths, at the same time you are a man capable of demonstrating that you will use force to subdue your enemies. I want to know more about your true self, what do you say, would you like to join house Roseblaire and his faction?"

I have no idea what he's talking about, but right at the end of his sentence, Alisa came to my defense.

"Hey, what are you planning to do with Rudel?"

Senpai removed her hand from my chin and her face moved closer to Alisa's, for some reason they both looked hostile to each other.

"I didn't say anything lady Bismarck. I only told you what would benefit you most according to your rank. Belonging to a faction is important whether you are of low or high status."

"That's true, but, stay away from Rudel anyway!"

Alisa sounded very annoyed.

Senpai added more as she crossed her arm over her large chest and showed her fan.

"Ara~? He's going to become a viscount soon, so is it normal for these things to happen, or does something as normal as this bother you for some reason?"

Alisa was quiet for a moment and then answered him with an assurance that was definitely the usual Alisa.

"He's my squire! Yes, that's right. Rudel is my personal knight so he is associated with me since I am her employer. He belongs to the Bismarck faction!"

Alisa sounded very energetic all of a sudden, but senpai wanted to say something when the door rang.

Without saying permission someone came in. The figure I saw brought me discomfort, not because of rudeness but because of who he was.

Reluctantly, but politely I greeted.

"Very good morning, supreme pontiff."

A man in white robes and a big belly had mysteriously come in.

"Likewise, good morning Baron, nay, Viscount Bradford."

He greeted me first and then the others. He had a friendly smile, but I don't trust someone who smiles that much.

"I had some business to attend to around here and happened to notice a sign with your name on it and took the opportunity to congratulate you."

"Thank you very much." -I thanked him hoping that would be all.

But then I noticed something, his gaze before turning around focused on Airi.

"Miss, you were the one who helped several people during the attack weren't you?"

How do you know that?

"Yes. It was me." -Shyly Airi answered, she looked charming showing that shyness.

"One of the students is the son of a shrine adept. He said you were a commoner and cured him along with a few others."

Don't you dare say what I think he is!

"Yes... I did."

Airi don't speak anymore.

"That's wonderful! What do you say, would you like to be part of the shrine maidens?"

I immediately stood up to avoid the worst possible ending.

"I'm so sorry supreme pontiff."

I spoke in a strong and friendly tone to let him know I meant what I said.

"She doesn't possess magical power if that's what you think, she certainly helped the wounded, but you see. That was all thanks to me asking her and giving her one of my lost items."

I walked up to Airi and blatantly placed my left hand on her left shoulder, making it look like she was a partner of mine.

"I'm sorry you came all this way if you wanted to recruit a future healer for our magnificent Holy Church. But don't worry, I'll donate a great deal of gifts for taking the trouble exclusively to come."

I squeezed his shoulder tightly and smiled as if it were a photo shoot of those hypocritical politicians.

He too just stared at me smiling as he said "perfect, today was a great day for the Shrine of the Holy."

After saying that he left the room.

I sighed because I managed to avoid a bad ending for Airi. I once said that I wouldn't like to see her related to that guy, I will keep that promise to death.

"Umm... Rudel-san..."

I listened as Airi called out to me in a low and shy tone.

When I turned my face to see her, I didn't notice that her face was very close to my chest as I had pulled her very close towards me.

Noticing this, I immediately withdrew my hand and walked backwards.

She stayed where she was and her face was red as a tomato.

I immediately apologized.

"I-I'm so sorry! You see... I did it to protect you!"

"I-I know. Alisa had already told me beforehand not to get involved with the shrine."

I said "huh?" -to that unexpected response.

Alisa instead just said.

"Just like the ranks I'll tell you about it another day. Finish getting ready to go to our places."

Alisa sounded a bit annoyed as she kept looking at me and then at Airi making rotating changes.

Then I looked at Lyle, who was still shaking.

I wanted to annoy him more, but I better not.

"Don't worry. I'm still not an heir, so you inherit the territory and I have my island. So you shouldn't get ideas about annoying things like trying to kill you and take over the territory."

"..."

I guess I didn't have to say that as they all looked at me with a face like I had revealed my macabre plan.

I reassured them and then listened as trumpets sounded that the King had arrived.

It was about time, but...

"Very well."

...I don't want this.

"I'll escape!"

When I said that I ran out of the room.

Lyle and Bram came after me, Pola also ran to catch me thinking it was a game. They caught me and wouldn't let me escape.

That sad day, I, became a Viscount and promoted to a knight of middle rank.

◇

I had that dream again.

