The classroom was enveloped in a somber atmosphere since morning.
The students were talking about Warren, who was seriously injured and hospitalized.
"Did you hear what happened to him yesterday? It seems Derrick's group has set their sights on the Altfode students."
"They should return to their country; it's safer for them."
"It's regrettable, but there's nothing we can do for them. The culprit was a noble with divine protection."
It seemed having divine protection or not was something important for the people of Aster.
Apparently, if you had divine protection, then you could be called a noble. The nobles here had a different origin from the nobles in the kingdom.
They were nobles because they were recognized by the sacred tree.
They wouldn't be nobles without that recognition.
And then, if you were a noble, anything you did to those without divine protection would be forgiven.
"What a horrible country."
I murmured to myself. Lucy, who was sitting in front of me, looked down.
"I'm sorry about your classmate."
"Thank you, but yesterday I spoke with a teacher belonging to the Herring Household on the side of the future heir. He said he would talk to Derrick."
Lucy seemed surprised but also looked relieved upon hearing that.
It was a lie; I say it so she wouldn't feel bad.
Liam came normally and, unlike me, he was calm. That's because he knew a big problem would arise if we touched Derrick.
"Bradford, today I'll go with Erselica to see how Warren is doing."
"I understand."
Lucy turned to look at me with her usual cheerful smile.
"Is it true you have a pet bunny? Erselica-chan told me the other day. Can I come to your house to see it?"
"Yes. Feel free to come whenever you want."
Professor Malcolm entered the classroom just as Lucy looked even happier.
"Everyone, quiet. I think you've heard about what just happened, but nonetheless, we will begin class as usual."
The professor looked at Liam and me as if asking if we were okay. We both nodded, and class began.
◇◇◇
After school.
I was going home with Lucy. I was waiting for her at the entrance right now.
"She's taking a while."
"She said she was going to talk to her younger sister, Diana, first."
It seemed they lived in the same apartment, so she didn't want to worry her because she would be late getting home.
Being an older sister was difficult.
I also wanted an older sister like Lucy. It reminded me that I have two horrible older brothers at home. Lyle, the stupid firstborn, and Bram, the serious fool.
I wish I could trade them for Lucy or Sara.
"Master, there is a small problem."
"What happened?"
Ixion was monitoring Lucy. It seemed there was a problem happening there.
"The conquest target, Jude, is approaching Lucy. The situation seems dangerous."
"Spare me from all these problems."
"I'll show you the way."
I ran inside the building with Ixion's guidance.
Even so, what the hell was going on for Ixion to consider it dangerous?
After running for a moment, I ran into "Sara-chan" when I turned a corner.
"Why are you in such a hurry?"
She was curious seeing me run in a rush.
"Ah~, sorry. I'm short on time, so excuse me."
"Wait. You can tell me."
"No, it's actually about Lucy..."
Sara's expression changed from cheerful to annoyed when I mentioned Lucy's name.
Did she hate Lucy that much?
◇◇◇
Lucy was pushed against a wall in an empty hallway.
"What are you doing!?"
Lucy's back hit the wall, and she looked at the culprit. In response, Jude extended his hand and placed it on the wall.
He intentionally made a loud noise to threaten Lucy. Then he brought his face closer.
"That's my line. Lucy, I heard you're going to another man's house."
Lucy's back turned cold.
Jude's face was attractive, but it only caused disgust inside her.
(Why is he so persistent... how disgusting.)
"Don't touch me!"
Lucy cursed him inside her heart while on the outside she tried to push Jude away.
But she was facing a man.
He was also taller than her. He was even stronger.
She could only push him a little.
"I can do whatever I want. I don't need your permission. Besides, stop spreading the rumor that I'm your woman. You're a nuisance."
She and Rudel were in the classroom when they talked about her going to his house.
In other words, there must have been someone in the same classroom who reported it to Jude.
It was disgusting how far Jude would go to ask about her. She couldn't accept it.
