Chapter 61: Save 27 – Karma

It was a beautiful December morning at the Royal Palace....

"Why are you so foolish to accept the facts, Ritzburg-dono!"

...Or, so it was supposed to be.

"Our savior is supposed to have finally appeared after a long time, why are you trying to deny the Temple from entering government positions?"

In a private room stood a small group of men.

It was a round table with two sides "conversing."

On one side was the prime minister, an older man of Marquis rank named Mayer von Ritzburg; he had gray hair, his eyes closed, three warts on his forehead making him look like a UFO. Normally he was someone who, despite his situation, whatever it was, was always calm, but that was not the case now.

At the other end was an older man with the surface of his head bald and hair on the sides, he had white clothes with gold crosses engraved on his sleeves, a purple stole with the same crosses and a big belly.

Mayer, was with a small group of ministers who belonged to his faction. The members could not be counted on two hands, but now that number almost went into one hand.

There was a reason for that.

(It didn't just happen with the Barnett Household, two other families were also killed yesterday.)

A report had come in a few days ago. It was about how nobles of his faction had been killed with their families. According to the reports, they were rebellious commoners.

His face showed his indignation at what he read, but it was not out of hatred for the attackers but for someone else.

(You finally did it, didn't you, Balzac?)

(There is no way that something so stupid, like unruly commoners in areas where the lord of the land treats his workers humanely and with more than basic pay, would be killed).

(I have known for decades what you want my job, I have no evidence to frame you for the death of my wife and child...)

(But what I do know is that I won't let you get away with it.)

(It doesn't matter if the members of my side leave as happened with Count Roseblaire, the safety of the family is more important than one's own. I can't blame or criticize them for that.)

Mayer's teeth clenched very hard showing in front of everyone.

(What the hell is this about the mastermind of the insurrections being Rudel-kun?)

(Don't be an idiot! That kid doesn't know how to lie and something as elaborate as this isn't something he would do since he doesn't gain anything from it!)

His closed eyes didn't show his inner anger as he wouldn't allow this information to leak out.

(What's worse is that now these idiots from the temple are trying to get into positions of officials and ministers. What the hell is that? It all looks very suspicious and much more about that girl who came out of nowhere!)

His face showed his displeasure, the ministers beside him noticed it and panic showed in his eyes.

Mayer finally spoke.

"Sorry, my mind wandered."

"Now you do, regarding what you asked."

The big-bellied man, the high pontiff Dixit, made a smile of victory.

"Rejected."

But the prime minister shattered his illusions very quickly, Dixit's face was forming a terrifying expression.

"May I know for what reasons?"

Mayer smiled at that.

"All right. First, the temple is the religion of this country. The temple and the palace are separate entities."

"Second, the royal family was chosen by the Saint, but did that family not belong to her followers which implies that she herself knew that two different entities were needed to manage the country."

"And lastly, the queen herself backs me up in case she tries to say anything, but she and I agree that 'girl' is not fit to be the prince's betrothed nor queen. She has no education prepared like the Bismarcks' daughter, she has no proper status so the aristocrats would lodge complaints that their daughters were not given a chance. Finally, it is His Majesty the King who decides most things, so if you don't believe anything I say you can consult His Majesty."

Mayer gave him a look that said he won the "conversation."

Dixit could object to anything, but the latter is checkmate to any possibility.

He got up without a word and left the room along with his followers.

Mayer sighed and said aloud "one less problem for now."

Then a thought crossed his mind.

(I must make sure that none of these insects try to approach or use Rudel-kun. If it will come to that... it would certainly be the end for our country).

◇◇◇

Dixit and a man in a red stole walked beside him down a corridor of the palace.

"That old man is getting in the way of the temple, it's sacrilege!"

"And he dared to criticize the Saint, how can he not be since only the palace knew that the staff of the first Saint was stolen years ago and hidden somewhere."

"I will not allow this to end like this, I will contact the Marquis Balzac to request an appointment with Her Majesty."

The man next to him asked him a question.

"What should we do now, Your Eminence?"

Dixit smiled upon hearing that question.

"If I'm not mistaken, Viscount Bradford is not affiliated with any faction at the moment, is he?"

