Chapter 60: Save 26 – Student Army

"Earl Norden's heir, Jake van Norden, is recruiting volunteers for His Highness Liam's personal army!"

The air at the academy lately has been very strange.

There has been talk of war, it is unknown who the enemy is, but it is a fact that things have been going very serious lately.

Alisa and Airi were sitting in the inner garden of the academy.

They were talking about what has been going on lately.

At first, classes were stopped due to students being called home.

Then, there was a self-study session so the academy currently has no classes.

The teachers have also been summoned to talk about something.

The girls were talking about Rudel.

"Eh, Rudel-san, he can be forced to join the volunteer army?"

"I'm afraid so... it's because he was knighted. Which forces him to participate whether he wants to or not."

Airi, was making a worried face due to the fact that Rudel could be forced to fight in a fight that was not his.

Alisa was also making the same face, they were both women so they were not forced into anything thanks to the Saint's belief.

Jake continued to speak.

"Anyone who has a mobile knight or a ship, several in fact, is welcome, that's right, women can join as the Saint Erselica needs maidens!"

Many students gathered around.

"My house has a few boats, they are not much, but they will do."

"My father sold the armed unit of our house for money..."

"If only I had something to contribute..."

A boy approached Jake and with a smile said.

"My house has a contract with the [Bradford Shipyard] so I can contribute three ships. They let us get a very cheap price and the boats are quality."

The students began to question the student.

"Is that true? I heard that the boats are old, but rebuilt from scratch, making them better than the current ones."

"They are, my father even said to make friends with Bradford."

"Is it true that they also have a repair shop?"

"It's also true, my fiancée's house was affiliated with a renowned master craftsman to repair their builder unit. He said the Bradford's would fix it up at a low price too, it turned out to be even better than a new one!"

"That looks too good to be true, does it really?"

The boys were chatting about Rudel's family and their wonderful free advertising.

Only one of them, Jake, was making a funny face.

Alisa heard that and felt it would be very troubling that information.

"Airi, where is Rudel, I haven't seen him since yesterday, is he ok?"

Very curious about where Rudel was stuck, Airi replies.

"He told me he will be at home until tomorrow. Many customers have arrived and his dad can't do it alone, he even called his other children to help him."

"...I see."

Alisa stood thoughtfully watching Airi's worried face.

(He communicated to her that he was going home...it seems good to me that their relationship will improve more...)

◇

The territory of the Bradford barony was the place I found myself.

"Hey you over there, move that load to the back!"

I was ordering a gray robot, it was long almost 1 meter long, mechanical arms that look like mini cranes, its head was round and flat with red eyes and instead of legs it was a sphere with which it levitated.

Yesterday I was with my older brother Bram, in the workshop teaching the new workers, the commoners of our territory because they were reliable and safe.

At first, they were scared because the robots didn't look like normal golems... I never saw one, so I don't know what they mean by a normal golem?

Yesterday was busy, today is busy too. My dad and Bram, were in the workshop as many men had come in with requests to repair their mobile knights or have us build them a new one.

It is because apparently there is a lot of fighting on the borders of the kingdom. It's not my problem so I don't care.

Back to my current situation. Lyle, my stupid older brother and my father's first born. He is completely useless.

I told him he had to talk to merchants who wish to partner with both companies.

It was 2 hours ago. Where the hell did he go?

I'm with a guy who's trying to kiss my ass.

"Viscount Bradford, I assure you that Feldmann Household is a good choice for investment in your territory."

This guy is harassing me since yesterday to invest in his territory, obviously he would have benefits since it's a diamond mine hidden in his territory, but I don't like that it's his intentions are so obvious. pretend a little that you wish to use me at least like any normal deal!

In the midst of all that, I noticed that Lyle finally returned and was accompanied by someone.

"Excuse me, Feldmann-san, I must go see my brother."

That guy accepted my escape as I made my way to Lyle's, when I got there and was about to yell at him, I noticed someone standing next to him.

"Huh? What are you doing with the mayor, and what kept you?"

A short, very old man with a cane stood to Lyle's left.

It was Morgan, the mayor of the town and the grandfather of Jessica-chan, the best friend of my sweet angel, Pola.

Morgan spoke to me casually as usual since I have known him since I was a child.

"Good morning, Rudel-sama, I see you are looking very healthy and energetic as always."

"Old man, stop praising me and call me as usual. And you, answer my question."

Lyle looked at me and averted his eyes from my face before answering.

"Well, it's just that I was..."

"You were what?"

"..."

"I... I was flirting with the girls in town."

"...Are you fucking kidding me? You left two hours ago for something and now you're telling me you were flirting?"

