In the Kingdom of Altfode, Airi was showing the scholarship students around the academy.
She was doing it with a joy and energy that any product seller would want to have.
After finishing touring the academy, explaining the rules and class schedule, she turned around to speak to them face to face.
"That's all the explanation. Are there any questions?"
The students weren't only nobles, but they still had good backgrounds.
They were sons and daughters of rich merchants and upstart nobles. So, from Airi's perspective, they were like rich young masters or young ladies.
But there were also novelties among them. People who gained fame as adventurers also mixed in there.
It could be said it's appropriate to say the kingdom respects the adventurer occupation.
Their ages were over sixteen. There were even students older than Airi among them.
A student raised his hand.
"Umm~, Preston-kun."
Airi called his name while looking at the document in her hands. It wasn't just any document, it was a digital file, since what she held in her hands was an electronic device called a 'tablet'.
She and Alisa had one, they didn't yet know how to use it properly, but for some reason they knew how to use emoticons perfectly without Rudel teaching them.
The young man named Preston brushed his long bangs while speaking with a proud tone.
"I am grateful from the bottom of my heart to be able to enroll in the academy. Also, Irisdina-senpai, do you have a boyfriend you're going out with?"
Upon hearing that phrase, some people around him seemed exasperated, while there were also students who mocked him.
But Preston paid them no mind.
Airi looked at him for a moment and responded with a smile while closing her eyes.
"I have a wonderful fiancé. And we will marry upon graduation."
Preston shrugged while the boys and girls who saw that smile were perplexed by her charm, many, including girls, turned their faces away due to the embarrassment of her honesty.
"My sincerest apologies. I wish I could have met you sooner."
It seemed he wasn't a young man who constantly went after a girl.
A girl raised her hand wanting to ask something, but at that moment. Preston's eyes looked at Airi with a wild gleam.
Preston's evil thought was directed towards Airi.
◇◇◇
In another part of the academy, a meeting was taking place.
In it, teachers were gathered talking with a student, it was Alisa.
They were sitting at a long table, she was at the central edge making her seem like a very important woman. She had several documents around her.
This was the reason the current principal, Rudel's tea mentor, asked them not to leave.
Airi was a pleasant girl, the academy needed people like that since nobles compared to commoners were minorities. And only someone whose smile can make their hearts calm down could avoid coming problems.
As for Alisa, she was a very capable and intelligent girl. She was organizing an economic plan to help the academy after its reconstruction. Despite not being an expert on the topic, her ideas for raising funds were excellent.
It was also due to that, of all those present, she possessed the highest rank even being just the daughter of a duke.
"Good. With this, the academy will be fine for a while. I appreciate the help of all the teachers."
The teachers looked happy knowing they had such an intelligent person helping them of her own will. Alisa just wanted to make the academy a better place since the kingdom's future gathers there, the heirs of various families.
There was an espresso coffee maker on the side, she poured herself coffee and burned her tongue.
An electronic sound arrived. It was Airi who wrote to her.
This was possible because the density of the magical element served as a medium to encrypt and decrypt sent information. In other words, it was a primitive and strange way of using the internet that only worked in a determined area.
Upon opening the message, she laughed a bit at its content.
"The new students are very nice, but I don't like being asked if I'm single!"
The tail of the message came accompanied by an emoticon of her puffing her cheeks.
At that moment, the door was knocked and Alisa told the person behind it to enter.
Upon opening, a small girl entered.
She was a new student. This girl was the reason why Alisa could talk about economic plans without looking like an idiot.
She was the daughter of a marquis house with experience in economics. She had messy strawberry blond hair which was tied in two braids, her bangs covered her left eye and she wore glasses that hid her bluish-green eyes.
Alisa approached the girl since she asked for a report on certain things. Upon approaching, the girl seemed to tremble like jelly.
"Is something wrong?"
"N-No, nothing, absolutely nothing!"
"I understand. Thank you for your help."
"N-No, I should be the one saying that! For the daughter of Duke Bismarck to ask for our help despite being a house in decline for backing the traitor during the war crisis, it's an honor to be able to help raise my house!"
