In the vast blue sky was an aerial combat unit. In this world, something like airplanes was unthinkable because the game's development considered them absurd. So the mere idea of believing in a flying object that wasn't a ship was dismissible.
Unfortunately, they were wrong.
The men called thaumaturges—what in Rudel's previous life would be considered scientists—found some ancient documents from an ancient civilization.
Everything mysterious left by an ancient humanity was classified as a Lost Object.
Due to the similar technological difference, they chose to modernize them with what they had. Therefore, these were airplanes that used magical power to fly and shoot.
A man was yawning due to the boredom he felt. He was one of the members of the world's strongest and most dangerous mercenary group, the Black Ouroboros.
"Wahh~ I'm so sleepy... those damn Talis guys said they'd use these strange flying things to get research results. But we haven't done anything but fly around this place."
"The first squad's shift will come soon since we change groups every fifteen minutes."
"Lowe, don't talk shit again while I'm in command. The captain will cut my scrotum if he sees someone slacking off like your little— hey, son of a bitch, what did I tell you about showing laziness on a mission!!"
The group was ten men per plane. Each squad was organized into five groups. They were a total of fifty members of an elite commando that even the Kingdom of Altfode itself fears.
They were trained soldiers who fought in the Second World War and won thanks to their captain and their own power.
They were one hundred eight members capable of defeating a country on their own, but they were still human, so they hid with the help of a traitor in a country called the Talis Commonwealth.
"Hahaha, Sergeant Gardos is yelling at Lowe for incompetence again."
"Well, it's not like I don't understand. I was hoping for some action, you know?"
"What are you talking about? We already had action practicing with these things in small villages. Or do you want to kill more poor peasants?"
"Idiot, not that! I'm talking about fucking, you know! It's been a long time since I've had any action!!"
"What are you talking about, Alcatraz? When we were in Talis, you went to brothels to have a lot of action with the whores there?"
"Dickhead, I'm not talking about that kind! I mean it's been months since we've tried noble girls! Do you know how many months I haven't torn apart a bitch who looks down on you? I heard that in this country, noble bitches keep their hymens intact for their husbands!! A virgin is something you can't even get on the black market!!"
"You really are a greedy guy, you know? Learn from me. I prefer raping the young daughters of peasants while their parents watch their sweet face of their da—"
Suddenly, the usual and normal chat among these "men" stopped.
"What's wrong?" said his companion through an intercom that was in all the planes to communicate thanks to the magical element known as aether.
"No... you see, I think I saw something flying?"
The man looked through the dome of his plane to the right side.
"Suman, are you hallucinating already? The lack of air at high altitudes makes your tiny brain imagine things, you know."
"No, I— there it is again!! Seriously! Just now, I saw something flying... it was... it was something too big to be a bird, and it wasn't a magic beast since they're attacking down there."
"Maybe it was some floating islet? It's normal to find their fragments floating since they're very unstable."
"Y-you must be right. My head must be playing a trick on me."
An object quickly flew past Suman's plane.
"Alc!! It's for real, I swear!! Just now, something just flew past near me."
*Sigh*
"I told you it must have been some isl—"
Before Alcatraz could finish his conversation, the rear of Suman's plane exploded.
"Aaaaahhhh, help!!!!" Suman screamed as he plummeted into the sea, generating smoke from his plane's tail.
"Sumaaaaaaan!!!!" Alcatraz shouted upon seeing his companion fall mysteriously.
Alcatraz thought —(Some malfunction in the engine? No! If it had been, then the plasma core in the front would have burst into flames, not the rear! What was—) before his thoughts were interrupted by his own screams.
"Wahh!! Damn it all!!!!"
That's what Sergeant Gardos heard before turning his head and finding that two of his subordinates had fallen into the sea, crashing.
"What the hell happened!? Did anyone see something??"
The men immediately responded, "I didn't notice anything like that since I never saw it!" through the communicator. When the sergeant was about to ask his companion next to him.
"Loowe!!??"
He didn't find him. He looked left and right to make sure he was seeing wrong when a subordinate told him...
"Sergeant, Lowe was shot down!!"
...That they were being attacked.
"What do you mean?" the sergeant exclaimed, confused.
"We're at an impossible height for any sniper or ship to reach!! It's unimaginable that something like this could—"
Before finishing speaking, another subordinate fell.
Seconds later, another one fell again.
"What the hell is happening!? Who's attacking us!? Hey, can you see anything—"
When he turned to see the others, they were no longer there. He turned his head to see the bottom, and there were exactly nine planes crashed in the sea.
"This is a damn joke, right? Something like a sniper or a ship that can reach these heights is im—"
Gardos stopped speaking suddenly. Because in front of him, in that slowly passing cloud, a silhouette that could only exist in dreams was visible.
"Don't fuck with me... something like this... you... who the hell are you!!"
When the silhouette became more visible, a human being was reflected in it. After the cloud disappeared, the mysterious person who was flying moved his lips as if he had heard what Gardos said and responded...
"I am your worst nightmare."
Before raising his shotgun and blowing off the plane's wings, making it fall while he heard a scream of agony.
◇
I had just kicked the asses of ten out of fifty dangerous guys.
If I could rate the danger level, it would undoubtedly be a ten out of a hundred.
It looks minuscule, but considering that more of these guys will soon come to want to fill my ass with lead and then fight a fleet, the level will increase until maybe surpassing a hundred and reaching a thousand or more.
I'm about to wet myself just imagining all the shit that will happen to me soon.
I took a deep breath.
I exhaled.
Why should I risk my fragile second chance at life?
For a girl?
One who isn't even my fiancée to not think about it once.
She was once called my friend.
Now she isn't, but I can't let anything happen to her.
Because if they touch even a single one of her golden hairs...
Her bastard father would hang me with his own hands.
"Wow, the next squad is coming. Does that mean the bastards somehow managed to communicate when they fell?"