Lucy thought Jude would get angry at her words, but instead, he was smiling.
But it was a sinister smile.
She wanted to step back, but her back was pressed against the wall.
"Lucy, everything is going to end for you at this rate."
"I-It's pointless even if you threaten me. I'm not going to do what you tell me."
"You're wrong. It's not that. Right now, Derrick has you in his sights."
"Huh?"
Lucy was confused because Derrick's name suddenly appeared, but Jude ignored her and continued.
"The hunt is almost over. Only the guys from the kingdom are left. The same goes for your guides. Haven't you wondered why you haven't seen some senpai lately?"
Lucy started trembling when she heard that Derrick would target her sooner or later.
"T-That's absurd! They're supposed to do it to expel foreign students. Not to hurt their own compatriots."
"We're talking about Derrick. Even among vermin; that guy is the worst. The teachers asked me to tell him to stop, but that guy doesn't listen to anyone."
"You're in danger at this rate. But, if you become my woman, I won't let a simple thug like Derrick lay a hand on you. What are you going to do, Lucy?"
Jude knew that sooner or later Derrick would target Lucy as the guide for the Altfode students. He used that information and waited patiently until this moment to make Lucy become his woman.
Realizing that. Lucy kicked Jude in the groin.
"Don't fuck with me!"
"Guh!"
Jude crouched down while holding his groin. Lucy looked at him with a cold gaze.
"Aren't you ashamed of using perverse things to get me? I hate persistent men who don't know what 'no' means."
Jude started sweating coldly while crouching. But he still smiled.
"I like... that spirit of yours... that's why I want to make you mine. But, it seems you're being too naive. It's pointless even if you try to rely on Lugh. That weakling won't be able to protect you. I'm the only one who can."
Lugh was from the Lunor Household, one of the six great noble households. He was also Diana's boyfriend.
He would surely lend a hand if she asked. But Jude claimed it would be useless.
"If Lugh steps out to help you, then I will help Derrick."
If Jude, who was the heir of the Banfield Household, lent his help to Derrick, then Lugh couldn't do anything by himself.
Lucy became even angrier upon knowing that.
(This guy, how far will he go, why does Diana tell me to be with someone like this?)
"Are you saying you will help Derrick?"
Lucy clenched her hands. She understood that at this moment she couldn't do anything.
(This is really the worst.)
(Is there... no way to oppose the six great nobles?)
Lucy wanted to cry.
(The power of the sacred tree will make us succumb to them whether we want to or not.)
Jude stood up painfully and made a trembling smile while placing his hand on Lucy's shoulder.
"If you become my woman, you can live a life without any inconvenience. Those students you care for will be safe. Your younger sister also wants that for you. But if you refuse to be mine, if you prefer to be in the arms of another man who is not me, if you're going to belong to someone else, then here and now I would rather..."
Jude's right hand shone.
His emblem began to glow red.
"I will never allow it, Lucy, you will be mine whether you want to willingly or by force!"
Lucy started to shed tears while her mouth twisted in pain.
A voice came from the distance at that moment.
"I won't make it in time. Ixion, I choose you!"
"Master, what are you saying? Master! S-stop..."
Lucy turned her gaze towards that voice. Jude's gaze was also drawn to that and looked in the same direction.
A gray metal ball crashed into Jude's face.
"Pwah!"
The iron ball accurately hit Jude's nose. He was bleeding from the nose as he collapsed to the floor and then lay down with his legs spread open.
The gray ball rolled slowly on the floor before slowly floating. It turned its red eye towards Rudel, who was approaching.
"Home run! It doesn't seem like it."
Rudel rejoiced, but in contrast, the gray ball spoke in an angry tone.
"What was that supposed to be?! It was very rude of you to use me like that. I am the pinnacle of super technology from ancient humanity, not a toy ball to be treated as your personal slave. Also, I corrected the trajectory mid-throw. There was no way you could have hit something with your weak wrist. And, I demand an apology from you."
Rudel snorted sarcastically.
