Chapter 20: Chapter 13 ─ Pirate Suppression

Opening my eyes, I looked up at the same roof I had seen for months.

With a slight difference, next to me was someone sleeping.

It was Lucy, who had a happy expression on her beautiful face that showed that what happened yesterday was real.

I... accepted Lucy as my wife.

Therefore, I can say with all retaliation that I am an unfaithful man.

But, it is for that very reason that I cannot leave Lucy alone.

I can't hesitate anymore, I have to protect her as I will protect those two.

"Umm... good morning."

She was waking up, her lovely look in her cheek to cheek smile was wonderful.

She came up to me and kissed me on the mouth.

This kiss represented a woman accepting a man.

As we were unclothed, Lucy's naked breasts pressed against me.

Actually, it was not an unpleasant sensation at all.

I even enjoyed it.

After swirling our tongues, Lucy said to me.

"You know, I'm still upset about yesterday."

"What thing?"

"I told you not that place."

"...!"

"You go and do whatever you want. It's true I said I wanted to experience my first time with you, but what you said was worse than I thought."

"W-well you didn't complain about it."

"I was immersed in bliss and didn't think about the pain I'd feel afterwards, if it weren't for the healing magic the sapling gives me, I'd still be sore."

"Sorry."

"If you're really sorry, make us a spectacular breakfast."

Despite looking angry at me, the heart-shaped eyes Lucy showed indicated how serious she was about that breakfast.

◇

I went downstairs to prepare breakfast, I found Ixion who was making it for me.

"Good morning Master, did you have a splendid night?"

"Your sarcasm is evident."

"It's not sarcasm, I'm being honest."

"Your honesty stinks of sarcasm."

"In that case don't ask me to praise you."

"Why should you praise me?"

"Because you admitted to being an unfaithful man without my telling you, well done for that."

"You were spying on us!"

I was shocked and disgusted, that this guy, who is not a human being, but has the voice of one, had spied on us in privacy.

Showing his usual dull seriousness in his voice, Ixion said.

"I have eyes everywhere, I am able to find out everything.

"Many times we needed those eyes in the past and you never did anything."

"Just for saying that I'll give the burnt toast to you."

I sat waiting for Lucy to come downstairs, on the table were some photographs.

"What's this?"

"Something you should be interested in."

I looked through the photographs, there was Sara in a beautiful engagement dress.

"What do you want me to see this for?"

"Don't you feel sorry for Sara? You can tell by her expression that she's not happy."

I said bluntly.

"What are you suggesting by giving this to me?"

Ixion dropped his sarcastic tone and spoke to me in a serious manner.

"You already took Lucy who is the priestess of the sapling, which is an extension of the sacred tree. Therefore, this country is compelled to want the sapling so much, that you have not realized that there are threats and extortions at the embassy to get it back."

"Are there?"

"Randolf exiled you to protect you and Lucy from the great nobles. For that reason, he did not ask you to stay."

"For that very reason we must stay. We must set foot in Aster and take over the country."

I sighed as I heard him utter his usual madness.

"Don't I understand what you gain by taking over a country? You know that you have to administer various things and fill out papers, don't you?"

"I know."

Ixion began to use his weird science to lift the toast, flip the eggs and fry the bacon before serving it.

"That is why we must take over this country."

"I've done some analysis on the sacred tree... I detected that it has the old human gene."

"It has the gene of old humans?"

That really surprised me, I never thought there were traces of the old humans here too.

"If we get hold of Aster, I can investigate the sacred tree no problem and you can have Lucy here living in peace without having to go through the judgmental gaze of those two. Believe me they'll be super pissed at you."

"I hope so. I told them I wouldn't cheat on them and yesterday I did it with another girl."

"It amazes me how despite experiencing the female human body, your way of thinking doesn't mature. You really are a very pitiful human in your case, I fear that your descendants will be just like you."

"Hey!"

"Back to the topic."

Now this scrap was pouring some strawberry juice in a pitcher with ice cubes.

"Sara's important because she's the daughter of the Acting Chairman who rules this country. From what I could hear, it seems that the great nobles are worse divided than we thought."

"Almost all of them are against Randolf, he only has Linus on his side."

"You think taking Sara wouldn't turn Linus against him?"

"It certainly will, but so what?"

"With me on your side, you can attack any country and face retaliation, which is zero. I would destroy that nation's economy before they would punish you.

"The kingdom doesn't matter to me, but your health does, therefore, the kingdom would be an extension of you."

Sometimes I was afraid of the way Ixion thought.

It's very scary how he suggests invading countries and attacking them and the next moment talking about reforms.

I'm sure that with Ixion on my side I can conquer the world, but what would I gain from it?

On the other hand, what he said is true. I worry about Sara.

She doesn't look happy.

"Why is it that every time I see a sad girl, trouble always happens?"

"I'd like to know that too."

"Rudel. Is breakfast ready?"

Lucy was coming down the stairs, she saw Ixion and greeted him.

"Good morning Ixion."