Her house was a supporter of Marquis Balzac, not because they were cruel people, but because they were people who saw potential in clients or sponsors, like merchants; it was normal to ally with rough diamonds. Unfortunately, they didn't know that diamond was actually just coal. After the war, their house was labeled as criminals and stripped of their lands and second name. They managed to show evidence that they didn't know Balzac was an enemy of the kingdom, but thanks to an exhaustive investigation their charges were cleared, but their support for the traitor was genuine, as punishment, their second name was stripped so now they would be considered a nearly ruined house. Not having a second name is the same as being at the same level as a knight's house, a disgrace.
The queen, thanks to the prime minister's help. Managed to clean up some of the kingdom's filth that the royal family had hidden. The name 'van' was demolished forever. Many felt terrified, but she explained that since aristocracy was no longer permitted in the kingdom, now all nobles would be equalized, it was an excuse, but that was true.
It doesn't matter if you are a van or a von, your second name equates to a von since it would be very suspicious if they wanted to erase that overnight. The title of earl and margrave was also eliminated. Now they will be replaced as count and marquis.
The titles will remain as a memory only, the queen wanted the darkness of the past not to continue in the kingdom to thus avoid more traitors like the Kingsfort or Balzac in the future.
Alisa reviewed the documents while the girl beside her was at a distant distance.
"Are you sure nothing is wrong? Perhaps, is my face unpleasant?"
The girl, Wendy Harvey, raised her hands and her voice in panic at what she said.
"Y-You're mistaken. I-I was actually just thinking that a tadpole like me shouldn't be near Lady Alicelotte, after all, you are a woman of a status superior to mine!"
Alisa didn't understand why she called herself a tadpole nor her very strange way of speaking.
"I think you confuse me?"
"H-Huh, what do you mean?"
Alisa stood up, approached her and grabbed her shoulders. Wendy trembled thinking she would do something to her.
"I, am a weak woman"
Wendy was left speechless by what she heard. The daughter of a duke called herself weak.
"I am not a strong woman, I need and trust my important people a lot. Without them, I would have crumbled, for that reason, don't think of me as a superior existence. I am just an ordinary girl just like you."
Wendy's eyes stared fixedly at Alisa's face.
"The academy is a place where you not only come to learn about various topics for your future. It is also a place where we relate to those who can be our future allies, friends, and more than anything, lovers."
Alisa's smile made Wendy lower her head, then Alisa took her chin and lifted her face to look at her.
"I was also a lonely girl, but one day I met the two people I love most in this life. I'm sure, that you will find someone who makes you smile from the heart."
Wendy's glasses became moist from the tears that welled up in them.
Alisa removed her hand and then the fearful girl responded to her.
"T-Thank you for your words. I-I... will strive!"
Wendy removed her hands that she always kept in the air and straightened her back.
At that moment Alisa, realized something.
She swallowed saliva due to astonishment.
(They're big!)
Her alarming thought was due to the fact that the girl in front of her, possessed large breasts despite being shorter than her.
Wendy, still trembling, left the room with joy.
Alisa watched her, and murmured.
"Definitely, I won't let Rudel meet her."
◇
Schwert was approaching the limits where the border of Aster began.
"It must be a joke!"
The distance was far, and despite having fog, even so, what my eyes saw was hallucinating.
It was a tree, an enormous tree bigger than Mount Everest that I saw on the news. In fact, that mountain looks small compared to this thing that reaches beyond the skies hiding its crown of branches.
Ixion was at my side and not even he could believe it.
"It's truly fascinating how something like that exists. I'm analyzing the height and it seems to be over 20,000 meters long."
"That's how big it is! And is the land really that big to support its weight?"
"Unlike the kingdom's islands where some measure the same as a peninsula or small continent. The size of this country seems to be a fusion of super continents."
I was left speechless, something so magnificent was before my eyes. And even more knowing that there are islands of such size.
"That reminds me, Master. Did you study the native language of Aster?"
"Huh?"
It was normal that there were more languages than the one we speak, in my previous life it was also normal. But Ixion asked me something I didn't want to answer.
"I-I... spent my time playing cards with Chlust and Frey. I didn't have time to study it."