"Pff, as if you'd get one."
"As I suspected, you are the worst, I hate you, master."
"Is that so? I feel the same, potentially genocidal scrap."
"Please correct that. I have a name which is Ixion."
"What a splendid name. You can show me your reverence for giving you that name."
"Shouldn't you treasure me more, master?"
"I am treasuring you, in my own way."
The two were on bad terms, no matter how you looked at it.
"Huh? What?"
Jude was slowly getting up while Lucy was confused. His hand was pressing his nose, but blood kept dripping from there.
"A-Are you the bastard foreign student Lucy was going to meet?"
Jude got furious. He made the back of his right hand glow.
It seemed he was planning to use the emblem's power.
"Rudel-kun, run! This guy is an heir of the six great nobles!"
Lucy stepped forward to cover Rudel, but Jude pushed her aside and turned his right hand towards Rudel.
"It's too late!"
But... Sara appeared in front of Rudel with the emblem on her right hand glowing similarly.
Sara was covering Rudel.
"Jude, do you want to make me angry?"
Jude lowered his right hand, puzzled, in response to those words.
"Sara, why are you protecting that guy? That guy is scum who laid his hand on my woman!"
Sara smiled slightly in a playful manner in response and crossed her arms, not before mockingly touching her hair.
"Is that so? It's the first time I've heard that this woman is your lover. Jude, do you at least know how to differentiate between your delusion and reality? Or does the Banfield Household have a history of mental illness?"
"Guh. Do you really want to fight me?"
Both came from the six great nobles.
"Oh, do you want to escalate this problem? You'll be the one at a disadvantage in that case. Have you forgotten that I am the daughter of the interim head? Do you want your father to have problems with mine over something like this? I have no problem telling my father you tried to lay a hand on me."
"Tch."
The powers of their emblems were equal.
But the Rosenberg Household, which currently served as the main household of Aster, had a higher status than the Banfield Household.
Jude turned his back and spoke to Lucy before leaving.
"Lucy, don't try to deny it. You have no other path but to choose me!"
Lucy looked at Jude before turning her gaze to Rudel and Sara.
This strange grouping was unexpected for her.
"Sara, why did you help me?"
With an I-don't-care attitude. Sara touched her hair and looked in the opposite direction of Lucy's face.
"Hah, what are you talking about? It seems you're misunderstanding something, dear, I didn't do it for you; I simply acted in defense of Rudel-kun who was here."
"... Rudel-kun? Since when are you so close that you call him as if he were your childhood friend?"
Rudel smiled happily seeing that effortlessly and without even knowing what was happening, he gained an ally. But at his side was a gray sphere pressing its body against his cheek.
"Then you would really help me if I asked."
"T-That's correct."
Sara blushed seeing Rudel smiling at her. Lucy watched that strange scene and didn't know how this developed. So she decided to at least say thank you.
"... Well, the fact is you really helped me at this moment, so thank you. Thanks to both of you."
Sara turned her back to Lucy.
"About what I heard regarding Derrick. He wasn't at his staying mansion nor has he come to classes today, but tomorrow when I see him, I will surely give him a scolding."
"More importantly. Rudel-kun!"
Sara ran and linked her arms with Rudel's left arm.
"I want to finish what we couldn't finish yesterday. Come on, let's not waste time, but first I want us to go somewhere."
Lucy was surprised by the scene she saw; for some reason, she got annoyed and also went to grab Rudel's free arm.
"Sorry! But I also have an important appointment with Rudel-kun, you know?"
"Do I care about that!? I mean your business, not what he does."
Rudel was very surprised by this strange, unexpected turn of fate.
(Huh, what the hell is going on with this situation taken from a cliché romantic comedy!)
(My virgin-meter is rising to radioactive danger levels!)
Sara, as if she were a child fighting over a toy, pulled Rudel towards her direction.
And in response to that, Lucy did it even more annoyingly.
"I don't know what business you have with him, but can't it be another day and precisely today?"