*Sigh*
"I guess after such a hectic and annoying day like this, I deserve to get a good rest with my favorite magazine of voluptuous girls."
That's when I, Rudel van Bradford, got into a fight where no one called me just to rescue an ex-friend.
"Alright, you miserable bastards!! Come all in line, because I'm going to put a big lead bullet in the ass of your planes!!"
I launched myself flying toward the group of planes coming straight at me.
◇◇◇
On the flagship of the Commonwealth, Askewell was drinking coffee.
He was very relaxed. So much so that he almost fell from his chair while having an idiot's smile.
"Today is a good day for me, therefore, also for our glorious homeland."
The crew was looking at him with a disgusted face that no subordinate should make in their life.
Askewell kept giving himself airs of grandeur.
"I was the one who received the call from that guy from the kingdom. I was the one who requested His Majesty and the Prime Minister's permission to bring those barbarians and the experimental technology of our thaumaturges. Without a doubt, I will be promoted to a Margrave or Marquis. Or, who knows? Maybe I'll become the next Minister of State, fuefuefue."
Askewell laughed out loud with his strange laugh when suddenly his peace was interrupted by a transmission.
"Huh, what's going on?"
There was static. The subordinates in charge of the transmission equipment tried to fix the signal when a scream sounded.
"Mayday!! Mayday!! Someone on the flagship, anyone... answer, you damn idiots!!"
The tone of the voice asking for help was very rude. Askewell stood up furiously from his chair when someone mysterious interrupted his tranquility.
He went straight to grab the communicator to lecture whoever had disturbed his well-deserved rest.
When he took the communicator, he shouted to the other side — "What's going on, you fool—?" he was interrupted by an altered voice.
"Hey, bastard with the weird mustache! You said there were only noble students on that ship!"
Askewell, puzzled and annoyed by that disrespect, responded, "Clearly it is, why?" and the response he got was something never unexpected.
"Then what the hell is that thing that's defeating us!?" — shouted the mysterious voice while sounds of gunshots were heard in the distance along with voices that were heard from their allies.
"Damn it, they shot down Krhistoph!!"
"Mael, tell those bastards we need help! The second squad and the fifth have already been defeated, and we're running out of ammu—!"
"Heinze, noooooo!!!"
Both Askewell and the subordinates were left speechless upon hearing that. Just when Askewell was about to say something, a subordinate informs him.
"C-c-commodore, look up!!!"
Askewell listened to his subordinate and observed the sky, then...
"T-that's it!!"
...They couldn't believe what was happening.
A plane was plummeting from the sky with its tail in flames and smoke while spinning.
It crashed into the sea.
Askewell made an idiot's face with snot hanging from his nose.
"What the hell is happening up there!?"
An intense and fierce battle was being fought in the skies, and no one could imagine who their enemy was.
◇
Really... I'm about to wet myself.
"Die, you damn son of a biiiiiiiiiitch!!!!"
Because these bastards are persistent stalkers.
"How the hell can he dodge our bullets?!"
"I just hit him, and the bastard didn't fall!"
I was in the worst place unimaginable.
For many, it might be a dream. For me...
To better understand what I feel, it's like being in a virtual reality game.
Everything looks so real. It is.
It's so, so real that I only have one life.
If they hit me, even with just one of those bullets, at the speed and power they're going, they would surely kill me.
Thanks to Ixion, who developed this small force field similar to the Brynhild's.
The bullets hit me, not once, not just once. Hundreds and at every moment, I'm hit by them.
Through the force field, I can see the intensity and power of a rain of bullets.
The force field is invisible, but it works because it collects aether from the air.
According to Ixion, this is artificial magic.
Since in this world, it seems only the four types of magic exist, so something like this is a unique rarity.
But that doesn't matter to me. What matters to me is...
"Take this, you damn flying bastard!!"
...That I can withstand all those impacts.
A guy was coming straight at me while shooting bullets that seemed infinite.
I don't understand its functioning, but there's a great amount of it being shot from a couple of nozzles located at the lower ends of the plane. They even have magical circles in the shape of bullets to make it even more fantastical and absurd.
The bullets impacted strongly against the shield, bouncing as if they were rubber.
Please resist until the end.
He got closer and closer while shouting like a madman, shooting at me.
"I've got you, son of a bitch!!"
The bastard was right behind me, and when he thought he was going to cut me with the plane's propellers... I disappeared.
"Did I kill him?"
The guy was singing victory.
"Yes!! I killed him!! I'm the best!!"
His winner's cry gave me a little pity since I was alive.
"Did you kill him?"
Another voice was heard. Must be a companion.
"Damn you, Ladair, you killed him!! I'm sure tonight the captain will reward you by choosing the best bitches of this—"
Suddenly, he fell silent. Why did he do that?
"..."
His silence disturbs me a little... don't tell me!!
"Ladairrrrrr!!"
Oh shit.
"The son of a bitch is still alive!!"
They discovered me.
"He's on the back of your winged ship!!"
(Winged ship?? Seriously? Couldn't they think of a more modest name like—)
"What do you say??"
The guy made a turn to the left, and his bastard companion stared at me. I was also looking at him since I was hugging the underside of the plane.
He saw me because he was in a lower position and that's why he must have noticed me.
I was exactly like the insects squashed on windshields.
"Askin, hit him with your wing so he falls!"
I heard that.
I can hear everything they say thanks to these eye protectors that not only prevent the wind from entering my vision or the speed of the air.
They can also track communications and allow me to hear what they say.
It's undoubtedly as terrifying as it is marvelous.
"Dieeeeee!!" — shouted the guy with the weird name while directing his wing to hit me and send me flying.
Even if I hadn't heard it, the result would have been the same.
Because I am a cheater.
The instant he approached, I let go and turned on the jet boots again.
