In front of Rudel's house.
Diana came for a visit. She found out where he lived thanks to Lugh.
Diana arrived with a note in hand. She rang the bell and waited for someone to come out.
However, no one came out.
"Why hasn't anyone come out?"
She rang the bell many times in irritation. Then a passerby spoke to her.
"You there, the inhabitant of that house won't return home for a while."
"Huh?"
This person seemed to be someone who lived in this neighborhood. Diana asked about Rudel.
"A while ago, he went out into the street carrying a lot of luggage. It was too much luggage just for a trip, but it also didn't seem like he was moving. I still remember it because it seemed strange to me."
"W-Where did he go!?"
"Who knows? There was also a girl his age with him; perhaps they were lovers eloping because their love wasn't accepted by their parents? Hahaha!"
The passerby left after saying that. Diana's hand dropped the note with a stunned look on her face.
"... You're joking. THAT BIG IMPERTINENT MEDDLERRRRRR!"
After a while, she screamed while holding her head.
◇
"What will we do now, stupid onii-chaaan!"
"You're too noisy, Erselica-chan."
I stayed at Erselica's mansion as the day of the duel approached.
The reason was that it would be safer for everyone to stay in one place.
Erselica started crying after I told her what happened.
"At this rate, you won't even have an armored unit by tomorrow! Even though it's already hard to win against Battler even with one, you'll become mincemeat if you go out like that without one!"
I couldn't get a new armored unit.
"It can't be helped. No one will sell me one. Aster's workshops are scared of Derrick."
"This isn't a laughing matter~!"
It seemed Erselica thought I was still angry with her. She was more obedient than usual.
Even now, she was serving me like a maid.
I drank the tea Erselica prepared. It tasted very bad.
"This is horrible. Make it again."
"... Yes."
Erselica left the room carrying the cup and teapot while seeming like she was about to cry. She said, "This damn tea maniac!" after leaving the room.
I enjoyed teasing this poor idiot.
Inside the room, I leaned back in the chair and thought of a way to relax until the day of the duel.
"Now then, with my inability to buy a new armored unit, I'll have to fight Battler with my body. Hmm~, how hopeless."
My reliable partner wasn't here.
I got used to sending glances to my right shoulder.
"... That damn idiot."
I cursed Ixion while waiting for Erselica to return. It was then that Lucy entered the room.
"Hey, did something happen? I saw Erselica-chan putting a thermometer inside a teapot and murmuring to herself while pouring water. Is she doing some kind of experiment?"
What was that girl doing?
Perhaps in Lucy's eyes, she was doing some kind of scientific experiment.
"I'm teasing her right now. After all, that girl works very hard when she feels pressure."
There were many times I wanted to tell her to get serious from the beginning. Like not withholding information due to laziness or remembering things when it's too late.
"I-Is that so? You two are very close. Ah, I forgot, there's a guest for you."
"A guest for me?"
"... It's Sara."
◇
Sara was there when I went to the entrance.
She crossed her arms under her large breasts when she saw Lucy. Her face looked really irritated.
Lucy also crossed her arms under her breasts. It seemed like a competition of who had the bigger breasts. I would have liked the girls to do something like that sometime.
"... So you're really here. Aren't you ashamed to be a very dirty woman? Resorting to an unknown man instead of your family."
Sara said that with narrowed eyes. Lucy turned her face away.
"Don't say anything! What do you want here?"
"I don't have time to waste on you today. Rudel-kun, I heard a rumor that you can't get an armored unit; is it true?"
When I nodded affirmatively, Sara's expression became frustrated.
"I can't lend you any help at this moment."
"Is it because of that sacred tree oath?"
"That's right. Derrick might not think much about it, but this sacred tree oath is something important for us."
Lucy was disgusted when she heard those words.
"That thing isn't a sacred being."
Upon hearing that, Sara looked furtively at Lucy.
I clapped to keep the conversation on the right track.
"Girls, calm down, don't fight. And, did you come all the way here just to check that rumor, Sara?"
"It's not that. Linus-san— the head of the Exner Household is talking with my father about this matter at the kingdom's embassy right now, so, Rudel-kun, please meet him along with the sacred tree sapling. The sapling is really important for us. That's why I'll ask my father to open negotiations with the Herring Household. That should be much better than having this kind of duel."