"... You're lucky I knew something like that would happen and prepared a dictionary to speak and write the language in a way even the biggest idiot can learn."
"Oh, thanks... You're calling me an idiot!"
"Did the idiot say 'huh'?"
"Huh?"
"There's your answer."
I bared my white teeth due to how annoying it was to be with this piece of junk.
"You should learn to be a better master. Who knows what would become of your life without me?"
"Do you think a piece of junk like you makes my life different? I'm sorry to say it doesn't. And for your information, you'll be tied to me forever. So the only idiot here is you, failed genocidal AI with a bitter and floating trash personality."
I stuck out my tongue to annoy him, but at that moment.
"What the hell?"
A strong gust made the deck shake.
I grabbed the railing since I was about to fall.
Upon raising my head, I observed something that was illegal.
"What the hell is that idiot doing flying above an aircraft?!"
Such an act was illegal anywhere due to aeronautical laws. Ixion notified me of a message from a fleet approaching from the front.
"Master, they seem to be Aster's military. They inform us to let them enter for a routine inspection."
"Huh, they say it as an order instead of requesting permission?"
"It seems so and they demand it be quick."
"What the hell!?"
◇◇◇
In a room resembling a library. Were Erselica, her servants, her boyfriends, and the two guests of Rudel.
They were reviewing the language of Aster before arriving.
"I understand. The pronunciation to say thank you is the same as in the kingdom, but the use of the tongue is different. It's undoubtedly a big difference."
Erselica taught Allen and Cana about various things of Aster, all that was told to her by her three boyfriends. Since, even though it may not seem like it, they are young men of high education received from their families.
"Not only that, Erselica. With a bad tongue movement, you can create an insult unintentionally."
Frey commented to a scared girl that she could create problems for not speaking the native language well.
At that moment, the interior shook.
Clovis who was sleeping fell to the floor while Warren grabbed the table.
"What happened? A storm perhaps?"
Everyone except Clovis who remained on the floor approached the windows. They watched as they were surrounded by large fleets of Aster.
Erselica was scared, but Liam calmed her.
"This is what they call the baptism."
"Baptism?"
"Yes. It's the way Aster receives its visitors who are not merchants nor politicians. I heard it was like a rough game, but this borders on abuse to the personal limit in how close they can get to us."
"Does that mean they do it on purpose?"
"It seems so."
"How rude." Said Warren adjusting his glasses.
"Master, look."
Allen pointed out how a boat approached Schwert to enter the hangar.
◇◇◇
Some military personnel in a boat demanded I let them board. Normally this requires permission, but these guys are very rude.
"Hmph, this place is hideous."
"The crew even hid from us."
That's what a tall man with a long carrot-shaped nose said. His uniform indicated he was an admiral.
The admiral came accompanied by a group of men who also had medals like him, but to a lesser degree.
The admiral walked around the hangar criticizing everything like an art teacher belittling his students' works.
"What is this aberration?"
Said the lanky big-nosed guy upon observing my little one. It was none other than the new model of Battler.
The original Battler was destroyed in the war, so Ixion created a new one, but its capabilities and trick abilities are inferior to the original.
It was a large armed unit of jet black color. Its body was robotic, its head looked like a motorcyclist's helmet and a red visor with multiple cameras embedded in it.
The interior was spacious with several high-definition screens to not lose any field of vision, to move it I used joystick-type controls.
The admiral approached and kicked it.
Hey, don't do that. Didn't your mother teach you not to be a cretin?
Do you want Ixion to kill them?
He was hidden somewhere around here.
"What a grotesque thing the kingdom made. Really their tastes in mobile knights are the lowest, can it even move? Puah, I doubt it's comparable to Aster's old models, popopo."
He laughed in a grotesque manner. Although that wasn't the only horrible thing.
The other officers were snooping around like suspicious guys.
Some smoked and others left crumbs of food.
The admiral after hopping on one leg from continuing to kick my boy, ordered the retreat.
"It seems there's nothing out of the ordinary. Before finishing the routine inspection, it's time for the baptism."
With those words, all present began to spit on the floor, walls, and even on Battler.
They retreated while laughing.
"Welcome to Aster, the kingdom of aristocratic supremacy, popopo."