The guy missed the hit and moved away to avoid a collision.
I'm sorry, but I like seeing and hearing evil people suffering agony and powerlessness from not being able to kill me.
"I'm going to kill that guy now—"
Before giving him a chance to turn around, I shot him from behind.
Not just him, but all these guys.
The front seems to use a plasma core as an engine. If I destroy it, they'll probably die on the spot.
I don't want to kill anyone, but I also don't want to die.
So I'll do the same to them as I did to the pirates...
"Maaaelllll, nooooooo!!!"
...Beat them and leave them half-dead. They'll be able to live, but with shame and disability.
"And with that, thirty."
I've already taken down thirty guys. I have 20 left.
Everyone except the first squad was attacking me.
I've already defeated squads two through four.
I'm tired.
I want a break, but they won't give it to me.
"Damn flying rat!!!"
When I turned around, the guy who saw me was shouting while chasing me.
When I was about to turn around to attack him, the other squad members came in a pack toward me.
I stored a shotgun on my back. I had about eight, but with the battle, they got damaged while reloading thanks to the drones that came quickly. Or, they broke, making me change weapons.
They were already close. So I decided to dive so they wouldn't hit me.
Like birds, I spread my arms and, as if I were a bird, flew toward the bottom to make a curve and suffer again.
I repeated that maneuver every time it seemed they cornered me.
The planes are very fast, but thanks to the high density of the clouds, they can't see where they're going.
Which is a golden opportunity for me. Let's return to the fight.
◇◇◇
"Impossible!!"
Askewell saw the scene and couldn't believe his eyes.
"This must just be an error of my eyes!!"
Both he and the subordinates who were there also didn't believe what they were seeing.
"What I see is nothing more than a mirage!!"
But that was the reality and not a mirage.
What Askewell and the others on the flagship saw was...
"It's impossible that the technology of an ancient civilization is losing to a miserable human being!"
...Rudel shooting down planes.
One after another, they watched as the planes fell like electrocuted flies, emitting smoke.
"It's impossible that the wonderful and well-armed aerial combat unit that represents the military power of an ancient civilization...!"
Askewell had a look of panic in his crocodile eyes.
"Is losing to a human being of flesh and blood!"
Another plane had fallen. It was the one from the guy named Askin, who was shouting a little while ago.
"And worse yet... they're fucking telling me that the one responsible is just a simple, poor country Baron teen!"
The subordinates had collected information about the attacker, according to the mercenaries who hadn't fallen yet.
"I won't believe that absurd nonsense!"
Then one of the subordinates who accompanied Askewell to the cruise ship reported that the description matches the boy he had ordered beaten up until recently.
"This is a mistake, a fallacy, an... an... an absolute piece of garbage!!"
Then another subordinate said that description also matched a rumor about a country Baron who had spent the last two months hunting pirates.
Suddenly, Askewell grabbed his head in denial and repeated at the top of his lungs.
"This is a joke, my imagination is playing a trick on me... after all I told the King and..."
He swallowed a large amount of saliva that could be clearly heard.
"The Prime Minister said he would come personally to ensure that the job of assassinating that duchess had been fulfilled..."
Sweat began to pour from his face, making his coconut hairstyle turn into an old, worn-out broom. Even his brush-like mustache seemed to shrink from fear.
"My head, or worse... my title will be revoked or degraded because of that insect!!"
"Quick!!! Someone go wake up that Bandell bastard right now!!!"
"Only that miserable bastard can save us!! And even more, save my precious mustache!!!"
For the subordinates, Askewell had lost his mind.
◇◇◇
This has no end.
The damn ones are more aggressive than before.
Instead of wanting to shoot me, they seem to want to crash and kill me in their crazy suicidal attempt.
"Dieeee!!"
"Eat this!!"
I barely dodged their attacks.
One after another, they launched themselves; they didn't even let me breathe.
The first squad had arrived and were shooting at me from the heights. Not with the normal machine guns, but with some light machine guns that were embedded in those planes that were larger than the ones I was fighting.
On each machine gun, two guys were shooting at me from a much higher altitude. I barely dodged the bullets.
This is getting more dangerous.
Ixion said that in an hour, the Brynhild would arrive, but I feel that more time has passed and nothing.
A normal plane was coming from above toward me.
The guy shouted.
"For the fallen, I'll kill youuuuu!!"
(These guys are persistent.)
I flew out toward a cloud to hide.
The new one was filled with bullets, and if it weren't for the shield, I would have died.
Unintentionally, I almost crashed into a plane. Technically, I did, but thanks to the suit and that I used reinforcement magic, the blow wasn't so serious.
The guy had a face more terrifying and ugly than mine.
But I think I win right now since I'm making a strange face while my face is stuck to the plane's dome.
I waved goodbye to him with my hand before turning and flying off toward another cloud.
"You won't escape!!" — he said while chasing me behind, the miserable one.
The other planes seem lost since they don't know where I am. Better that way.
The guy kept shooting toward the cloud when... bam!
I made that sound when I jumped out from a nearby cloud to shoot him.
"I've got you right in my sights, now..."
I was about to pull the trigger when I received an unexpected message from Ixion.
"Master, it's an emergency!! Irisdina has fallen from the ship!!"
"... Huh?"
◇◇◇
This happened long before Ixion's news.
Airi was watching from a distance as Rudel yelled at the students and other members of the cruise ship.
Finally, he said something that annoyed them so much they had to go back inside to look for weapons to fight.
She didn't enter since she wasn't a fighter.
She just stayed there watching as Rudel and a small group talked before seeing Rudel running toward a large hole at the edge of the ship.
She screamed when she saw him jump into the void. Seconds later, she saw him fly out toward a large multitude of flying magic beasts that were approaching.
"I-incredible..." — was what Airi said while watching Rudel fight hard against an uncountable number of monsters.
She lowered her head due to a strange feeling.