She wanted to open negotiations to exchange the sapling for Schwert?
Doing it that way could also be possible, but it wouldn't be satisfying for me. Besides, if they accepted, it would be problematic for my revenge, so I refused.
"That wouldn't be good."
"Why do you say that!? You'll die if you go to the duel like this!"
An armored unit against a flesh-and-blood human wouldn't even be a fight.
Even an idiot like Liam would understand that.
"I'm happy that you're trying to help me, Sara-chan. But you see, I can't forgive that rat Derrick."
She was shocked when I called her that. Lucy was also astonished. I said it to annoy, but the level of response is surprising.
About Derrick. I should have crushed him from the beginning.
The me who was obsessed with troublesome things like events or similar things was stupid.
Lucy looked at me worriedly.
"H-Hey, you shouldn't force yourself to do reckless things. In the first place, the other side is the one in the wrong, so it will be better if you trust Sara."
Lucy and Sara were worried about me. It makes me happy that kind girls like them are worried about a guy like me.
I guess I should tell them something important.
"Do you know why in the kingdom they call me a hero?"
"Huh?... B-Because you're strong?"
Lucy gave a very simple answer even while seeming puzzled.
In contrast, Sara gave a slightly different answer.
"Perhaps it's luck? No matter how strong you are, you can't become a hero without the right opportunity for it."
"Ding dong! Both are correct! However, my answer is different. The requirement to become a hero is... setting a trap for your enemy. Also, not entering a fight you know you'll lose. You just need to look for an opportunity and attack them from behind, since attacking head-on an opponent you can't defeat is for idiots."
Lucy responded immediately when I proclaimed that confidently.
"Huh? Isn't that being scum and a coward?"
"I agree with her. It's really the worst thing I've heard."
"... S-Sorry that the knights and heroes of reality are different from what girls consider charming. Real heroes are rare guys like me who must look for an opening and destroy them from within. Also, b-being called a coward is the greatest praise on the battlefield."
Both looked at me with a very disappointed face towards me.
Ixion once said that my way of fighting is the most suitable for someone like me.
◇◇◇
That night before the duel.
Derrick and his followers arrived at a bar for their early celebration.
"This is an early celebration for my victory! Drink as much as you want!"
The thugs who followed him chased the guests inside the bar and placed their order with the waitress.
The bar owner brought the alcohol to Derrick. He mustered his courage and made a request.
"Derrick-sama, the bill amount has been increasing. Also, could I please beg you not to bother the other customers too much?"
Upon hearing that request, Derrick poured the alcohol he received on the bar owner's head.
"What? Do you want to protest against me, the great Derrick?"
"N-No, not at all I...!"
"To whom do you owe your thanks so that scum like you can live in the supreme kingdom?"
"Say it!"
Derrick punched the bar owner, but the bar owner didn't seem really hurt by Derrick's fist.
That offended Derrick's feeling.
"Scum, destroy this place!"
Derrick's angry shout made the companions around him stand up and start wrecking the bar.
The bar owner hastily clung to one of the vassals.
"P-Please stop! I beg you!"
"It's your fault for making Derrick-sama angry!"
The bar owner was kicked to the ground. His wife and daughter ran to him.
"Dear!"
"Dad!"
Derrick started laughing with a smile when the two helped the bar owner stand up.
"This place is pitiful for an early celebration; I guess I should make your family take responsibility after you made me angry like this."
The bar owner guessed what Derrick was thinking and stepped forward to defend his wife and daughter.
"S-STOOOOOOOOOP!"
Derrick raised his right hand towards the bar owner, and tree roots grew in the ground.
Derrick's lackeys gathered around the bar owner, who was held back by the roots.
"Guys, let's go out."
The bar owner tried to approach his wife and daughter, who were dragged by their hair.
"Let them go!"
Derrick laughed with a wide smile.
"Yes, we'll let them go after having fun. However, I think you better worry about yourself."
Derrick and his lackeys went out and set the bar on fire.
They did it while the bar owner was still inside.
The bar owner's wife and daughter cried and screamed upon seeing the burning flame.