"That's right." Said the man next to him.

"According to a report from a son of the adepts, the viscount is not affiliated with any faction of either the Student Army or the temple."

"Very well!" Dixit shouted.

"We will bring the viscount to our side, so the prime minister will have no choice but to allow the temple to interfere in government affairs."

"Understood, your eminence, I will go contact our adepts to notify their children."

"Good."

The man took his leave as Dixit was hungry, so the man in the red stole bowed as the high pontiff entered his private room in the palace.

Inside, there stood a girl, she was very beautiful and young.

The girl had the clothes of a temple maiden.

She knelt down to greet him.

"I am honored to have been called by your eminence for my personal guidance on the word of the Saint. I am the fourth daughter of Marquis Wisehugh, Rita called me."

After introducing herself, the girl stood up, her smile showing purity and kindness.

Dixit approached her....

"I'm very hungry, the job of being the highest authority of the temple is very tiring."

The girl did not understand what he was talking about.

...And then.

"I had asked for the first, not the fourth daughter, but you will serve."

Suddenly he grabbed the girl and threw himself on top of her onto the bed.

Two servants were outside, standing guard. Suddenly, a horror-filled cry for help was heard.

◇◇◇

In a garden of the Royal Palace stood Liam and Erselica.

They were together having tea and cookies.

The table was decorated with expensive elegant decorations and a white tablecloth.

Surrounding them were servants, temple members and knights.

They were on a rooftop which was decorated with flowers because of Liam, just like the game, Liam did this to confess to Airi.

"The tea is exquisite and the cookies are very delicious, thank you so much for allowing me to taste such a delicacy, Your Highness."

Erselica smiled at him with the same smile that Airi did in the game.

Seeing her, the protagonist's heart skipped a beat.

His cheeks were red, he did not look at her face despite being taller than her.

Suddenly he spoke.

"This... Erselica-san, you see I... invited you over because I had something to tell you."

While eating like a hamster a cookie, Erselica opened her eyes.

"Is that so, what is it?"

Liam bit his lips.

(Come on, you went through something scary months ago!!! So confessing to you must not be a big deal!!!)

His mouth was falling open, the words that came out....

"I... I wanted to tell you..."

...They were of cowardice.

"That I'm going on an expedition with the White Phoenix group to the border and won't be back until almost the end of the month. Which is why I entrusted Chlust Chlust, Frey and Allen to look after you."

Liam laughed as if he had said a bad joke, but Erselica answered him.

"Is that so? Please take care of yourself then."

Hearing that and not the words she expected to say depressed Liam making him duck his head.

A servant arrived with a letter for Erselica.

After thanking the servant, she opened it and its contents made her jump.

"U... uwahh!!!"

Liam also stood up in a panic when he heard her scream.

He thought it was something horrible.

Erselica, with a panicked expression said to him stuttering.

"M-my f-father..."

"Your father? Did something happen to him?"

"My father says he will punish me if I don't go out to fulfill my duties as the next head of our family!!!"

Both the prince and the surroundings let out a silly "huh?" At what the Saint said.

◇

"Hey country boy, you're Bradford, aren't you?"

Some idiot out of nowhere approached me, who the hell are you?

I was enjoying my studies with Airi in the boys' dining room since the academy doesn't open its classes so we resorted to self-study. Fortunately, my instructor is always willing to teach me about the way of order whether I'm working or not, what a great exemplary man he was.

Back to the idiot.

"I'm the heir to the Earl Norden, Jake van Norden, I hear you're still not joining His Highness Liam's student army."

Obviously, who the hell wants to be around that colorful head?

"First; yes, I am Bradford, but the way you're talking to me indicates you already knew that and were just trying to generate forced conversation. Second, you heard right, I haven't and I don't plan to."

Lately, a group of generic students have been shamelessly talking to me as if we were great friends.

"Rudel-san, look around you .... "

Airi called out to me pulling my left sleeve, as I turned around I observed her beautiful face that showed an expression of discomfort.

I turned my eyes from left to right, what I was looking at was an unusual sight.

The students were giving us dirty looks, it didn't matter if they were 1st or 3rd year, or if they were acquaintances or not. They were all looking at me with a very creepy face.