"I return those words to you. I only need him for a few moments and then I'll take him home."
"Sara, you are engaged to Tom! Why are you after a man?"
"Hah? You're misinterpreting this. Firstly, we're not engaged yet, and secondly, the way you say it makes it sound as if you don't want your secret boyfriend to be stolen."
Lucy blushed upon hearing that.
"H-He's not my boyfriend or anything, he's just a classmate! But you're the suspicious one!"
Rudel was panicking, not only because of the happening event but also because of what he heard.
(I didn't know she was going to be engaged to one of the heroine's romantic targets!)
"Ixion, help, this is out of control!"
Ixion, who floated at his side, looked in the opposite direction of his master's face. He turned to look at him and utter unexpected words.
"This is what they call 'caught in the act of infidelity,' isn't it?"
"Ixion!?" said Rudel, puzzled by the tone his servant was using.
"I want you to apologize and reconsider the mistreatment I receive from you. Don't look for me; I will, when you stop deceiving them."
Ixion flew away through an open window, leaving Rudel alone with two girls.
"Rudel-kun, come with me for a bit. There's someone I want you to meet." Sara said while using all her strength to pull him towards her side.
Rudel tilted his head.
"Someone you want me to meet?"
Sara stopped and looked at him with an embarrassed look but with moist, affectionate eyes.
"My parents."
"... Huh!"
Rudel and Lucy blanked out upon hearing a possible confession.
"What are you thinking? Aren't you the princess of the Rosenberg Household!?"
What was someone of her status thinking, wanting a foreigner to meet her parents?
"Don't tell me, are you really in love with Rudel-kun, Sara!?"
Even Sara got flustered seeing Lucy's reaction.
"Idiots! Don't have any strange misunderstandings! I have a reason for saying something as weird as that, which is why come with me for a few minutes."
Rudel was shaken from side to side by Lucy and Sara pulling on his arms.
Then...
"Aah. Aaaaahhhhhh!"
Rudel's virgin-meter couldn't take it anymore, and in response to that. He abruptly removed his arms from them and jumped out the window.
Rudel ran in terror while they watched him running towards the east of the city, screaming.
"A virgin doesn't need so much unnecessary stimulation!"
◇◇◇
Night had already fallen.
Liam and Erselica were in the plaza buying things like clothes and food for Clovis, who was taking care of Warren.
Thanks to Aster's healers, who use the power of the sacred tree, the injuries were reduced to only mild bruises that would heal in a short time.
Liam, who won a strength contest against Chlust and Frey to see who would protect Erselica from possible thugs, was enjoying that moment.
(We couldn't have moments like this last semester due to everything that happened; I regret using a hospital visit to spend time with her.)
Liam fell in love for some strange reason with Erselica last year. Airi should have been the one, but now he said he loved a woman who lied to the kingdom and whose life was hanging by a thread.
Both were happy. Liam couldn't leave the inside of the castle and always longed for that.
He also had the woman he loved by his side; it could be said that Liam got what he wanted in the wrong way.
But he was still happy.
He was until suddenly they were surrounded by a group of strange young men.
Erselica seemed scared. In response to that panic, Liam confronted them.
"You boys, what do you think you're doing? Don't you know that if you pick a fight with the prince of a foreign country, you could cause a huge international problem?"
"You third-world nobles, it's a nuisance that you step on this magnificent land with your disgusting feet."
It was Derrick who came out from among his lackeys and stuck out his tongue while making a vulgar expression.
Erselica watched that in terror.
(Wait, the event where this happened already passed, and it was supposed to be because Liam stood out. I made sure he didn't do anything, but why is this guy after us?)
"Problems, you say?"
Derrick and his lackeys laughed at those words.
"And what if there are, huh!? A pathetic, miserable third-world country can't lay a finger on Aster, the land of the humans chosen by the sacred tree. Do you think anyone would lift a finger if something happened to you, huh?"
The people around, including military personnel patrolling the area, left upon seeing Derrick.