"Good morning Lucy."

Lucy sat down at the table, she thought I prepared it.

"Everything looks delicious. Thank you for preparing it Rudel."

"Not at all."

After thanking Lucy for something I didn't do. I delighted in watching her expression of joy as Ixion's spherical body rubbed hard against my cheek.

"First you call me a fairy and now you steal my compliments. You are the worst Master in the world, you knew it?"

"That makes me the best."

After saying that, someone knocked on the door. I wish I had a servant, Ixion doesn't open the doorknob because he doesn't want to, not that he doesn't have anyone to do it.

As I turned the knob and saw who it was, an official stood before me.

"Good morning Count Bradford. I was sent by the Acting Chairman personally to deliver this to you."

I received a letter, opened it and began to read the contents.

Halfway through, I looked at the official.

"Subjugate pirates? Me?"

"That's right. as you can read, the Acting Chairman writes that if you wish to invalidate the exile you received you must comply with this demand. It is even signed by 4 of the great nobles."

Ixion approached me and scanned the letter to analyses it.

"Certainly, even though it is not Randolf's handwriting, an official had to have written what it said. But it is true Master, they are giving you the opportunity to stay if you help them deal with these pirates who have been attacking their borders for months now."

I found this strange.

"Why don't you guys work it out, didn't you boast about being invincible?"

"The problem is that the ships the pirates use are stolen from the Herring Household. And these ships have the emblem of the sacred tree on them so they are recognized as Aster property and we can't damage them."

"I see, so Randy the pig sold illegal ships to pirates, how bad did the great nobles look to that guy."

I blurted out a venomous comment to one of the great nobles, I wanted to see his reaction to see if he didn't do anything weird.

"I can't tell you for sure if it's as you say, but it's true that we need help and 4 of the 6 great nobles agree."

"The Acting Chairman couldn't sign because he's busy with other matters, that's why, as that strange fairy said."

I let out a slight chuckle as rumors that Ixion was a fairy were spreading everywhere.

"An official drafted the letter for him."

"I see. So the only one who didn't sign was that Jude's father. Can I think about it?"

"Of course you can, but there isn't much time, the reply must be at the earliest by tomorrow afternoon."

"I understand, thank you."

The official said goodbye and then I slammed the door in his face.

I stood there listening in case he said something to me, looked at him through the hole in the door and he drove off in a carriage.

"Umm, this is so real it's suspicious. It's too good to be true and that the same thing happened to me in the kingdom."

"It's true that. But it may as well be. Eliminating the exile is advantageous for us, we wouldn't need to invade Aster."

"... Again you insist on it."

"Rudel, hurry up, the toast is already cold."

"Here I come."

I left the matter of the request to subjugate pirates for later.

◇

I talked to Lucy and she told me to do what I felt was right.

I decided to accept since this is for our sake, I want her to be able to return to her homeland whenever she wants.

That's why I will do this.

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I went to the embassy and asked to speak to the official from yesterday, who gave me details of the fleet numbers and their location.

I asked the embassy to use their ships as Schwert alone would be too conspicuous.

They refused and I threatened them that I would wreak havoc and they cowardly agreed.

After that those 5 idiots got wind of it somehow and asked me to bring them in.

I reluctantly agreed.

So now, two days later, we set sail to the location to attack the pirate base.

The 5 idiots were standing next to me in their pilot suits.

"I'm really excited about this." (Chlust)

"I always wanted to hunt pirates." (Warren)

"Hey, Bradford, is there really anything here? I don't see anything." (Clovis)

"Your Highness, are you sure you won't stay to take care of Erselica-san?" (Frey)

"Frey, if I stay at home. I will miss out on this experience that I would never have been allowed to experience." (Liam)

Liam was the only one of us who had the face of a little boy excited about the school trip.

I commented to Ixion.

"It's true what Clovis says. Where are the pirates? I can't see anything and the fog doesn't help."

"According to the report they should be here. They're probably hiding."

"Master take cover!"

Ixion said that and used his spherical body to hit my head and make me fall to the ground, the others imitated me for some reason, a cannonball hit close to us.

"They are attacking us, but how? Ixion should detect them being miles away."

"I don't know why, but they have some device that prevents them from being detected by my radars."

In the distance we saw several ships emerge from the fog.

The number was around 100, twice as many ships as were in the document.

We brought only 50 ships.

"Those stupid great nobles lied to me then!"

"They didn't exactly lie to you. They tricked you to get rid of you."

"What's that you say?"

Ixion used a hologram to show the pirate flag.

It was not one but two flags, and they were not pirates.

One flag was of the Herring family crest, and the other was...

"The Magical Empire!"

Liam shouted at the sight of the flag.

"The what empire?"

"The magical empire of Manaria... Bradford, don't tell me you don't know who they are?"

I hissed to avoid being judged with my eyes.

Frey explained as if he wanted to show off.

"The magical empire is a country century in existence, their technology is a secret to all and their military might rival Aster's."