"I knew it... a commoner doesn't deserve to be next to someone who extended his hand to her and then stabbed him."
A tear dripped down her cheek.
"I'm sure everything will be better for him from now on. I must also worry about my life."
With those hard words to herself, Airi was accepting that her bond with Rudel had ended forever.
When she lifted her gaze to accept her destiny of living away from her first friend, she saw him descending to reload ammunition while more monsters approached.
The students, servants, and sailors were also ready to fight, so the battle began after Rudel left.
Airi wasn't a fighter; she had a much more important role in the game.
And that was...
"Everyone is going to fight to survive; I must do something too so I'm not the only one doing nothing!!"
...To be support.
Airi helped some of the guys by passing them ammunition since she didn't know how to use weapons.
She was tired.
Several minutes or maybe an hour had already passed since the battle began.
Her hair was messed up, sweat was visible on her forehead, and her breathing was heavy.
Everyone was fighting for their lives.
"Gyaaahh!!" — a sailor screamed as a magic beast with a crocodile's jaw and a duck's body had bitten his leg.
He managed to eliminate the creature, but a lot of blood was coming out. It was so much it could fill a medium bucket.
Airi saw that. He wasn't the only one injured; there were many other students, servants, and sailors injured, but this was the first one seriously hurt.
A girl used an elixir to heal him, but the result was null.
The blood kept coming out; another tried to heal him with water magic, and it didn't work either.
The sailor was fainting; no one could save him until...
"Leave him to me!!"
...Airi decided to act.
She was afraid of being insulted again for being a commoner who possessed magical power.
The pain of those voices that spoke badly of her were still in her head.
She hoped never to use it again until someone appeared who told her wonderful words that made her see what she called a curse was actually a blessing.
Only now that person was no longer there to support her.
That person was Liam according to the game, only someone else stole that development, altering it.
The only difference between the game and reality was that...
"This will be weird and quick, please resist!"
...She was doing this of her own will and not what the plot indicated.
The event of revealing her powers was a very distant one, but right now she was using them to heal a random man.
A warm white light emanated from her hands to the leg.
Seconds later, the man not only recovered from the pain but also recovered from fatigue and accumulated physical damage.
"Huh? I'm healed! Is it a miracle?"
Deep down, Airi still felt a little scared, thinking they would yell horrible things at her.
But that didn't happen. The man thanked her, and the girls looked at her, wanting to ask what that was.
Immediately, Airi...
"Alright. Next!"
...Ran straight to the battlefield to heal the other injured scattered all over the deck.
One after another, despite danger in every corner, she ran to heal all the injured.
A monster in the shape of a shrew with insect wings approached her face and scratched her very deeply.
"Kyaah!!"
From her soft and white skin, there was now a large cut where a lot of blood came out, but she...
"A little physical pain is nothing compared to what happened in my childhood!"
...Hit the monster with her bare hands and ran to the next injured person while healing her own cheek.
"Rudel-san is fighting hard to survive up there!!"
Airi jumped to the side, hitting her back hard in the process because a large-jawed monster was about to devour her.
*gasp, gasp*
"He will rescue Alisa, and we will all return home!"
Slowly, Airi stood up while using her own magic on herself.
"Even if I never stand by his side again, I will keep praying for him to have a happy life."
With her legs still wobbling, she stood up.
"Because that's what—"
But that was the last thing she said before seeing the same monster approach her while it turned to ashes from a shotgun attack.
Airi was pushed with great force toward a crack; from a great height, she fell toward her imminent death.
❤❤❤
(Huh? Why am I seeing the sky move away?)
For some reason, I was seeing the sky with my arms and legs spread out like a toy.
(What happened?)
I asked myself that while my memories were still confused.
I turned my eyes to both sides to understand what happened.
(I see.)
I was falling. A strange magic beast hit me, and I fell from the railing.
What an idiot I am.
I was really happy to be useful to someone for the first time.
The ship's length is twenty stories.
I was on the fourth floor.
Every second, the falling speed and my body's mass increased, making me go faster.
That's what I understood from books.
I'm going to die.
I smiled while my eyes filled with tears. I'm at the height of the seventh floor, no, now it's the eighth.
More and more, the sky was moving away from my hands.
I have maybe one or two minutes of life left before my body is crushed by the force of speed against the sea's surface.
What should I have as my last thoughts?
There are many things I would have liked to do, people to meet, sweets to try.
It's true.
I had bought homemade sweets from the island.
I never got to try them; what bad luck.
I really am a horrible woman who deserves this.
I've already reached the twelfth floor.
I have little time left.
Should I say my life was good or unfortunate?
Honestly, I don't know what to say about that.
My childhood was horrible. I want to forget it forever.
That's why I was happy to go to the capital's academy.
Everything is so new and mysterious.
But what really excited me and then hurt...
Was separating from my first friends.
Maybe this is my punishment?
After all, I lied to them more than once.
I never told them at the beginning that I had magical power; I'm sorry.
Sometimes I didn't like that Alisa wanted to go to places where I didn't feel comfortable.
If I had told them... would things never have turned out like this?
I'm so sorry, Alisa. Deep down, I envied you a little... no, a lot, actually.
I'm a commoner; my destiny is to be on a farm cultivating until the day of my death.
In contrast, you are a fabulous, glamorous girl, born in the second-best cradle in the country after the royal family.
What commoner girl wouldn't envy that?
You have a slender body, a beautiful face; your manners make me feel very embarrassed about myself.
I wondered more than once if someone like me deserved to be by your side?
I'm sorry for being a disgusting friend. I really valued our friendship.
But for being a huge idiot, I yelled at you, and now I'm receiving my punishment for it.
And worse yet, I hurt the first one who extended his hand to me.
I had already reached the seventeenth floor.
Very soon, I will die.
Without a doubt, the best thing before Alisa was meeting Rudel-san.