I watched them leave with disgust. Ixion descended and was evidently annoyed.
"Can I kill them?"
"No. Don't do it, I promised at home and to them to behave well in their absence. I don't want more problems with idiotic or abusive nobles."
I want to enjoy a bit of peace and tranquility.
With that said, I headed to look for a rag to clean the saliva stains while the aircraft closed the hangar and we headed to the port.
◇
We had arrived at the port. It was almost like a port city.
We were all getting off.
I watched as various aircraft entered and left as if it were a spacious parking lot.
I raised my arms to the sky due to how gratifying it was to touch solid ground.
Behind me, Erselica and her friends were getting off, followed by the three dumb idiots and the other two.
We all relaxed since being weeks on an aircraft isn't the same as being on solid ground.
We could have arrived in three days.
But the time it takes to go from the kingdom to this country is long. It would be very suspicious to do it in record time.
The others continued getting their belongings down and Clovis, better known as the grape head, asked me.
"Hey, why aren't you getting your things down? Do you want us to get them down for you?"
Immediately I turned to laugh in his face.
"Don't compare me to you, I have my own system."
I pointed to the sky and the idiot watched as floating robots carried my things to the carriage that awaited us.
The diplomats watched with horror as the prince carried his own suitcases.
He complained and made an idiotic comment like his personality.
"How envious, I also want my things carried!"
Shut up.
◇
We all entered our respective carriages. But for some reason only I entered one.
I admired the view around me while the diplomat from the kingdom's embassy told me about what I saw.
He seemed like a child in a theme park, since it truly deserves my description of that.
"As you can see the men with a pendant on their left ear, they belong to the orthodox kingdom of Courtois."
"The women who cover their faces are from the desert kingdom of Danafor."
Various cultures, ethnicities, religions, and above all races were present in a single place.
That's right, races. I thought there were only humans in this world, but it seems the game aspect didn't forget them.
Near something like a Chinese food restaurant were some children— no, calling them that was rude. They were actually hobbits, that's right, hobbits!
While in a restaurant where they served snails I could see women with rabbit ears talking while eating. They were true beast women! That means there are beast men too.
The best of all was that I could see what can never be missing in a fantasy world.
"A true elf!"
People with blond hair, beautiful faces, shining eyes, and long ears walked in suits towards their embassy.
"Isn't it incredible? All those are demi-humans, they belong to the Holy Kingdom of Arzel, a country where only demi-humans live."
My drool fell since I also saw beautiful elves and who moreover had large breasts that jumped with each step.
My eyes stopped on a certain structure.
"That embassy is totally white that gives the creeps."
"That is the embassy of the Holy Empire Weiss, I recommend you not approach under any circumstances nor make contact with them."
The Holy Empire Weiss, Lolica mentioned that country is the one that would declare a world war on us and they are also very strong. It also seems the homeland of the queen and they are very close so they are enemies.
"Fortunately, the empire has been less hostile and more docile after losing to Aster during the war. For that reason, they have their embassy here, at least it's good they don't seek problems unlike the republic which is prohibited from entering here."
"The republic?"
"You don't know them, Count Bradford? The Republic of Ereboreas and the empire are sworn enemies, in both wars they involved the entire world and in the end both lost. There was once a country called Musashi, this country was one of the strongest until the intense battle between the Sword Saint and the Blood Knight that you killed was fought on its land."
Just remembering that son of a bitch gives me chills.
"By the way, Count, how was the welcome?"
"Disgusting."
"I'm sorry to hear that, but that's how things are here."
"Is it necessary to be so extreme?"
"It's not kingdom territory to call their attention, we must comply with their orders since we have no other choice."
It seems even the diplomats had problems with the locals.
"The kingdom is exporting an enormous amount of magical stones. So, please, Count Bradford, we ask you not to seek fights with anyone."
My face made a strange expression at what he said.
"W-Wait a moment! I am not a troublemaker, it's just that—."
The official looked at me with a face that indicated he didn't believe what I said.
"I'm sorry for not believing you, but everyone knows you are the first to resort to brute force when the situation gets heavy."
"But I..."
"We saw how you forced His Highness to carry his own suitcases."
