"The heir of Earl Norden, Jake van Norden, is recruiting volunteers for His Highness Liam's personal army!"
The mood around the academy has been really weird lately. There's been a lot of war talk. Nobody knows exactly who the enemy is, but things have definitely gotten serious.
Alisa and Airi were sitting in the academy's inner garden, talking about what's been going on.
First, classes stopped because students were being called back to their families. Then, they switched to self-study sessions, so there aren't any real classes right now. Even the teachers have been summoned to talk about something.
The girls were talking about Rudel.
"Hey, could Rudel-san be forced to join the volunteer army?"
"I'm afraid so... it's because he was given a knighthood. That means he has to participate, whether he wants to or not."
Airi wore a worried look, thinking Rudel might be dragged into a fight that wasn't his.
Alisa had the same expression. Since they're women, thanks to the beliefs around the Saint, they weren't being pressured to join.
Jake kept on talking.
"Anyone with a mobile knight or a ship—several, even—is welcome! That's right, women can join too, since Saint Erselica needs handmaidens!"
Lots of students were gathering around.
"My house has a few ships. Nothing special, but they'll do."
"My father sold our house's armed unit for money..."
"If only I had something to contribute..."
A boy walked up to Jake and said with a smile,
"My house has a contract with the [Bradford Shipyard], so I can contribute three ships. They gave us a really cheap price, and the ships are high quality."
Students started asking him questions.
"Is that true? I heard their ships are old but rebuilt from scratch, making them better than new ones."
"They are. My father even told me to befriend Bradford."
"Is it true they also have a repair workshop?"
"That's true too! My fiancée's house was affiliated with a renowned craftsman to repair their construction unit. He said the Bradfords fixed it for a low price and it came out even better than new!"
"That sounds too good to be true. Is it really?"
The boys were chatting about Rudel's family and their amazing free publicity. Only one of them, Jake, was making a strange face.
Alisa overheard this and felt that information could become problematic.
"Airi, where is Rudel? I haven't seen him since yesterday. Is he okay?"
Curious about Rudel's whereabouts, Airi replied,
"He told me he'd be at his house until tomorrow. A lot of clients have arrived, and his father can't handle it alone. He even called his other sons to help."
"...I see."
Alisa grew thoughtful as she looked at Airi's worried face.
(He told her he was going home... It's good their relationship is getting better...)
◇
The territory of the Bradford barony was where I found myself.
"Hey, you over there! Move that cargo to the back!"
I was ordering around a gray robot. It was about 1 meter long, with mechanical arms that looked like mini-cranes. Its head was round and flat with red eyes, and instead of legs, it had a sphere it used to float.
Yesterday, I was with my older brother Bram in the workshop, training the new workers—commoners from our territory because they were reliable and safe. At first, they were scared because the robots didn't look like normal golems... I've never seen one, so I don't know what they mean by a "normal golem."
Yesterday was hectic, and today is too. My dad and Bram were in the workshop because a lot of guys had shown up with orders to repair their mobile knights or build them new ones. Apparently, there are a lot of fights happening on the kingdom's borders. Not my problem, so I don't care.
Back to my current situation. Lyle, my stupid older brother and my father's firstborn, is completely useless. I told him he had to talk to the merchants who wanted to partner with both companies.
That was 2 hours ago. Where the heck did he go?
I'm stuck with some guy trying to kiss my butt.
"Viscount Bradford, I assure you, Feldmann Household is a great option to invest in your territory."
This guy has been pestering me since yesterday to invest in his territory. Obviously, there would be benefits—it's a hidden diamond mine on his land—but I don't like how obvious his intentions are. At least try to act like a normal business deal!
In the middle of all this, I noticed Lyle had finally returned, and he was with someone.
"Excuse me, Mr. Feldmann. I need to go see my brother."
The guy accepted my escape, and I headed over to Lyle. When I got there and was about to yell at him, I saw someone standing next to him.
"Huh? What are you doing with the mayor? And why did you take so long?"
A short, very old man with a cane stood to Lyle's left. It was Morgan, the town mayor and the grandfather of Jessica-chan, the best friend of my sweet angel, Paula.
Morgan spoke to me casually, as he always has since I was a kid.
"Good day, Rudel-sama. I see you're looking as healthy and energetic as ever."
"Old man, stop the flattery and call me like you usually do. And you," I turned to Lyle, "answer my question."
Lyle looked at me and averted his eyes before answering.
"Well, you see, I was..."
"You were, what?"
"..."
"I... was flirting with the girls in town."