Their voices were so clear that I couldn't deny the reality.

Alisa told me that students, whatever their rank or status, were joining factions.

Apparently, the group supporting Liam is made up of youth, adults, ministers, high-ranking knights, temple members and that blissful Saint.

Personally, I don't care what those guys get into, just don't include me.

Was it that weird that someone wasn't affiliated with a faction?

I guess I'll just lie a little so it doesn't bug me anymore.

"Indeed, I know about His Highness, but I'm not interested since I take direct orders from the Prime Minister and Duke Bismarck's daughter is my employer. So I don't need to join any other group, so you can go away and leave us alone."

I wanted to tell them something else ruder, but I learned after that countess over there, so I'll investigate her house first and then ask Mayer-san to give me permission to destroy it.

I thought with that he would go away, but he gave me a bizarrely overbearing smile.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"...Excuse me?"

"You don't know? I'll tell you."

A group of boys and girls began to gather around the idiot.

"Both Duke Bismarck and Prime Minister Ritzburg are losing support, it's not big news or anything."

"What do you mean!"

"There's talk that Bismarck Household doesn't even have 10% influence at court and according to my father who is one of the biggest donors to the temple. Rumor has it that by the end of the year the next prime minister will be the Marquis Balzac, who is also the sponsor of the Saint."

I didn't know what to answer him. I quickly looked to Airi to tell me if it was true what this guy says.

She noticed my gaze and then ducked it. So it's true, but why did they keep it from me?

I looked at the boy again.

His gleaming smile was shining, his hand combing his orange hair as if he had won.

"As you see, that's how the current situation is. I heard from several students that you have a unique ship that is strong enough to take down an entire fleet. Why don't you use that power for the prince? If you wish, I can make you my 2nd in command since I am the captain of one of the 12 cavalries chosen by the Saint's faction."

(Looks like I'll have to use my bad tongue to get out of this one...) I thought things would turn violent.

"Even if so, you're only the captain of the 6th group and not the 1st to talk about greatness. Besides, you're not a knight to even call yourself a cavalry captain."

But fortunately, a goddess of salvation came, it was Alisa.

She had gone out to the palace today as she was called by her father. I will ask her later about what this idiot said.

The boys and girls turned to see who it was and were startled to see her.

They all took a step, no matter if their uniform was black or white. They were all of lower rank contrary to the daughter of a duke.

The only one who didn't move despite being scared was the boy with oily orange hair.

Alisa was walking straight towards us. The boy stood up to her to show his guts, I hope she would tear him apart.

"E-even so... I was chosen by the temple and endorsed by the palace! So I'm a knight without the need for His Majesty the King to appoint due to the fact that I'm a warrior chosen to serve the next king and the Saint!"

Alisa only said one word and the boy collapsed to the ground.

"Move aside."

After falling on his butt, the boy looked like he was about to pee himself.

I was going to thank him, we stood up Airi and I, but Alisa didn't look happy for some reason.

"Rudel..." she called after me. Little did I know that pause meant the biggest pain in the ass in my second new life.

"...You have been appointed as the knight leader of the Saint, captain of the 1st cavalry of the student army and Brunhilde is its flagship..."

I had only one thing to say, I and others who heard it all blurted out "ehhhh!!!"

◇◇◇

Yesterday at the palace a meeting was held.

It dealt with the Saint, all the ministers except the prime minister were there.

That's because no one told him, those who were still left from his faction found out that same so they expected that also the most important person among them would know about it, but he was not present.

"Wow, it's a pity, it seems that not even after an hour of starting this urgent meeting the prime minister is coming. I know I can tell that age is a terrible enemy for a minister."

One person inside the meeting knew that it was a lie what Marquis Balzac was saying, but he had no means to counter it. Besides, that he was annoyed since two houses; who were of count rank had abandoned him. In fact, one of them was present on the side of the Marquis, the youngest was.

"Well, let's get back to the discussion. The saint's father through this letter I have in my hands said that his daughter must fulfill her duties to protect her territory since pirates have been seen, the viscount is across the border so he was warned by a commoner nearby and this one was passing it on to his daughter."