At first, I was a little scared since he was a man and a noble.
Once or twice at the beginning when he invited me to his meetings, I thought he would ask me to undress.
Rudel-san's face when I met him was very terrifying.
It seemed like he was an animal looking at me.
But with time, I understood it was just my stupidities.
He is the kindest and friendliest person I could have met.
There wasn't a single time when he didn't speak to me kindly or offer me his help.
Sometimes I felt bad about that, and even more when he told me that if I needed money, to bake him some simple cookies that weren't worth more than three or five silver coins and sell them to him for ten gold coins.
I'm so sorry, Rudel-san.
Finally, I had passed the last floor and saw the lower part of the cruise ship.
I'm truly sorry, Rudel-san.
I lied to you several times and put you in a terrible situation just to save my own skin.
Is this my punishment for wanting to have friends?
That those friends were people of a status superior to mine?
Can commoners and nobles not be friends?
And even more painful... can a woman not want to spend time with a man who is just her friend?
Is it really so horrible that I wanted to spend time with a man who isn't my boyfriend?
That doesn't matter anymore.
I can smell the sea salt.
It's only five meters until my body is torn to pieces.
I really wanted to be with them.
Four meters.
I wanted to live happier things, eat tasty snacks.
Three meters.
Laugh, cry, fight over silly things, and finally be able to tell them that I enjoyed our friendship. But that doesn't matter anymore since I will die right now.
Two meters.
I'm so sorry, Alisa. I hope you and Rudel-san can get back together after I'm gone.
It was only centimeters until touching the surface.
And most of all, to you, Rudel-san, be happy.
That's what a horrible woman who lied to you about not knowing your name just to find an excuse to relate to you wishes for you.
It's now where my life ends...
...Or so I thought since suddenly I could feel something grabbing me firmly.
When I opened my eyes, I saw a figure I couldn't believe was here.
"Rudel-san!?"
◇
What the hell am I really doing?
I just rescued Irisdina, who apparently had fallen from the cruise ship.
"Idiot, what the hell were you doing to end up like this!?"
I was shouting at her because when Ixion notified me, I was fighting these bastards. I had to throw my shotguns to gain more speed and throw all the grenades from my pocket to create smoke curtains and make them think I was going elsewhere.
I couldn't grab her because she was falling faster than I was flying, so I opted to grab her when she was almost at the bottom since I launched myself in that direction.
Finally, I could do it thanks to my own falling speed helping me.
The way I grabbed her was just extending my two arms so she would fall into my hands and using reinforcement magic to withstand the impact.
My right hand was grabbing her large, soft butt while my other hand was touching her large breast, but the bra prevented me from feeling the sensation of the flesh; the gloves I was wearing didn't help either, so maybe I should imagine the sensation of softness.
So she wouldn't feel uncomfortable after flying to a higher altitude, I adjusted my hands on her leg, touching her knee, and my other hand grabbed her shoulder tightly so she wouldn't fall.
I was going to tell her more insults for this idiotic act.
But I stopped because I could see and feel how she trembled; she even clung to my neck with both hands.
Considering she fell from very high and almost died...
I shouldn't open my mouth now. I'm annoyed with her, but it would be very heavy of me to do so... besides, it feels good to have a cute girl so close and be able to smell... her sweat?
Sorry, I don't have that kind of fetish, but... even her sweat smells good, so there's nothing wrong with enjoying breathing it.
I was about to take her to the deck so she would no longer be in danger when...
"He's here!! I found him, Briggs!!"
...Those bastards found me.
"Well done, Greyroad!! You and Fraudrin go from the sides, and I'll attack from behind!"
I heard what they said, and this... is... fucking bad!!!
I grabbed Irisdina firmly. While climbing toward the sky to do a pirouette.
The bastard behind me did the same.
It seems this one is a stalker since he doesn't want to leave me alone.
I reached very high, and when it seemed I was going to hide in a cloud, the bastard was behind me shooting. The force shield did its job very well. Before entering the cloud, I made a U-turn to make the bastard continue to the bottom.
I was descending at high speed while two other planes came toward me.
I tried to dodge it by doing impossible pirouettes while making sure to prevent Irisdina from being harmed or falling.
I was making circles like a spiral while avoiding the bullets hitting us.
I'll have to move further away from this place to lose them.
"Ixion, hasn't the Brynhild arrived yet!?"
I shouted, asking Ixion to verify if my lifesaver had already arrived...
"It's about to arrive. Just hold on a few more minutes."
...But it seems I still have to survive as much as I can.
◇◇◇
Rudel hadn't noticed that for a while, the force shield had been destroyed by an overload.
Rudel and Airi were vulnerable to the shots.
But just after losing one of them in the sky, Airi's hairpin began to glow little by little. It was a small light, but its intensity grew gradually.
Then when a plane aimed at Rudel's back, a magic circle formed. No, it was just a shield-shaped crest that covered the entire back from feet to head.
In the center, there was a heart with four wings at the upper and lower ends; from the top of the heart, a crown with a strange cross was drawn.
The bullets fell directly toward the circle. Then these didn't bounce like with the shield; they were disintegrated the moment they touched the shield.
The man constantly spent ammunition, but the bullets were disintegrated effortlessly. For that reason, Rudel did nothing more than move in a zigzag, thinking the enemy's ammunition was running out.
What Rudel didn't know was that Airi's power—the Priestess's light power—was awakening little by little.
In the game, this happened only at the end when Liam accepted Airi as his wife; happiness caused a large amount of magical power to burst forth, forming shields.
At this moment, something that shouldn't have happened yet was happening without the person responsible for it being present. Without a doubt, Rudel is altering the plot by getting involved.
◇
The situation is very bad.
From three planes, they became ten.
I was moving away from the place at high speed, and the damn ones were behind me.
Fortunately, I found some floating islets.