"...Are you kidding me? You were gone for 2 hours for that, and now you're telling me you were flirting?"
"You're the damn heir! You should have a fiancée 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 joined the military academy, they ignore me!"
That was definitely a surprise.
"Hehehe, no doubt you brothers get along well. By the way, Rudel-sama, wouldn't you be interested in becoming the next head of your house, since Lyle-sama still hasn't found a partner?"
At that moment, both my brother and I were stunned by what he said. Then he let out his weird laugh, "Ulelele". It was a joke, you youngsters. Haven't you ever heard of dark humor?"
Hey, it's not the first time you've said that, and your expression is always serious when you do.
I looked at Lyle, who was scared, so I tried to calm him.
"Even if I wanted to, there's no way. I'm an independent noble affiliated with our house. If I die before having children, Lyle would take my title."
That's right. Thanks to Alisa's hours of unnecessary lectures about noble stuff, I learned about that. What interested me the most was that, for some reason, they both dressed up as teachers. Honestly, a teacher Airi is a force of destructive charm, while a teacher Alisa is the strict professor every masochist would want. Not that I am one, but her piercing glare is really cute...
...What the heck was that again?
Why have I been thinking about them so much lately?
They're my friends... right?
◇◇◇
It was late November, and just like in the game, they were in a prologue event for the end of the final year.
"Hurry, surround the enemy now that their main fleet has fallen!"
Liam was on his flagship, just like in the game, leading a fleet—two different fleets created for him.
The main fleet was a mix of sanctuary members, giving them the name [White Phoenix]. It also included supporters of Marquis Balzac, who was currently gaining more renown among the ministers. Some even wanted him to be the new Prime Minister.
The other fleet was made up of students motivated by Liam. That fleet was called the [Silver Meteor Cavalry] because it was formed at an unbelievable speed.
"Your Highness! The sons of Earl Arses and Margrave Nightray have launched an attack on the enemy fleet!"
A sailor reported to Liam, who was in a strategy meeting with toy ships simulating both fleets.
Liam looked up to see Chlust leading a group of youths in mobile knights. Behind him was Frey with a rifle, covering his back. Other students and sailors with similar weapons were with him.
Their voices came through a magical communication device shaped like a conch shell.
"Take this! Bring it on, you filthy pirates!!"
Chlust was in a sanctuary-exclusive armed unit called Silvercross. Its hands held an axe and a spear, piercing and cutting through enemy mobile knights.
Meanwhile, Frey was shouting.
"Stupid red ape! Don't break the formation of His Highness's plan!"
"I'm not! These guys are acting like rats. They're one step away from being wiped out."
Chlust, along with Frey and their allies, were destroying armed units just like in the game.
The only odd thing was that the enemies never defended themselves or counterattacked.
In the end, the battle concluded without losing a single ally.
◇◇◇
"Thanks to all of you, we've repelled another enemy fleet!!"
Liam and his subordinates were on a nearby island belonging to a noble ally, celebrating their latest victory.
Chlust raised a mug of beer for a toast. Everyone drank after that.
A man in white approached Liam and whispered something to him.
"Lady Erselica is here?!"
Upon hearing that name, he ran off, leaving the banquet.
◇◇◇
"How did everything go this time?"
In a medium-sized room, Erselica and Marquis Balzac were talking.
"As always, my Saint, we paid the [Cashmiro Family], who were busy smuggling weapons and drugs in the republic."
"The guys inside the armed units and ships were nothing more than criminals with scrambled brains."
"Very good. Turning Liam into a hero before the year-end event is almost a success. It doesn't matter if we have to ally with people like them."
(Though Liam will defeat them anyway.)
"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're not available at the moment.)
The conversation between the two now took a darker turn.
"Let's move on to the next matter," Erselica said seriously. "How is the downfall of Bismarck Household going?"
The marquis took a sip of his tea before speaking.
"It's going splendidly. I'm very excited about this. 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 at the helm."
"He lost so many fleets, hahaha."
(Hmm, is losing a fake battle that desperate?)
(Well, it must be terrible to return home after seeing your subordinates defeated.)
"Undoubtedly, the best part was the phrases from my infiltrators in his fleet when they returned..."
"'It's all Duke Bismarck's fault!'"
"'If only the Duke were a better leader, we wouldn't have lost so many!'"
"'My father died because of him!'"
"Fujajaja, it's the best, no doubt!!"
"Sorry, I was lost in thought. Did you say something that made you laugh?"
Erselica was thinking there were no casualties since it was a "fake" battle, but she hadn't listened closely to the marquis's information.