It was a big white place. Everything my eyes saw was white.

I thought everything would be the same until I found it.

The person who was crying and was at a far distance was now in front of me.

Me and that person were sitting across from each other, I couldn't see him well, but he was very short. Almost the size of a child.

He still had a white aura surrounding him that made it impossible to see his face clearly.

I asked him, "Are you not crying anymore, are you all right?" And he replied, "Don't hurt them again."

I wanted to ask him what he meant when I was called behind by familiar voices.

"Rudel-san, here you are."

"We were looking for you, Rudel."

I turned around and there they were waiting for me. My friends, Airi and Alisa.

They were coming towards me and for some reason behind them the white stage was turning into the academy with each pass.

I was still sitting as I couldn't believe my eyes.

I wanted to ask them what they were doing here.

When suddenly Alisa took my right hand.

"Rudel we were looking for you."

And Airi took the other one.

"That's right, Rudel-san, today you promised to join us to eat that delicious limited time ice cream."

Slowly and forcefully they pulled my hands to get me to my feet.

After getting up, I noticed that I was outside the academy.

They were pulling my arms to go to a store.

Then I understood everything.

I turned around to see if that person was still there.

He was gone.

The white place was gone too.

As tears came to my eyes I said softly.

"I'm sorry...sorry I didn't realize sooner."

I thought I saw someone smile and wave goodbye through the crowd.

"Rudel, let's go." -Said Alisa hurrying me.

"They'll run out if we're late!" -Shouted Airi as she tugged on my arm.

I smiled as I held her hands and from the bottom of my heart I told them both.

"Sure!"

We were running to get to the store.

◇

"A dream..."

I was waking up on the table in a familiar room.

It was the academy. I was here since the vacation was extended longer because of the problems recently and I came to ask my instructor some things.

"It was such a real dream and so sad."

I was having a strange dream, but I don't quite remember what it was about. I just know it ended happily like the endings I like.

"Master, they're here."

Ixion was with me, it was no longer a secret of his existence, but he still didn't like to be seen so he hid sometimes. Is he shy?

About the people waiting at the door. It was something he had to face sooner or later.

"Well, send them in."

There was one all-important thing I had to do before anything else, I just avoided it out of panic, but I won't do it anymore. It's time to prove my manhood.

◇

Alisa and Airi entered the room I had prepared.

In it they found...

"This... Rudel, what are you doing?" -Said Alisa confused about what she saw.

...Me making a very strange plea in an even stranger position.

The moment they walked in I got up from my chair and performed what I learned from the old raggedy man after meeting him on my way out of the temple that day.

He told me it was called "dogeza" and it was an apology that represented the earnestness and repentance of someone from the heart in humbling himself.

The position I was in was one where my body seemed to make a turtle shell.

I appeared to be crawling with my legs touching my stomach, my butt in a submissive position and my arms lying with my hands appearing to fold napkins.

When they came in I proceeded to my repentant humiliation.

"I...I...am an idiot!" -I screamed from the bottom of my heart.

"No matter how much or what I do, it will never be enough to make amends for the sin I committed against you two!!!"

I was afraid to do this because of the outcome to come, I didn't want to see it, but I have no choice if I want to see the slightest glimmer of hope.

"I know that an apology is not enough to make it up to them! Even if I have to spend every day of my life apologizing, I will!"

I want to walk with them again, but I don't deserve to.

"I spoke badly of you, I hated you, I didn't care about your safety and yet you supported me at a critical time! I have no excuse for my actions!"

They supported me when I despised them. I want them to be happy even if I must suffer never seeing them again.

"Even if they want me to, I can strip naked and run off to campus in my birth suit!"

It's embarrassing, but I'm willing to do that as long as they'll speak to me again from now on.

"Rudel-san..."

Airi was the first to speak.

"Rudel, raise your head."

Then came Alisa.

Both of their voices sounded very dry and unwilling to speak.

I raised my head slowly out of fear.

As I looked up I first marveled at their splendid legs, followed by their slender waists, their large breasts and finally their faces.

They made a face that said they were upset.

Please don't look at me like that or I will cry.

When was I going to beg like a child.

"Pu... hahahahahahahahahaha."

They started laughing mysteriously.

Their mouths grew to laugh at me as tears came out of their eyes. Please don't laugh at me, I will cry with more pain.

Alisa still laughing was the first to speak followed by Airi who was still laughing.

"Rudel, you, hahahahaha. you are someone silly right?"

"Hahahaha, that's right, Rudel-san, don't tell me you were still thinking about it?"

I blurted out a silly "huh!" -at what they said.