According to Ixion, this is the result of a bad distribution of aether on the islands.
I flew directly toward them to avoid them shooting at me while I hide until they've left.
Upon entering the place, it was very terrifying.
Large, medium, and small fragments of one or several islands were floating, showing the rock or earth scattered around the area.
The damn ones couldn't enter since their planes would be destroyed, so I hid behind the medium-sized island fragment that was among large floating rocks.
Just as I expected, they were regrouping, and some were leaving while others thought about what to do.
Patrolling the place, which was longer than a cultivation sector.
After seeing them momentarily leave, I decided to take a rest.
I'm tired.
With one eye, I observed Irisdina trembling, still clinging to my neck.
Instead of reprimanding her, I think now is when something pleasant should be said to calm the panicked person.
"Umm... it's all over, for now. You can feel safe now, Irisdina."
"...ri."
I heard a faint voice coming from her.
"What are you saying, Irisdina? I can't hear you."
"...iri..."
"Huh? Irisdina, speak louder; I can't hear you."
That's when something I never expected to witness happened.
"It's Airi!!"
"Huh?"
"Call me Airi!!"
"Don't you want to call me that!?"
"Do you hate me so much that you don't even want to pronounce the name you said was a beautiful flower??"
(Huh, when did I say that? No, if I said that, it was a thought, not a conversation.)
Irisdina lifted her face to look at me. She was angry, but the way she was angry was a bit cute... damn it! Don't puff out your cheeks and look at me like an angry puppy.
I tried to calm her down since I didn't want to have this discussion.
"Listen, this isn't the right time for this."
"Then when is a good time!?"
"Did this girl just yell at me?"
What's worse, she has a firm gaze that makes me want to look away from her.
Her beautiful blue eyes were staring straight at me. I must try to take control of this argument and end it.
"L-let's talk better when we get back?"
"I don't want to!!"
This girl's voice was so loud and firm it made me shudder a bit in panic. Who is this girl?
"Right this moment, I want you to tell me the exact reason why you hate me so much!!"
"I... don't hate you."
"Liar!!"
"Eeeek~!!"
Who is this girl really? She never showed this kind of aggressive and haughty behavior before.
I must calm her down to stop her from yelling at me.
"Listen, I was just annoyed, it's not that I hate you."
That's a lie. Of course I hate you.
(Noo! Stupid brain, stop putting words in my head I don't want to say!)
"If you don't hate me, then why do you despise me!!"
My head started to hurt again while Ai-Irisdina yelled at me.
It hurts, it hurts a lot. Please, both of you stop.
You hurt me so much, and that's why I loathe you.
"Please, Rudel-san, tell me why you didn't want to speak to me anymore?!"
Enough.
"I know it was you who punished those girls and servants who bullied me. I even know somehow that it was you who fixed up my room and even left an envelope of money that said it was apologies from those people."
Lies. You're just looking for a way to latch onto me like a parasite.
Both of you, that's enough.
"I know I hurt you, I'm so sorry, I want to make amends for what I did, but that's why we need to talk and you're not doing your part in it!"
There's nothing to talk about. You're just a vile villainess who manipulated me.
My head hurts so much, I feel like it will explode at any moment.
In the middle of my pain, I noticed Irisdina started to cry and closed her eyes as she lowered her head.
Don't do it.
"If... if you truly wish to leave things like this forever..."
Don't say it.
"Then I will respect your opinion and never speak to you again."
"Y-YOU'RE WRONG!!!"
Irisdina lifted her head in surprise, her tears flowing like waterfalls.
What am I saying?
"YOU HAVE NOTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR!!!!"
My mouth is moving on its own. The words coming out of it never crossed my mind.
"YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING!!!!"
Could it be that this pain speaking is my...
"I NEVER WANTED TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND YOUR REASONS, MUCH LESS AN EXPLANATION!!!!"
I see. Truly, I am the only one at fault for denying you too.
My head hurt even more with every honest word that came out of my mouth.
If I'm going to die from the pain, let it be while being honest.
"I KNEW EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED WAS A TRAP FROM THAT BITCH!!! I KNEW IT AND STILL I SAID HORRIBLE THINGS TO YOU AND IGNORED YOUR EXISTENCE DUE TO MY OWN STUBBORNNESS!!!"
The headache increases so much I can feel my vision blurring.
"YOU DID NOTHING WRONG!!!"
It's true.
"THE ONLY ONE AT FAULT HERE IS ME!!!"
It's true. Ixion notified me after arriving at the academy about what happened; one of its spy drones captured the incident. I told it to remove them, but fortunately, in this case, they were useful.
"BOTH YOU AND ALISA ALSO ARGUED BECAUSE OF ME!!"
Alisa was angry because I acted like a jerk with my friend. I deserved that, but I said hurtful things to her... did I do it because somewhere deep down I truly didn't like being with an aristocrat?
My vision blurred more and more, and then...
"IF ONLY I HADN'T BEEN THERE.... been there..."
...I could feel a wet and warm sensation sliding down my cheeks.
"I truly would have wanted to be alone. I never would have hurt my precious friends..."
Why did it take me so long to realize that? I really am an idiot.
"I truly valued our friendship more than anything!"
My heart was what was causing these headaches.
"The days we spent together were the best; never in my whole life had I been so happy, until I ruined it!"
In my past life, I could never feel someone's affection and kindness.
"I was truly happy to have met you!!"
The day I died, I thought I would cease to exist.
There would be no one to mourn my death or remember me.
"But my stubbornness and denial made you cry! Alisa also cried because of me, and I caused her that pain despite being her knight!"
That's why when I reincarnated in this world, I was happy that my wish for a second chance opened up. I was truly happy and would accept my fate, whatever it was.
Unfortunately, I stopped thinking that way over time.