Liam looked around to see if he could use something. He only had a tree at his side.
He tore off one of the branches, which was thin but thick like a baseball bat, and said.
"Don't say I didn't warn you. Erselica, I will protect you no matter what."
Liam turned his head to see Erselica, who looked at him with moist eyes.
(I can't believe one of the weird lines Bradford says worked!)
(I'm sure I'll earn a lot of points if I continue like this.)
"Scum, go get them!"
Derrick snapped his fingers, and the lackeys ran straight at Liam.
Without moving from his position, he only moved his hand; the branch became imbued with slight magical power.
One by one, as if it were a game of throwing things, he sent them flying after hitting them.
They flew straight into their other companions or into trash bins.
Derrick looked annoyed as more than a dozen men flew off as if they were lightweight dolls.
They didn't know that in the Kingdom of Altfode, where the adventurer profession is practiced, it was normal to have a trained body. Liam had dedicated himself since childhood to training his martial arts, swordsmanship, and magical power. For him, opponents like these were just a game.
There was only one person Liam couldn't defeat, not even using the gift from his tenth birthday, which was an armored unit.
Liam looked at all of them fallen, and his honest thoughts came out.
"What a pitiful state this is. Undoubtedly, the only individual I must face and defeat is him. You're not even good for a warm-up."
Derrick got very irritated. He raised his hand towards Liam, and a magic circle manifested.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, third-world scum! Take this, energy ray!"
A golden light shot out at high speed.
Liam didn't even blink; he raised his hand, and the energy ray was struck by the branch, directing it to the sky and exploding.
A confident smile was seen on his face. He wasn't even using a large amount of magical power for it.
Derrick was very irritated.
"Scum like you is nothing compared to the power of the six great nobles!"
More energy rays shot out.
Liam simply deflected them to places where they wouldn't cause much damage to structures or Derrick's lackeys.
Derrick seemed tired, but his annoyed face changed to a smile.
"Good. You want to play, shall we have a duel?"
Liam looked at him, puzzled.
"If I win, we'll have fun with you. But if you win, we'll leave and apologize for what happened at your embassy. If you accept, say, 'I swear by the sacred tree.'"
(This guy looks weak. His magical power is very weak too. Not even as a group can they handle me; I can win.)
"Fine. I accept. I swear by the sacred tree."
Derrick looked at Liam and then stuck out his tongue in a wild manner.
"This is a tremendous idiot, no doubt! Not only do you not doubt, but you accept without hearing what the duel is about, gyahaha!"
Erselica looked at Derrick, confused.
(Why is he laughing? It's obvious my prince is stronger, but... he swears by the sacred tree? I feel like something like this happened before...)
Then Erselica got scared.
"Liam, reject the bet quickly!"
"Too slow!"
Derrick pointed at Liam.
"The duel is this! Kill each other!"
No one could comprehend something as absurd as what he just said, but Derrick kept smiling.
"Don't talk nonsense, as if I would do it!"
Derrick's mouth distorted with a wide smile that looked like a crescent moon; in the next moment, the back of his right hand also glowed.
"Too bad, it seems you broke the duel agreement!"
Erselica watched in amazement as a magic circle manifested beneath their feet.
"I remember now! This is the event where Derrick kidnapped the heroine! But we never saw any development involving us!"
"Gyahaha, watch closely, idiots! This is the power of Aster's blessing! The oath to the sacred tree! Anything sworn in its name and broken will fall victim to its wrath!"
After the green light shone, roots and vines grew from the circle, coiling around the necks of both.
After a few seconds, the magic circle stopped glowing, and the roots dried up, falling to the ground.
Liam looked at Erselica worried and noticed something on her neck.
Erselica also noticed something on Liam's neck.
It was a mark, almost like a tattoo in the shape of a serpent that ran all around their necks.
"Gyahaha, this is your punishment, you fools will never be able to use magical power again! If you try to do it, that light will shine and suck all the mana from your bodies!"