"I tried to talk to her about ignoring that, but she said she doesn't want to anger her father."

"We have no choice but to choose an escort for her, suggestions?"

The ministers gave names of many students or graduates who have been recruited.

Suddenly, one name came out and everyone paid attention to it, it was the marquis himself who named it.

"Because we are dealing with pirates who have managed to evade our most experienced forces, I say we charge it to Viscount Bradford."

There were indignant voices whether they were of his faction or not.

"Why him?"

"I'm sure our young men can handle it themselves! They are captains for a reason."

"Marquis, you're not trying to recruit that boy to your side are you?"

Everyone paid attention to the younger voice that said that.

The eyes of all the ministers turned to Marquis Balzac's mouth.

His lips twitched.

"Ever since the report that you fled the battlefield leaving the students at your mercy has given me a bad feeling, so I think this occasion is perfect to prove your worth for the future of our beautiful homeland. Besides, I don't think there will be any problems since he is not your family's watchdog, or is he. Duke Bismarck?"

The marquis was in the center of the left side while Siegwald, Alisa's father, was on the opposite side, folding his arms and making a very obvious displeased pout.

His long blond hair with a few gray hairs covered a part of his serious face that looks like carved in stone, his red rabbit eyes gave an unpleasant feeling and his strong arms showed his veins of how annoyed he was.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Come on, if you insist I'll tell you. I mean that your daughter and Viscount Bradford are very close, aren't they? Considering the tragedy that happened with her previous fiancé and her almost new fiancé, I shouldn't wonder that their relationship is very close to the point of possibly being intimate."

Both of their eyes looked at each other intensely, only one showed enjoyment of this "talk" and the other did not.

"Nonsense. Between the viscount and my daughter there is nothing but disinterested friendship."

"...Is that so? The point is that they are young and one never knows, for if we take the factor that she is a beautiful young lady who belongs to be almost a member of royalty. It would not be unusual for a country boy with a reputation as a skirt chaser to be after her."

Siegwald wanted to object to something regarding that, but that very question he once asked himself.

Why had Rudel never discussed anything with his daughter?

He learned that they established a good friendly relationship after the end of the 1st semester. Then, their fight and reconciliation happened in the 2nd semester, and finally the question his son asked her a while ago.

Normally, a nobleman looks for a partner, whether male or female, to move up in rank or benefit from it. But, Rudel has never shown any strange or obvious intention towards his daughter, even when she threatened him Rudel himself swore that he would never hurt her again with a very frightened face.

As a nobleman and a man, Rudel's existence is a rarity.

After giving his question some thought, Siegwald only sighed and said.

"I hope that's the real reason and not something else, or am I wrong?"

Seeming to sink his fangs into his enemy, the marquis answered with a very obvious lie.

You are reading story World Ixion/SAGA at novel35.com

"Of course not."

"It seems that no one is against me. Very well, as the one who has the most influence among all, sponsor of the Saint, the one who receives the help of Duke Belmont and future next prime minister, I declared Viscount Bradford as the leading knight and personal bodyguard of the Saint, his ship will be his flagship and he will be the captain of the 1st cavalry of the 12 captains."

Several voices were heard.

"But if the 1st place was held by the Bourdon Household! What's going to happen to them now?

"It's time for that boy to show his usefulness."

"This is a good opportunity also to try to get close proximity to their shipyard and repair shop. I heard that many personal master craftsmen from important houses are on strike."

Siegwald listened to those voices and said only one thing.

"Sorry, viscount, but this man can't do anything for you. These old foxes have finally decided to sink their claws into you."

◇

I was in my room at Brunhilde. A super airship of an ancient technology I found.

We were heading in a specific direction to deal with pirates.

And I say we were since some old fucks have turned me into a lot of things.

A leading knight in charge of the personal guard of a girl called the Saint, who happens to be a mysterious girl who was present at several weird events in the past semester involving me.

Also, I'm the captain of the 1st cavalry, I don't want it, but the look of frustration on that guy's face? Jason I think it was? He's pure gold.

I was going through some letters I had accumulated. The contents were grotesque.

One of them said "I will accept to be your wife only if you win this amount, you can give me a lot of money for my shopping and you support my family".