My new family was very cruel and ruthless to me. They sent me to fix things and run impossible errands for a child. Plus, reprimands for mistakes I didn't know were serious.
Those were my days until the best day of my life happened.
The birth of Pola, my sweet little sister.
A few days after she was born, I was taking care of her since it was my turn. My parents and brothers went out. Leaving a child and a baby alone is a very irresponsible and idiotic thing.
I was scared something would happen to her and that she wouldn't move, but what did happen brightened my life from that moment on.
For a baby without hair or teeth, she grabbed my hand and gave me a smile with her drool.
It was the first time someone smiled at me. I was happy. Over time, she grew up, and I spent my days with her. I was even her first word.
The verbal and physical abuse from my family during that time was nothing more than a mosquito bite compared to spending time with my sweet little sister.
When I arrived at the academy, something similar happened.
The students and teachers were hostile to me. Before meeting Irisdina, I had no one but Ixion by my side.
Until that splendid day happened.
The day I met my instructor.
I thought etiquette was a waste of time.
Everything around me was, as it didn't interest me, until my instructor called my attention that day.
I felt annoyed at first, but as the minutes passed and how he spoke to me with respect and kindness, I could feel a sense of importance from him.
At the end of that class, he extended his hand to me to continue advising me not only in etiquette but also in matters of life and nobility.
I felt truly happy having at least two people who were genuinely interested in me. Even though I was behaving like a jerk, they advised me to apologize to my friends because, to them, I must be the one suffering the most.
I'm sorry for not realizing it sooner, and thank you for extending your hand to me when my days were dark. Without your kindness, perhaps I would have taken another path.
Now that I finally understand what I truly feel, I must apologize and put an end to the harm I caused them forever. I'll make them friends again, and I'll separate myself from them so I don't make them cry anymore.
With tears still in my eyes, I looked at Irisdina to tell her that now everything will be fine for them.
"I'm sorry, Irisdina, but now everything will be fine."
I started to speak to her. She seemed to have a smile on her face, but it was slowly fading due to my words.
◇◇◇
An Ixion drone had flown towards Rudel's location where he was hiding, making sure he was still alive.
When it arrived, it found him crying in front of Airi. Then something strange happened.
A strange purple thing seemed to be appearing and disappearing momentarily while Rudel seemed to be crying and suffering at the same time.
Then, for a split second, the ring Rudel had obtained the day before shone faintly, and this made the strange form shoot backward, turning to ash seconds after leaving Rudel.
The spy drone stared fixedly at Rudel, and with a thermal visor, it could notice how his hormone levels were returning to normal.
At that moment, no one knew that Rudel had escaped a terrible and tragic fate.
◇
"I don't want to!"
"Why?"
I told Irisdina what I thought about our relationship and how it would be better for everyone if I were no longer part of it, but now for some reason she's angry.
"Why do you refuse if it's the best for everyone?"
"I want the three of us to be together again, but if it's only Alisa and me, it doesn't make sense!"
Why can't this girl understand that things would be better for everyone if I weren't part of it?
"Understand, it's better for you if I don't come back!"
"I don't want toooo!!"
"You said we were like an inseparable triangle! Why are you trying to deny that reality now?"
Guhh... this girl can say very honest and destructive things.
"You can be happy without me; I don't see the need to get back together with me. I'm a bad third wheel for you!"
"I don't want that!!!"
Her stubbornness is really annoying me... was I this unbearable?
"Why are you so insistent on not wanting me to leave!?"
That's when she didn't know what to say and tried to open her mouth.
"See, there's no reason for me to be with you!"
"That's not true! I, I..."
"Why are you so determined to want me to be with you?"
That's when I never expected the bullet that would come.
"It's because obviously I'm in love with you, you idiot!"
"..."
There was an awkward silence. Irisdina didn't realize what she had said; her cheeks were red from the shame and surprise of what she had just uttered. Meanwhile, I internally was...
(Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!)
...Trying to understand what the hell just happened.
(L-l-l-l-l-like!!!)
(She... likes me?)
(That must be an absolute and horrible lie!!)
(C-c-c-c-calm down... she's saying it to make me get back together with them. Yes, that must be it!! It's impossible for her to like a guy with a terrifying face like this!)
I proceeded to refute her.
"It's impossible for a girl to like someone with a terrifying face like mine!"
Immediately upon hearing me say that, her surprised face turned into an angry one and destroyed me in just one second.
"That's not true! I consider you very attractive! Any girl would fall for you if they truly got to know you, like I did!"
(Ehhhhhh!!)
(You're seriousssss!)
(Don't play with my heart, especially the heart of a virgin!)
"What's so good about me?! I'm just a simple country Baron." I asked her in a tone I wasn't sure was panic or intrigue.
Irisdina, in all her glory, responded.
"You're kind, good-natured, you always care about those who matter to you, you jump into danger if someone needs it, and your eyes are charming like a cat's!"
(What was that last part supposed to be?! A weird compliment?)
"You're wrong!" I shouted at her. "I'm none of that!" I was going to tell this girl who thinks I'm a great person my true feelings.
"I'm someone selfish, I adore money, I despise the nobility, I don't care about others, and...!"
I told her what I never thought I'd say while alive. With this, she'll definitely hate me. Goodbye, Irisdina.
"I enjoyed observing both your and Alisa's breasts whenever you let your guard down!!"
"I already knew all that! Do you think that affects any of the other good points you have?"
"..."
"..., ..."
"Eeeeehhhhh, you knewwwww!"
(Irisdina knew all that and still liked being with me? No, no, more importantly. Both she and Alisa knew I was looking at their breasts!!? I'm going to die of embarrassment!! Please, Ixion, kill me!!)
My head started spinning thanks to her knowing a truth I would take to the grave. She continued talking.
"You're a man, so it's normal for you to be interested in women. In my village, something similar happened, so I simply ignored their glances. From time to time, I noticed how your eyes would go to my breasts while we were eating or studying."