"And to make it even more delicious, that mana will go straight to me. Making me more powerful, gyahaha."
Liam tried to cover the branch he had with magical power again. But upon trying, his neck tightened.
In the instant it seemed he was being suffocated, Erselica was taken hostage.
"Hey, don't let that midget go; we'll use her as food for the dogs since she's no use for our fun."
Erselica got scared, whether because of one thing or the other she heard.
Liam wanted to save her, but without magical power, he couldn't defeat them.
Derrick approached him with a metal chair from the surroundings.
Liam couldn't do anything more than stay still and say.
"Erselica, sorry, I messed things up for everyone again."
Derrick lifted the chair as high as his arms could.
"Idiots, let's take care of this trash and then that other guy who's hanging around here!"
Liam's head was hit very hard by the metal chair. After falling to the floor, Derrick's lackeys came to beat him with various objects.
Liam looked at Erselica in terror and had a thought.
(How pathetic I turned out to be again. Once more, because of me, we'll cause problems for the kingdom. If... you were in my position, what would you do, Bradford?)
Rudel's image appeared in his head, and Liam laughed while being savagely beaten by Derrick and company.
◇
It was already very late.
After running away from two girls who harassed me, I headed out to look for Ixion, who flew away annoyed.
I bought a coffee. He wasn't at home, nor at Erselica's mansion, nor any other place.
So I went to a café near the plaza to relax and think.
Because I was so relaxed, I didn't notice I was surrounded.
A group of young men with strange, colorful hairstyles left me no opening.
Among them, a boy dressed in clothes that made him look like a thug appeared.
His hair was green and his eyes yellow.
He had a wine bottle in his left hand.
"Hey."
He spoke to me; his breath stank. I don't know if it was because of his yellow teeth or the smell of alcohol.
"If I'm not mistaken, you're Derrick, right?"
"That's right. Don't forget the 'sama' when calling me by name."
For some reason, I feel déjà vu.
"Do you want to have a duel?"
"I have a better option. Let's settle."
He was saying something strange, but I paid no attention and said something that didn't match my personality.
I was annoyed by what he did to Warren, but if someone had to defeat him by the end of the semester, it seemed fine to me.
"How much do you want to stop bothering us and our guide? Even if it doesn't look like it, I'm rich; give me your price, and I'll deliver the money to you tomorrow."
For some reason, his smiling face was erased by one of astonishment.
"... Hey, this isn't fun for me."
"Huh?" I wondered since what he said made no sense.
"Don't ruin my fun, you son of a bitch!"
Without any reason, he raised his left hand and hit me on the head with the bottle.
"Pwah!"
I could feel blood coming from my head as I fell to the floor.
Then, he started kicking me.
"Who do you think you are to ruin my fun! You're just scum from a third-world country that's good for nothing but giving us money! Your women should serve us and desire our children to rejoice that we consider them worthy of the humans chosen by the sacred tree!"
"Give this bitch a recovery elixir and we'll force him to swear!"
Some guys lifted me up and gave me a recovery elixir to drink to heal from these injuries.
After regaining my senses, this guy punched me in the face and then signaled me to look ahead.
There, my eyes opened in astonishment.
Liam was beaten up, and Erselica was with him. Both were tied to a kind of cross.
"Say it! Say you swear to the duel for the lives of these two!"
I have no idea what's happening, so I'd better do as he says.
"I... swear."
"Gyahaha, tonight is fantastic!"
A strange magic circle appeared beneath my feet.
"The duel is... hit me just once and these two will die!"
My swollen eyelids opened in astonishment.
"T-That's absurd and idiotic. It's not a duel if I have everything to lose."
"Gyahaha, in that case, you accept the breach of the duel, loooser."
The magic circle beneath my feet started to glow. Roots came out of the circle and wrapped around my neck.
Then it disappeared, and the roots dried up.
"With this, we've almost completed the hunt! Now let's go to his house and blow it up."
"Derrick-sama, if I'm not mistaken, the reports said this guy has an aircraft."