"You're the fucking heir, you should have a fiancé by now you idiot!"

"I'm sorry women don't pay attention to me, ever since I entered the academy they never gave me a chance! Even when I entered the military academy, they don't pay attention to me!"

It's certainly a surprise that.

"Hehehe, you brothers certainly get along well, by the way, Rudel-sama, wouldn't you be interested in being the next head of his house since Lyle-sama still doesn't get a partner?"

At that moment, both me, and my brother were stunned at what he said. Then he burst out laughing his weird laugh "ulelele. It was a joke, come on youngsters, have you never heard of black humor?"

Hey, it's not the first time you've said that and your look is always serious when you say it.

I looked at Lyle who was scared, so I reassured him.

"Even if I wanted to, there's no way since I'm an independent noble affiliated with our house. If I die before I have children, Lyle would take my title."

That's right, thanks to Alisa's hours-long talk about unnecessary things about nobles. I learned from that, what interested me the most was that for some reason, they both dressed as teachers. Honestly a teacher Airi is a force of destructive charm while a teacher Alisa is the serious teacher that all masochists would like to have, not that she is one, but her withering gaze is very cute.

...

What the heck was that again?

Why do I get to thinking about them a lot lately?

They're my friends... aren't they...?

◇◇◇

It was the end of November and just like the game, they were at a prologue event for the end of senior year.

"Quick, surround the enemy now that their main fleet has fallen!"

Liam was in his flagship, just like in the game he was leading a fleet, two different fleets created for him.

The main fleet was a mix between temple members, bestowing the name [White Phoenix] to their ranks. Including supporters of Marquis Balzac, who was currently gaining more renown among the ministers, there were even some who wanted him to be the new prime minister.

The other fleet was students motivated by Liam, that fleet was called [Silver Meteor Cavalry] due to the fact that it formed at an unimaginable speed.

"Your Highness, the sons of Earl Arses and Margrave Nightray, have come out to attack the fleet!"

A sailor informed Liam, who was in a strategy meeting with toy ships simulating both fleets.

Liam raised his head to see how Chlust came out with a group of young men in mobile knights. Behind him was Frey with a rifle guarding his back, other students and sailors with the same weapon were with him.

Their voices could be heard over a magical communication device in the shape of a conch shell.

"Ora!!! Take this!!! come on you dirty pirates!!!"

Chlust was in an armed unit of the exclusive temple called Silvercross. His hands held an axe and spear which pierced and slashed mobile knights of the enemy.

While Frey shouted.

"Stupid red ape!!! Don't break the formation of His Highness' plan!!!"

"I don't, these guys are behaving like rats, they are one step away from being annihilated."

Chlust along with Frey and his allies were destroying armed units just like in the game.

The only oddity is that the enemies never fought back, let alone counterattacked.

In the end, the battle ended without losing any allies.

◇◇◇

"Thanks to all of you we were able to repel another enemy fleet!!!"

Liam and his subordinates were on a nearby island of a noble ally, they were celebrating their new victory.

Chlust raised a tankard of ale to make a toast. Everyone drank after that.

A man in white approached Liam, he whispered something to him.

"Erselica-san is here!!!?"

Hearing that name, he ran out leaving the banquet.

◇◇◇

"How did it go this time?"

In a medium-sized room were Erselica and Marquis Balzac conversing.

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"As usual, my Saint, we paid them [Cashmiro Family] who were busy in the republic smuggling guns and drugs."

"The guys inside the armed units and ships were nothing but criminals with molten brains."

"All right, making Liam a hero before the year-end event is almost a success. It doesn't matter if we have to ally with the likes of them."

(Though Liam will still defeat them.)

"It was a good idea to create that fleet for His Highness, my Saint."

"Of course, the crown prince needs reliable allies."

(Actually the one who creates both fleets is Klein and his father, but they are not available at the moment).

The conversation between the two now became darker.

"Let's move on to the next matter." Said Erselica very seriously, "how is the fall of Bismarck Household going?"

The marquis took a sip of his tea before speaking.

"It's going wonderfully, I'm very excited about it, I've never felt so happy if it weren't for you, my Saint."

"Is that so?"

"Yes! We developed a fake combat simulation and Duke- Siegwald was in the lead."

"He lost many fleets hahaha."

(Umm, losing a mock battle is that hopeless?)

(Well, it must be terrible to return home after seeing your subordinates defeated.)

"No doubt the best part was the phrases of my infiltrators in your fleet upon returning..."

"It's all Duke Bismarck's fault!"

"If only the Duke were better at leading, we would not have lost so many!"

"My father died because of him!"

"Fuhahaha, he's the best without a doubt!!!"