With those words all I could do was turn my face away and nod that I won't cause havoc.
◇
After a while touring the streets, which make it look like a city from the 90s era. We arrived at my residence where I will live the next few months.
It was a luxury urban neighborhood.
The houses were painted the same color and the same size, moreover. There were gardens with sprinklers and even a park to exercise in the back.
Upon getting off, I found myself in front of my new house, but upon doing so, I observed a rarity.
"Seriously?"
A cute bunny was on my lawn, it seemed injured, its leg was red.
I approached the little one and it writhed in pain.
In my previous life I had a cat, so it could be said I like pets.
I delicately took the bunny and hugged it like a baby.
The official saw me carrying it and wanted to take it from me.
"I'm very sorry about this, Count! This place is the one we could choose that was quickly available, besides the price was cheap since it was rumored there were wild rabbits around here."
I calmed the man who seemed to think I would do something to the rabbit.
But now that I realize.
"Where are the others?"
"His Highness and company were taken to their selected mansion. The heir of the Gravel Household and his companion to another house his family paid for."
"Was so much expense necessary? I mean, they could have just given me a room in Liam's mansion and that's it."
The diplomat made a complicated face upon hearing that.
"Y-You see... it's that... His Highness and Miss Erselica are..."
I forgot about that. Those two are a couple, a very horrible one.
Erselica is the woman who deceived the kingdom and made the future king fall in love. It would be problematic for the royal court if they thought something was happening between the two.
It's impossible to tell them that will never happen. But above all, I am an engaged man, I don't want to spread bad rumors and for them to reach the girls or my family.
"Sorry, it was my fault."
"I appreciate your understanding, Count. Also, I'm very sorry, but we couldn't arrange any servants."
It seems the officials of Aster couldn't finish the preparation on time because the study abroad was decided out of nowhere.
"Don't worry about that. I was the one who decided to study abroad so suddenly. You can prioritize Liam and the others over me."
"Thank you. Now with your permission, we withdraw."
The diplomat and his assistants who got my suitcases down were leaving the way they came.
At that instant I opened a specific suitcase and a sphere flew out to my shoulder.
It reflected light to make itself invisible, so there was no problem if someone saw it.
I headed to open the door with the keys given to me before getting off the carriage and entered my new home.
The suitcases floated magically to the interior, or perhaps scientifically?
I closed the door and the most important thing was this little one.
"Ixion, analyze him."
Ixion's red eye shone and a light ran through the body of this little friend.
"Finished analysis. I regret to say it's more serious than it seems."
"He just has a broken leg, doesn't he?"
"Not only that. It seems he has damage to internal organs, he won't live beyond a couple of months with care and surgery."
"I see."
I've always been bad at hearing how a small animal dies. I remember once Lolica had a pet toucan and we fed it together, but one day it ate something it shouldn't have and choked. Unlike her, I had a terrible time.
"By the way, Master, he's not a boy, he's a girl."
I was surprised and checked with her permission and it was true.
"You're a box of surprises it seems."
"Very well, Ixion, I leave her in your care, I'll go tour the city a bit."
"Understood. I'll prepare everything for the surgery, it's a good opportunity to avoid the expiration date of a living being."
"Don't say it like that, lunatic."
◇◇◇
Warren and Clovis had arrived at their house calmly while Erselica and her boyfriends arrived at their mansion. It was as big as a millionaire's, with a yard and garden included. It even had a fountain, everything was to say the prince lived here.
Happiness should have run across Erselica's face until the officials said something that horrified her.
"What do you mean you couldn't give us servants?!"
"No, in fact, you do have servants."
"Sorry, but that number is too low for this huge house!"
"I understand your discomfort, but we received orders from Her Majesty to limit both your expenses and the number of servants."
Erselica trembled, the mansion was so big it occupied an entire block.
"Master, it would take us an entire week to clean this place alone!"
Allen ran from corner to corner to verify the length of the hallways.
While Cana got scared seeing the number of rooms.
At that moment, Liam entered with his suitcase.
"Erselica, where are the servants who prepare the bath?"
At that moment she...
"Help me, onii-chaaan!"
She screamed in desperation.