A pointy-headed guy pointed at me.
"And what about it?"
"It's very beautiful according to the reports."
"..."
"Good. Change of plans, let's go to the port, take his aircraft, and crash it into his kingdom's embassy. That way, they'll think they went crazy."
"T-That's stu... pwah."
My face was punched by his fist, and I fell to the floor.
"Don't give me orders! Scum, tie him to my car, put safety gear on him so he doesn't die like the previous ones! And tie those two up well."
I felt someone take my legs and place a very strong rope. Then, something like armor was placed on my body.
"Try not to die after the first few seconds. The armor was reinforced by the sacred tree's protection, so it's resistant, but it was made by us, so nothing guarantees it's functional."
"Huh?"
I don't understand anything that's happening, but I could observe how Liam and Erselica were placed in the back of the cars. Their crosses were placed and tied well so they wouldn't fly off. Wait, don't tell me...
"Let's go quickly to the port!"
In that fraction of a second, I could feel an infernal pain.
"Hyaaaaahhhhh!"
I was dragged by the asphalt as if I were a crash test dummy.
Little by little, the armor broke into pieces; I tried to use magical power to resist, but my neck hurt for some reason. But I had to do it because the asphalt at high speed was going to tear my skin.
With my eyes open from the pain, I watched Erselica crying, who swayed with the wind from the high speed we were going.
Liam was beaten up and swayed the same; he seemed to want to cry.
How did you two end up here?
Before I knew it, I felt my back very hot and slippery. Also, we had already arrived at the port.
Some guys came to check on me and, after verifying I was still alive, gave me various recovery elixirs.
Then, they dragged me along with Erselica and Liam to the place where the Schwert was anchored.
No, don't tell me...
"Oh, this shit is very cute! It has a grotesque horn, but it still looks excellent."
"Making it fly into the embassy would be a waste."
"Totally agree."
An electronic voice was heard in the distance.
Among the shadows illuminated by the moonlight, I observed a gray sphere with a red eye coming this way.
"What the hell is this?"
"Pleased to meet you, I am Ixion, the one in charge of this ship."
Derrick and his lackeys looked at Ixion, who for some strange reason introduced himself.
"What are you?" asked Derrick curiously.
"I am what you call a lost object. And, I heard your conversation a little while ago. It would be a pity for an aircraft with excellent combat capabilities to be destroyed in that way."
Huh? Ixion, what are you talking about? What do you think you're saying?
"The human you see there is my former master. Due to all the lack of respect he has given me, our contract between master and servant is broken. So I'm looking for a new one."
I looked puzzled and panicked at this unreal situation. Ixion, what the hell are you doing?
"I don't understand a damn thing you're saying, but, are you the one who controls this ship? And the sailors or crew?"
"There are none. I control everything since I am a super technology from ancient humanity. Which seeks a new master."
Ixion's red eye looked at me.
"Let's see... are you saying this guy was your master and now he's not? Why? Did I defeat him?"
"In part, yes."
Derrick burst out laughing.
"Gyahaha, the magnificent and unbeatable Derrick-sama has obtained a lost object without going to a dungeon! With this, now I'll have more chances of being the new head of the Herring Household!"
His lackeys started laughing with him.
"Boss, does that mean we can get rid of them?"
A guy approached Erselica and placed a small knife against her throat.
She was trembling and crying. I watched as a red drop came out of her neck.
"Hah, what for? Didn't you hear I got something better than bothering these idiots? Better buy alcohol and bring prostitutes; we'll have fun tonight on my new aircraft, yuyu."
These idiots started climbing the aircraft's automatic staircase. I tried to move to stop them, but this guy kicked me in the face, and I fell to the floor.
The lackeys untied Erselica and Liam because they were no longer of use. Erselica, after settling Liam on a barrel to rest, approached me.
She helped me stand up, and I observed how Ixion was on Derrick's right shoulder, who walked along the deck.
Ixion, have you really betrayed me?