"It was nothing important, fujaja. Let's change the subject to something more important."
Erselica smiled upon hearing that.
"What could it be?"
"Fujaja, don't be so funny, my Saint. You know what I'm talking about, my—"
"I know. Can't I make a joke?"
"I've spoken with the Supreme Pontiff. He said several ministers currently want to get closer to the sanctuary."
"That means you're gaining support. Very soon, perhaps by this year, you'll become Prime Minister Balzac."
Upon hearing that, the possibly future Prime Minister, Marquis Balzac, stood up and knelt.
"Please, I apologize a thousand times for being disrespectful to you. I promise to be loyal to you, and don't bother looking for a way—I will personally make sure it happens."
"At the same time, I hope your marriage to the crown prince happens soon."
Upon hearing the word "marriage," Erselica's face turned red.
"M-m-marriage, you say? Don't be an idiot! His Highness and I would never—!!"
Just as she said that last part, the door was knocked, so the marquis couldn't hear what Erselica said.
When the door opened, a boy appeared. It was Liam.
"Lady Erselica, I heard you were back—!"
Noticing Erselica was with someone else, Liam stumbled. Instead of his usual confident statement, he asked something else.
"Marquis Balzac, what are you doing here?"
Observing the prince's gaze, the marquis stood up and proceeded to excuse himself.
"I'm very sorry for taking up your precious time, my Saint. If you'll excuse me."
With a smile, the marquis left the room.
The Saint's gaze focused on Liam. She stood up, walked toward the prince, and casually asked, "Is something wrong, Your Highness—?"
Without any apparent reason, Liam hugged Erselica, placing his hands firmly on her small waist.
"Y-Your Highness, Liam, is something wrong?"
He hugged the Saint tighter and said words that happened 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!!"
Upon hearing that, Erselica's eyes began to well up with tears.
"I feel the same, Prince—no, Liam."
At that moment, the hug ended, and they looked at each other.
Slowly, their lips drew closer, and then...
"Is something wrong, Your Highness?"
...Liam snapped out of his fantasy.
He noticed he was still in the same position as before the hug.
He moved his lips to say, "Nothing. I'm glad to see you. That was all."
His facial expression betrayed that his heart was lying to itself.
"I'm glad to see you too."
Erselica smiled as she said that. Liam saw that smile, said goodbye, and left.
Once outside the room, he slapped his cheek hard.
Before walking dejectedly back to the party, he thought:
"Idiot. If you can't tell her how you feel, you'll never be by her side..."
Liam was experiencing the same situation he was supposed to have with Airi, but that would never happen and was replaced by something else.
◇◇◇
In a residence at night, a man was signing documents.
"If you'll excuse me, I'll go patrol."
"Understood. Good night."
"Good night, Master."
The old butler bid farewell to his master, who was also old and gray-haired.
Both had been working together for the good of the territory since they were young.
The man, a high-ranking noble better known as an aristocrat, was proud of the commoner workers in his territory, his household employees, and his virtuous family.
The man worked hard and honestly for the good of the country.
The door opened without even a knock.
The man looked up, speaking to the butler...
"What is it? Do you still have matters to—?"
...but he couldn't believe what he saw.
A body, blood on its back, fell.
"Master, run! Ra—!"
With his last strength, the butler tried to warn his master.
But a knife pierced his back repeatedly to silence him.
A tall man, dressed in black and hooded, stood over him.
Several men entered after him.
There were three more, making four masked men in total.
The man was terrified.
(What happened to security?)
(Is my family okay?)
"Don't think about anything, idiot," a rough, gruff voice said.
The tallest, burliest man, the last to enter, removed his mask.
The noble, upon seeing him, screamed.
"You... you're from the Cashmiro Family!"
"Wrong."
"I'm not from the Cashmiro Family. I am the head of the Cashmiro Family."
With a snap of his fingers to a communicator, screams echoed throughout the house.
"Nooo! Dad, help!"
"Honey!"
"Get away from my fa—"
"Nooo, brotheeer!"
"Remember, there must be no evidence. Therefore, don't bother with the women. Kill them all without objection."
"The servants' children are small. Should we kill them too?"
"Of course. No survivors."
The man heard this, and tears streamed from his eyes.
The tall, burly man pulled a knife from his pocket, and then...
"This is what happens for not associating with the right people."
A family portrait was stained with red liquid.
A great fire broke out after a group of hooded men left. The commoners were blamed for it.
_________________
The "False Saint" arc has concluded.
Now begins "The End of Altfode."