"Sorry, I was deep in my thoughts, did you say something so you're laughing?"

Erselica was thinking that there were no casualties since it was a "fake" battle, but she never listened to the marquis' information in detail.

"It was nothing important, fujaja. Let's change the subject to a more important one."

Erselica smiled upon hearing that.

"What will it be?"

"Fujaja, don't be such a joke, my Saint. You know what I'm talking about, my-"

"I know, can't I make a joke?"

"I have spoken to the high pontiff, he said that there are currently several ministers who wish to approach the temple."

"That means you are having backing, very soon, maybe by this year, you will become Prime Minister Balzac."

The moment he heard that, the perhaps future prime minister, Marquis Balzac stood up and proceeded to kneel.

"Please, I beg a thousand apologies for having been disrespectful to you. I promise to be faithful to you, and don't bother looking for a way, I will personally see to it that that happens."

"At the same time, I hope your marriage to the crown prince will happen soon."

At the words "marriage". Erselica's face turned red.

"M-m-marriage, you say? Don't be an idiot, me and His Highness will never-!!!"

Just when that last was heard, the door was knocked so the marquis could not hear him what Erselica said.

As the door opened, a boy appeared, it was Liam.

"Erselica-san, I heard you came back-!"

Noticing that Erselica was accompanied by someone else. Liam fell, instead of his normal statement, he asked something else.

"Marquis Balzac, what are you doing here?"

Noticing that the prince was looking at him, the marquis stood up and proceeded to take his leave.

"I am very sorry to take up your precious time, my Saint. If you will excuse me."

With a smile, the marquis left the room.

The Saint's gaze focused on Liam, he stood up, walked over to the prince and very casually asked, "Is something the matter, Your Highness-?"

For no apparent reason or motive, Liam embraced Erselica by placing his hands tightly on her small waist.

"Y-Your Highness, Liam, is something wrong?"

He hugged the Saint tighter and said words happening in the game.

"Please be mine! I don't want to see you with any other man, I... I.... I love you more than anything!!!

Erselica hearing that, her eyes started to turn red from tears.

"Me too, prince, no, Liam."

At that moment, the hug ended and they both looked at each other.

Slowly their mouths were moving closer and then....

"Is something wrong, Your Highness?"

...Liam woke up from his fantasy.

He noticed that he was still in the same position before the embrace.

He moved his lips to say "nothing, it's good to see you, that was all."

The facial expression implied that his heart was lying to itself.

"It's good to see you too."

Erselica smiled as she said that. Liam watched that smile and walked out after saying goodbye.

As he stood outside the room, he slapped himself very hard on the cheek.

Before walking dejectedly to the party he thought.

"Idiot, if you can't tell her how you feel, then you'll never be able to be around her..."

Liam was experiencing the same situation he was supposed to experience with Airi, but that will never happen and was supplanted by something else.

◇◇◇

At a residence at night, there was a man signing documents.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll go on patrol."

"Understood, good night."

"Good night, master."

The old butler said goodbye to his master who was also old with gray hair.

The two had been working together for the good of the territory since they were young.

The man, a high-ranking nobleman better known as an aristocrat, was proud of the commoner workers in his territory, his employees in his house and his virtuous family.

The man worked hard and honestly for the good of the country.

The door opened without even touching it.

The man looked up as he spoke to the butler....

"What's the matter, do you have business still here-?"

More not imagine what he looked at.

A body with blood on its back fell.

"Master, run away, qui-!"

The butler with his last strength tried to warn his master.

But a knife pierced his back repeatedly to silence him.

A tall, black-clad, hooded man stood over him.

Several men came in after him.

There were three of them, so there were four masked guys.

The man was frightened at the sight of them.

(What happened to the security?)

(How will my family be?)

"Don't think about anything you idiot." Said a thick, gruff voice.

The tallest, burly and last to enter, took off his mask.

The nobleman seeing him shouted.

"You... you're from the Cashmiro Family!!!"

"Wrong."

"I am not of the Cashmiro Family, I am the head of the Cashmiro Family."

With a snap of his finger to a communicator, screams could be heard throughout the house.

"Noo! Dad help!"

"Darling!"

"Get away from me fami-"

"Nool, broooother!"

"Remember that there must be no evidence, so don't rape the bitches, kill them all without objection."

"The servants' children are small, shall we kill them too?"

"Of course, no survivors."

The man heard that and tears came out of his eyes.

The tall, burly man pulled a knife out of his pocket and then....

"This is what you get for not hanging out with the wrong people."

A family portrait was stained with red liquid.

A large fire was carried after a group of hooded men came out. The commoners were framed for this.