In the same order they continued without laughing at me anymore.

"Rudel, if we hadn't forgiven you already, we wouldn't have been with you since that day."

"That's true, besides I thought that you too had already forgiven us since that time, but it seems that it was still hanging around in your mind."

This time I spoke even while lying on the ground.

"I don't understand what you mean by forgiving them, I was the one who didn't want to understand or listen to them!"

Again in the same order they spoke.

"What you say is true, but we were also responsible for it."

"It's true, if we had had more trust between the three of us and wished to speak truthfully, none of this would have happened."

What they say makes sense, but still....

"Rudel."

Alisa spoke to me as she grabbed my right hand.

"Rudel-san."

Airi took my other hand and both of them made me stand up after kneeling in a squatting position.

In the same order, but with a smile they spoke to me.

"Rudel-san, what happened was painful for everyone, but thanks to that I was able to get what I longed for so much."

"Rudel-san, we all suffered that time, but thanks to that, now is where our friendship will be able to be reborn with greater strength and honesty. "

His eyes were shining with joy as he spoke to me.

"We won't be one man or two girls. Or, a nobleman, an aristocrat nor a commoner."

"We'll just be three friends who want to spend time together."

Hearing that, he feels very familiar to the dream.

He smiled at these wonderful girls.

"If you really want to be with me so much, let me give you this gift to celebrate our new and improved friendship."

On the table was a large paper sleeve as I asked Ixion to prepare a special gift.

I didn't open it yet as I didn't want to see, but now is the time so here we go.

I opened the bag to take out the gifts and....

"What the fuck is this, Ixion!!!?"

Ixion didn't answer me, there were three packages for each of us with our names on them.

We each had three homemade dolls of us.

Their eyes were baked with buttons matched to our eye color.

The girls' dolls were exactly the same.

A smile and kind look for Airi.

An elegant lady's smile with a strong look in it for Alisa.

Mine, my dolls had different expressions on their faces.

"Ixion, you fucking bastard, come here!"

I would yell at him to come and he wouldn't appear from his hiding place.

The girls would grab my shoulders and flip me over.

They had left the dolls on the table, this room where we usually had my tea meetings.

"Ya ya, come on Rudel." -Said Alisa as she grabbed my left arm.

"There are more important things to do, like going to try that new limited edition ice cream." Airi added as they tugged on my arms.

Huh? This feels very familiar indeed.

But... screw it.

"I hope it's a very delicious flavor."

I said what my heart wanted as we walked out of the room.

Really, what did I do to deserve wonderful friends?

◇◇◇

Ixion was camouflaged as an ornament.

He was watching everything.

He didn't want to go out due to the fact that...

"The master is undoubtedly a fool."

He didn't want to tell Rudel the meaning of those faces.

"I can't believe he didn't notice. Those girls have their spitting image manifested in those dolls. So do you."

From the window, Ixion watched as the three walked away with a smile.

Then he turned to look at the three dolls as each was clutching their hands. They were separable, but the detail was that when put together they formed a pyramid. Three sides, three people. A friendship that represents a bond of self-acceptance and affection.

Rudel's dolls had a different face, starting with Rudel's, his doll had a bad face. It is because Rudel usually walks around with a face of few friends or disgust to others.

Alisa's had shark teeth, representing the day she was saved from Klein's abuse.

While Airi's had a smirk, remembering the day he also saved her.

The girls noticed it instantly, but Rudel did not.

Ixion wanted to sigh, but couldn't since he was an artificial intelligence in a mechanical body.

But she didn't want to sigh for Rudel, she wanted to sigh for something else.

The day they returned home, Ixion was reviewing the recordings of the spy drones. In one of them he found something strange. A strange being coming out of Rudel's head.

Ixion didn't know what that was and now spent every day investigating.

Again he looked out the window to see the peace and quiet that was in the kingdom.

"I wonder if that thing will have been a prelude to something about to happen?"

Ixion to be a machine or automaton superior to others. He had a strange feeling because of that mysterious being.

◇◇◇

At the same time below a certain island was a large black spot.

The black march bubbled and these seemed to say something in language never heard before, but in human language this would be translated as.

"...Rudel..."

"...Error..."

"Kill..."

" I..."

"...Perso... nally."

"...Kill.... to... lRudel!!!!"

"¡¡¡¡Giiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!"

He released a strange scream and sank to the bottom of the sea.

Nothing could be seen, but the bubbles coming out formed a strange, terrifying and wicked silhouette of someone laughing.

Exactly what was that being and moreover, his obsession with Rudel?