Obviously, I crumpled it up and threw it in the trash can where there were more of that kind.

Another one contained "as the daughter of a margrave, I have my luxuries and needs, I will have your heir, but first I must have mistresses. Only then, I will accept that you ask me to be your wife".

I tore it into parts without even finishing reading.

I said to someone who was with me.

"Destroy them."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."

I handed Ixion all the letters I had stacked on the desk.

Ixion was an AI or automaton created to serve ancient humanity. But now he was my faithful servant/companion/slave, so he could not refuse my requests.

Lately I haven't seen him and when I asked him where he was holed up he said "it's a surprise".

His medium spherical body approached, he used his strange thin tweezers to grab the cards, I watched as their gray color and lines in the shape of crosses gave an ugly color to my nice room.

He threw them into the trash can and a laser beam came out of his red eye.

Fine, I'll reward you with some nuts.

"Master."

Suddenly he spoke.

"Yes."

"This letter doesn't look horrible like the others. Its contents seem to be better. It says that the daughter of Redgrave Household was present on the day of the attack on the cruiser and that you saved her from some monsters. Since she is a shy girl she didn't know how to interact with you, so she takes this opportunity to meet you-"

"Stop." I quickly shut Ixion up.

"What are you doing reading that? I said you'll burn them all."

"This letter contains words that, through handwriting and erasures, and even being the only one scented, indicates that the owner went out of her way to show her honest feelings."

"I said burn them all, didn't I, what do you expect!"

Ixion looked at me before throwing it away.

I didn't feel bad since it was sure to be a honey trap, a method where you speak charmingly to a poor devil to make him fall round. It has never happened to me, but I know them.

Is it so hard to find a beautiful girl who loves me for who I am, who doesn't cheat on me and has big breasts?

An image of a smiling girl with blonde hair appeared in my head.

A mirage it must have been without a doubt.

It must be since the opportunity never came.

After standing up I was about to go outside to welcome the wind and sun.

Ixion followed me, it was no longer necessary to keep it hidden, but it was still annoying to be asked what it was and if I could sell it.

I opened the door and as I thought.

"It feels good to get the sunlight."

I said it so cheerfully that I didn't notice a servant standing nearby at the railing.

He was very small, about Pola's size, his hair was brown and as he turned around I noticed his scarlet eyes.

"Tch."

Made that sound the little bastard when he saw me.

You forget that you're a servant, a child and a commoner aren't you? You want me as the educated adult that I am, to get oppressive with you?

Say it, just say something and I will throw you overboard.

"The journey isn't so pretty anymore."

Ok, I'll throw you overboard.

I approached the little bastard when he spoke something interesting.

"Just because the territory has improved, doesn't mean the land lord stops being trash."

I paused after hearing him and an unintentional thought slipped out.

"What are you talking about?"

He turned to look at me and say something shocking with a lot of meaning.

"I am one of the many commoners who lived on your family's land. My parents left there never to return; I remember perfectly well how the baron raised taxes on us and we barely had enough to eat."

I remember that, the debt collectors threatened my father to take Pola away if we didn't pay them.

It was only once that my dad did something like that. He knew that the commoners and we were living on just enough, it was a difficult season for sure.

That's why I "loaned" them money with the excuse of improving their lives, it was my way of paying them back in spades for what they suffered for us. I wasn't going to charge them a penny when the 4 years were up, I was going to say that with the hard work they did the debt was paid off.

But this kid is a reality of how bad they all went through.

"It was just me and my older sister left, she said when things get worse; in the future they get better."

Your sister is right. Since, thanks to me, you guys made it to a promising future.

"I yelled at her that she was an idiot!"

Huh?

"What do you mean, better? Is my sister stupid? This trashy territory is doomed!"

(This boy is a...)

"So I left at a very young age and got a job as one of the servants in the Kingsfort Household."

...

"After a while she sent me a letter saying that things got better thanks to the 3rd son I didn't know existed."

"Hey."

"I didn't believe her, then I found out you came to the academy and kicked my employer's ass at the end of the semester."

"A happy ending, huh?"

There was an awkward silence thanks to my topping joke.