(Eeehhh!! You knew for a long timeee??)
"Alisa also informed me of the same thing, except she was surprised by how shameless you were! But I told her to leave you alone until you realized you were being very obvious."
(Please, stop! Don't go on any further, or you'll make me kill myself from shame!)
I feel my strength fading. Her honesty and purity in the face of my repulsive self were slowly destroying me.
If what she says is true, then why someone like me?
So I opted to compare myself with men who are better than me and whom I know.
"I'm sure despite saying that, there are many men better than me, like... Frey, for example! He's someone smart!"
"He's a narcissist who only looks at himself in the mirror! Plus, he's an unscrupulous gigolo; once he even tried to hit on me and seconds later went after another girl!"
Huh? She's right about everything. Well... let's go with the unmentionable one.
"I'm not handsome like that bastard Klein! I have a terrifying face! What kind of girl would like to wake up and see me in the morning?"
"He's garbage on the outside and black on the inside!! He hurt my friend and is a horrible, inhumane person!! You are better than him in every sense and form known, and yes. I enjoyed seeing you in the mornings because you would smile when you saw me!"
Sorry, I don't know why I named him. Now let's go with the one I know better.
"I'm not strong or reliable like Chlust!"
"He's a muscle-brain! He stinks of sweat and is clearly someone seeking attention!"
She hit the mark again... okay, those were the others. But this is one she won't be able to say anything bad about.
"He's the worst of them all! I hate him deeply because he spoke badly of Alisa even though he doesn't know her! I would never dare to associate with someone so ignorant! Once he greeted me, and I ignored him because Alisa said the prince despised him! I hate easily manipulated idiots like him!"
"Why are you making excuses!?"
(You're badmouthing the prince, you know!! But you're right. No! How much do you hate the prince to say all that? If you told me that, I'd definitely bury myself in a hole to die.)
"Rudel-san, please be honest with me and tell me why you want to distance yourself from us!!"
".I..."
Before I could say something—I don't know what the answer would be—my salvation arrived. No, rather, the problems returned.
"Kill the son of a bitchhhhh!!!"
The guys from before entered the islet space. How was that possible?
I glanced around and couldn't believe it.
Most of the islets were gone. Only the one behind me and a few around remained.
Seems the bastards did something to move them and now found the opportunity to kill me.
The sounds of the machine guns were so loud they were slowly shattering the large rock at my back.
Irisdina screamed.
"Kyahhh!!"
"Hold onto me tightly!"
I immediately told her that and positioned my legs facing forward while leaning my back against the giant floating rock.
I grabbed Irisdina very tightly and used strengthening magic.
"Wooooooooooohhhh!!!"
The boots that generate prana propulsion began generating more energy, slowly starting to look like the lower part of a missile.
Thanks to these protective goggles that also allow me to control the propulsion status through my emotions. I shot off, pressing the large rock against my back.
It hurts a lot pressing my back against a large, hard mass. But this is nothing compared to the pain I caused these girls.
Then I heard an explosion.
"Briggs!!"
I watched as half of a plane fell, having apparently crashed against the rock I was riding like a rocket.
I couldn't see if it was the top or bottom that was in flames, but that doesn't matter now.
After ascending to a high altitude. I turned halfway and used the rock as a springboard to reach the cruiser faster as it fell downward; it seems the islets must be at a certain altitude.
I was getting close; I could see it getting bigger and bigger.
I'll get Irisdina to safety, and then
"You dirty bastard, you'll pay for shooting down Briggs and Fraudrin!!"
"Greyroad, you have him in your sights, kill hiiim!"
When I turned around, I observed how the rock had hit a plane and they were both floating in the sea. Two more planes were also coming behind me.
Bullets were fired. One of them hit my goggles directly.
"Shit! The shield is gone! Ixionnnn"
"No need to shout."
Almost immediately as I spoke, my savior spoke.
"Our trump card has arrived just in time."
"Where is it?" I asked.
"To your right, right now."
Hearing that, I looked in the direction he said and saw something that wasn't there before. A large amount of clouds coming directly toward here.
In just a few seconds, those clouds dissipated, and the first thing I saw was the head of a dragon roaring.
The dragon flew so fast it collided with the two planes, destroying them. I want to believe they're okay even if it's a lie, please, but it's not the time to worry about others.
After that, Brynhild quickly positioned itself behind me to protect me as I climbed onto the deck to leave Irisdina safely.
Immediately upon touching the wooden surface, my ship positioned itself alongside the cruiser to be its defender. The sound of cannons destroying the hidden wooden parts came to light; even the dragon's mouth had a small cannon emerging.
I see. There's no other option but this, right, Ixion?
Suddenly, my sleeve was grabbed.
I turned and saw Irisdina with moist eyes.
She opened her mouth to ask me something.
"Rudel-san, please save Alisa. She must be scared."
It was something I was going to do anyway.
I smiled at her, saying, "Don't worry, I was going to do that right now."
She gave me a warm smile. That smile, for a second, made me want to hug her and never let go. Why did I imagine that?
I turned around to prepare and fly off while hearing Brynhild's cannon fire.
I stopped only to say something that was bothering me.
"Make sure you don't fall again, or else... I'll have to go save you while I rescue Alisa. You hear me... Airi?"
I didn't turn around because my cheeks were red with embarrassment. But I didn't need to, as I imagined what was happening behind me.
She stayed quiet for a moment, but just like the first time I met her, she must have her hands behind her back, smiling while shyly playing with one of her feet.
"Yes ♡"
"Take care, Rudel-san."
"I'm off now."
Upon hearing her sweet voice, I quickly ran to the edge of the cruiser to fly off directly to rescue Alisa.
Why is my mouth trying to make a weird, happy grimace?
◇◇◇
On that day, a friendship was rebuilt.