◇
The city is undoubtedly a place taken from classic movies.
Everything looks from the era where fathers used strange hairstyles and young people drove classic cars they called the latest model.
In this country there are from automobiles to trains.
They all work with magical stones.
The skies are clean and without noise unlike the kingdom since flying within the country is prohibited.
In the city center is where the rich and important nobles live.
There are seven continents in total. They are united by the sacred tree.
The territory I'm in seems to also be where the academy headquarters is and belongs to the matriarchal house.
But since there is no lord, its administration passes to the interim head.
I was on the rail train. It reminded me of my previous life when I traveled from city to city.
In the south of the neighborhood where I was located was the commercial zone.
There were loads of lucrative businesses and all according to what they sold were located in a corresponding part.
I looked for something to eat and then I'll go buy food for tomorrow and ask what rabbits eat.
I stopped at a certain shop. The reason is that I couldn't believe what my eyes saw.
I entered, and inside, lay paradise.
"Welcome to Little Garden! Are you accompanied?"
"N-No. I'm alone."
"In that case, table for one. Please follow me."
This place is something I would have liked to visit once in my life, but I could never enter one due to shame, but now I can.
The best of all is that a cliché fantasy world has this, it makes it look like paradise on earth, that's right, clearly I'm talking about...
(A true maid café!)
Wherever I directed my gaze there were only cute young women wearing maid uniforms as if they were waitresses.
It was exactly the same with the exception that the skirt was extremely short.
At Alisa's house there were servants, but these are the charming type.
I sat at a prepared table and the cute maid who had cat ears gave me the menu.
I read the prices. They are all expensive.
There are from roast meat and salad to desserts where the maids sing happy birthday to you and write your name on it.
This place is wonderful!
I'm not saying it because it's every old man's desire to be served by charming young girls!
It also has nothing to do with the fact that the girls seem flirtatious and want a big tip!
That's right, I just came to eat and look around the place!
It has nothing to do with the fact that I wanted to enter one!
Yes!
◇
The food was delicious.
Also one of the girls recommended what food to buy and care for a rabbit since she had one.
I was already paying the bill when a commotion happened.
"Dear customer, it's wrong to touch one of the girls!"
"Hehehe, there's no problem if I pay something extra, right?"
It seemed a guy wanted to take liberties with one of the girls.
He seemed to be a noble. This is bad.
Just when it seemed something was going to happen...
"My, my, does the customer want to have 'that type' of service in this place?"
A feminine voice came from the back of the kitchen, I thought it was a beautiful mature woman who said that, but my face made an expression of panic then.
Opening a door, a large, robust male appeared. His hair was blond combed to the sides, he had a mustache that covered his mouth. He wore thick glasses that didn't let his eyes be seen.
He seemed to be the owner of the place since he was in a suit and also had a name tag.
"Madame Beverly!"
Said the noble upon seeing the large male coming out, I got scared remembering the problem I had with a guy like that last year.
"Dear customer-kyun, if what you desire is a special type of service, I will always be available. ❤"
"But the girls are a non-non. Do you want to see me angry? Although it may not seem like it, I'm the kind of girl who gets very angry when her cute girls are mistreated."
The noble started to get scared, I did too since his face seemed to want to give him a kiss after getting close enough.
The noble grabbed his things and fled. There was applause upon seeing him fall after tripping over the door.
"Thank you, Madame."
"No, it's natural that among girls we support each other."
"More importantly. Has anyone seen Lucy-chan today?"
"Huh, don't you know, Madame? Lucy said that tomorrow the new school year classes start so she quit."
"Whaat!"
The conversation seemed something that didn't concern me so I decided to leave.
But, that stayed in my head. That name, Lucy.
It's very pretty.
I just remembered another strange thing regarding the meaning of names that shouldn't have importance in my life.
It was about a monster card game. One of them had the name Lucy in the title.
It seems, the design was that of an angel. And it had its meaning written since it was also related to its special ability.
Lucy means light, radiant, or a being of joyful company.
It was very pretty.
I think I'll call the little bunny Lucy.
Yes. From now on, she will be called Lucy-chan.
I can't wait to tell Ixion.