After waiting a few seconds, he spoke again.

"No matter what it is you're up to."

Huh? What's he talking about?

"Greedy, cynical people like you always fall. My patron was horrible as a human being and fell from grace in the end, so I'm warning you. You will fall too thanks to the way you are."

What's wrong with this little cretin?

Enough, I'll throw you overboard.

I reached out to grab him when an angel saved him.

"Rudel-san!"

I turned to see who was calling from the back and sure enough, it was Airi's angel and next to her was Alisa.

I stopped after seeing them coming towards me.

After arriving, Airi noticed that I had hidden my hands.

She lectured me.

"Rudel-san, what are you doing?"

"N-nothing." I replied in panic.

She looked at me, puffed out her cheeks and said "You were about to do something bad to poor Allen-kun, weren't you?"

So his name is Allen, the little cretin.

She grabbed my hand, my face turned red, it wasn't the first time this happened, but for some reason my heart started beating really hard.

She walked over to the little cretin, he stood at attention and she spoke for me.

"I'm so sorry, he's not a bad person, he's just a bit rude so you could forgive him, couldn't you?"

Airi gave him a heartwarming smile, the little bastard blushed, averted his gaze and cried out in panic.

"T-there's nothing to forgive since nothing happened!"

He quickly got the hell out of there.

I asked him how he knew him and he said "I met him when I went to your parents' house for the 1st time. The commoners were very nice and he was the only one with clothes that didn't fit in there as he was accompanied by a beautiful girl, a gentleman told me their names. Allen and Ada."

Huh, Ada? I feel like for some reason it's an unexpected revelation since, that name rings a bell.

"Rudel."

I turned to see Alisa who was calling my name.

I was surprised at what I saw.

"How long until we get there?"

I didn't ask her what I heard from her family since it would be awkward, but the girl standing here in front of me is making a face I've never seen before.

Her smile reaches from cheek to cheek that are flushed with excitement. Her eyes sparkle as if she were a child in search of adventure.

I forgot that the ancestors of the nobles were originally adventurers, it must be her pure blood that tells her the event that will happen, not like mine which is some kind of rare mutation.

I told him without making him lose that charming expression.

"According to Ixion, it won't be long now, we'll be going to hunt pirates, but there's a dungeon on that island according to reports so we can go inside after we're done."

"I see!"

Her childish eyes were shining brighter and brighter.

Airi was also this happy. A while ago we had a fight because of me, they hadn't been back on my ship for a long time. After what happened, I tried to make up for the lost time we didn't have.

I took them once again to the eastern island that, as it was another station there were no more events.

So I decided to have one in my family's territory.

The commoners were surprised to see another culture, my family too, I tried to give them back every moment of joy they lost because of me.

It was a lot of fun, although I almost died in it. I was lighting fireworks with Ixion, he was using his eye, and inadvertently hit a very big one which lit the others and they exploded.

Airi healed me as I had minor injuries, she was crying, Alisa panicked and that was the end of our vacation.

Now, going back to them after finishing remembering good times.

"No matter how many times I see it, I still don't believe this guy is responsible for running everything."

"It's very fascinating ancient technology, especially for creating a fairy without magic."

The girls were touching their index fingers to Ixion.

The 1st time they saw him they asked what they were and I answered that he was a fairy.

The 2nd time they groped him so much that for some reason, he vanished and ran away.

The 3rd time he didn't run away anymore, but when Airi asked him "can I tell you Ix-kun?" for some reason, his red eye glowed a lot and his body shook. Turning around he said "do whatever you want".

Was it my idea or was he embarrassed, can a cold and unfeeling machine be embarrassed?

"Indeed, I am the one who controls everything. Praise me more and I'll give you your own ship."

"Hehe, she's a very nice fairy." Airi said as she fiddled with the spherical body.

"I really wish I had something like you, but you're Rudel's property so I'll settle for being able to touch you and thank you for saving us all a while back." Alisa exclaimed touching Ixion's tinted glass eye.

"There is one way you two can be with me and at the same time be all 3 happy and that is-"

Ixion's strange conversation was interrupted by footsteps approaching us.