Frey kept talking, ignoring him in some parts except for the end.

"They are enemies of Aster, so I don't understand what they are doing here."

I turned to Battler, a huge black suit of armor I wear, I spoke to these guys.

"Who cares who they are, those idiots are attacking us and there's only one thing to do, whoever takes down the most of them gets special pay!"

"Special pay!"

Shouted the boys as they before climbing into their armor.

Empire of I don't know what, you made a mistake messing with me.

◇◇◇

In one of the invading fleets, Kenny was talking to a young man.

"Thank you for lending us your help."

"Randy-sama asked me if I wanted to avenge my younger brother, as the leading knight of Banfield Household I cannot pass up this opportunity."

The young man who answered was Viscount Anson's heir and Grams' older brother, Alwin, a young man who looked exactly like him, but with a bad temper and long hair.

Kenny got through to Gambino.

"Boss, we're ready and they're on target."

"Right, let the attack begin."

The ships that were on behalf of the Empire as well as Herring Household and a few other knights, began their attack on Schwert, ignoring the other ships.

A protective shield ensured that the cannonballs exploded several meters away.

Schwert began to move forward.

Gambino spoke to the ship's captain.

"Even so. You say that ship was capable of destroying many ships on its own, right?"

A young man with long hair tied back like a look of fire answered him.

"It is. I saw it with my own eyes."

His name is Gasper Ried Peetack, weeks ago Rudel made a fool of him, he was in port that day and watched as Rudel's ship wiped out all his enemies.

Seeing that, he felt frustration.

As with Alwin, he was contacted by Randy and offered this once in a lifetime opportunity, he accepted and was now watching with confidence as a ship would be sunk by hundreds of airships.

Or so he thought as he watched Schwert follow through the gunfire like it was nothing.

"That thing has good endurance no doubt. But it's no match for us."

"Cease your attack on that ship and focus on the others and release the armors."

The armor flew off in Schwert's direction.

Six different colored armors flew off the deck heading for the Argos flagship.

"Hey Gambino, can I come out now?"

"Your Highness Jasper, just as soon as the soldiers have left."

"Who gives a crap about that shit. I want to fight, that's what I came for."

Gambino muttered.

"Fucking brat obsessed with fighting."

He turned the microphone back on.

"It's okay prince. You can come out."

"Yeah! That's what I wanted!"

Out of the flagship came Gier who took to the skies like a fish.

He headed for the rarest armor for him, Rudel's.

"Thanks for the food!"

"Huh?"

Rudel wondered at the strange voice that came from the sky.

With a great flying kick it sent Battler several kilometers in the direction of the sea.

Battler managed to get into a firm position and flew in the direction of Gier.

Rudel asked him.

"Why are you attacking us, weren't you supposed to be pirates?"

Jasper wasn't an idiot, but he didn't care what Rudel said.

"It doesn't matter if they asked us for help or if we're pirates. All that matters is that I want to fight someone strong, fighting is my life, fighting is my passion."

Rudel sneered at him.

"Are you an idiot like Chlust? No, first of all, Chlust is a laugh, you're just weird."

"Fight with me!"

Like a rabid dog, Jasper lunged straight at Rudel.

But for Rudel, the enemies no longer had any pity for them.

No need to use his weapons, and only his fists he used.

He grabbed Gier and began to give him the beating of his life.

Gier was built with the best technology in the empire.

It was a special gift for the future emperor.

But that didn't matter to Rudel at all.

The beating he gave him lasted seconds and was hard enough to leave several dents.

Jasper activated Gier's hidden weapons, daggers made of magic power that came from different parts of his body.

None of them were able to pierce Battler's body.

Rudel used their joined hands to strike Gier in the head and he crashed into the deck of an enemy ship.

Battler stepped up and gave him a hard kick that went through the deck and into the hull of the ship.

It began to fall straight into the ocean.

Battler grabbed Gier, Rudel gave his final words to Jasper.

"I don't give a shit who you are. But thanks to you I have an excuse to screw these idiots."

"Now spit if you don't want to sink to the bottom of the sea."

"Who told you to attack us?"

Jasper was struck, he started laughing out of nowhere.

"Hahahaha! This is bad, this is fucking bad hahaha."

"This guy is very dangerous, this is my first taste of blood."

A sinister smile showed on his face.

"That's why it's time to use this."

Jasper activated a button, the right arm which was black, began to emanate a strange toxic cloud which covered the air.

Rudel backed away at Ixion's command.

"Master, move away."

"What is that thing?"

Blood vessels shot out from his right arm encircling his entire body, slowly his form changing to some sort of demon machine hybrid.

Eyes sprouted from different parts of its body.

Rudel and Ixion remembered that appearance, it was slightly different but very similar.

"Diabolos! How come there's another one?"

Jasper's armor finished its transformation and introduced itself.

"It's too late the introduction, but it's worth doing now."

"Bow before the one and only crown prince of the magical empire. Jasper Zai Zellgred."

"Witness the power of my country! The magic armor!"

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