As I looked in the direction where Allen's spoiled brat went, I watched as the person most annoying to me walked with her entourage towards us.

Behind her were several students, male and female, wearing badges of belonging to the temple or the student army.

To the left and right of the annoying girl in the center were two very annoying familiar colors.

They were Chlust and Frey. That's what they looked like, wasn't it?

The little pest by the name of Erselica called out to me.

"Hey, servant, how far to go?"

"Hah!" I bared my teeth at her in annoyance for ruining the good time I was enjoying with my friends.

She seemed to freak out so the colors green and red jumped to her defense.

"Viscount Bradford, you are being rude to our goddess."

"Just because you're the captain of the 1st squadron and leader of her security, doesn't mean you can believe you much."

First of all, I'll say this.

"Goddess? Don't make me laugh. Her chest needs to be at least this big to believe she's a goddess."

I put my hands to make a silhouette of two large balloons. If it were Alisa or Airi, I would certainly tell them yes, but this girl doesn't fall into the category of them so I rejected.

...

Wait! Why did I tell them goddesses?

"Don't talk nonsense!" shouted Chlust.

"That they're small makes them better! The charm lies in personality and heart!"

"It's just like the idiot said!" shouted Frey to back up his friend.

"Erselica-chan's slender body makes her charm light up the heavens! Giving her breasts would only make her divinity corrupt!"

"Hah, are you idiots? The bigger they are the better, for they encompass the dreams and hopes of millions of men!" I told them from the bottom of my heart.

"You're wrong!" they shouted.

"Rudel-san, please be quiet!" shouted Airi seeming to cry.

"Rudel, stop embarrassing us!" exclaimed Alisa as she covered her face.

"Wahh, shut up all of you and stop talking about my breasts! And just in case, yes I have them, they're just small!"

◇◇◇

In a cave, to be more precise the subway prison of the Altfode Kingdom.

There was a guard walking, all quiet with his lunch to change shifts with his partner.

He was sleepy as only the two of them were guarding the prisoner.

He had a box lunch for him and his partner who was on guard duty all night.

As he arrived, his eyes scanned his frightened partner.

"Hey, what's going on?" asked Guard B to Guard A.

Guard A was startled and turned around, he was looking at the prisoner's cell.

Guard B put the lunch boxes down on the table and asked him again, "What's up?".

At his partner's question, Guard A said in panic.

"Hey, about this guy, haven't they decided on his execution date yet!?"

"Huh?"

"What if there's still nothing about when they'll execute him!"

Guard A immediately covered his mouth and turned his gaze toward the cell to see if the prisoner was not alarmed.

His companion, Guard B, walked over to look and peering in noticed something that startled him.

"O-hey... it's a joke, right? That guy can't be human, no human being can do that and even more so with his muscles!"

In the cell was a man named Bandel, the cell was a damp and cold cave, the bed was a steel plate with blankets hiding bedbugs. He was given no water and his only source of drink was a stalactite that dripped mineral water.

There were several buckets for defecation, which were overflowing. Because of the foul odor, the guards would come in to dispose of them. The food he was given was leftovers from the horses' meals, which fell on the kitchen floor and were spat out.

That "man" despite having many disadvantages, was doing something strange with an even stranger body.

"It's a joke isn't it... despite even torture, how can he be fit and even more so be exercising."

The guards watched in panic a human being who should be weakened and almost dead, but what they saw was a healthy man, with his normal physique exercising in the cell.

"In the night he was making noises, when I looked at him... he was doing push-ups! They weren't normal, they were push-ups from having buried his fingers in the rock and his thumbs to lift his body!"

"Then he went into stretches while seeming to climb the wall!"

"And now what you see."

"He's doing push-ups on the ceiling!!! His toes are piercing the solid rock and carrying the top from top to bottom!!!"

"Even in seclusion, without healthy food and cold - this man is still scary just with normal acts like this!"

The guards were afraid. Bandel heard them, but didn't care, as he had only one thought in his head.

(Bismarck and Rudel... very soon, the King of the Commonwealth and Bacchus will make their move and I, will be able to get my revenge!!!! Guhahaha.)

The pieces on the board towards the end, were moving faster and faster.