"NOOOOO!"
Derrick laughed seeing them cry. It seemed he was really having fun.
"Those who oppose me will end up like this!"
The people who gathered around observed Derrick with frustration.
But no one said anything.
Even the military officers of the area who came here after hearing the commotion only moved to extinguish the fire without capturing anyone when they knew Derrick was the culprit.
"Idiots just need to obey me!"
Derrick's voice resounded in front of the burning bar.
"Tomorrow will be a great day for the Supreme Kingdom of Aster! And I, a human chosen by the sacred tree, will make that kingdom scum lick my feet before turning him into mincemeat, gyahaha!"
"The name of Derrick Zaja Herring will be remembered by history as the hero of Aster!"
On that quiet night that turned dark, Derrick swore to make Rudel suffer.
◇
The morning of the duel day.
In the end, I couldn't get any armored unit.
I was squatting to watch Lucy-chan take her bottle at the mansion while talking to her.
"Eat a lot. I want to take you for a ride on my aircraft."
I didn't think she could understand my words, but Lucy-chan looked at my face once before returning to her bottle. How adorable.
Allen watched me do that while placing his hands behind his head.
"Count, you're being carefree as always. Be more serious in this situation."
"Haha~, I'm being healed seeing this cutie."
"The duel is today, you know? Can you win?"
"Hmm~, I wonder if I'll be able to?"
Allen was staring at me intently.
"Well, I think you have some kind of plan. More importantly, recently my teacher is acting strange."
"That girl is always strange, so don't worry."
When I stood up, Cana came bringing a black suitcase.
"Count Bradford, a package came for you."
"I see."
"But, the sender is unknown."
"Ah, it's fine."
I received the suitcase and found a pilot suit inside.
My old suit was torn, so I had to discard it; thus, I got a new one that they brought me.
"And the others?"
"His Highness and Erselica-sama went to see Warren, who was being discharged from the hospital today. It seems we'll all go to support you when they arrive."
"I'm surprised."
"But it seems His Highness and the others wish for you to lose."
"I expected that from those scum."
I looked at Allen to tell him something vital.
"Don't forget to bet on me. You'll earn a lot of money."
I showed a gleaming smile that he instantly darkened.
"It's forbidden to do that, said my teacher. If it were any duel, it's fine, but if a sacred tree oath is made, it's considered an offense."
"R-Really."
Although I wanted to bet if there was any betting, it was unfortunate, but it couldn't be helped.
Well, it didn't matter since I must do something much more important.
"Say goodbye to those idiots for me. I must go to an important place before the duel."
After saying that and moving to leave the mansion, Lucy came out of the mansion while holding the jar with the small sapling.
"Rudel-kun, you forgot this! You shouldn't leave it behind!"
The clothes she was wearing were something you normally wouldn't see outside the house.
She wore a pink hoodie with a bunny hood. She also had thin short shorts of the same color. And as the cherry on top, pink bunny sandals. Even her hair ties for her pigtails were bunny-shaped. A very cute image without a doubt.
Upon seeing Lucy holding the sapling in her arms, I put my hand on my chin and thought of a great idea.
"You keep it, Lucy."
"Eh, is it fine with you? However, this is something very important."
Lucy seemed puzzled. I responded to her with a smile.
"I have a feeling it will be better for me if it's with you than with me. Well, there won't be any problem even if it's stolen. In that case, I'll retrieve it without fail, so hold onto it while you feel at ease."
Lucy hugged the jar of the small sapling.
"I don't want it to be stolen, but well, I understand. I'll hold onto it."
I felt a bit jealous of the capture target who will be her boyfriend when I saw Lucy's endearing smile.
My goodness, this simply won't do. I have two girlfriends waiting at home.
"Are you going to the duel?"
"I don't think so. I don't want to see you get beaten up."
"How cruel you are. You should know, that when I make this sign, it means everything will go in my favor."
I showed her my thumb with a smile. Wait, does this feel like when I rescued Alisa from Klein for some reason?
It must be my imagination.
"In that case. I'll return with Derrick's head so you can see that I always keep my promises."
"I doubt it."
◇◇◇
"Lucy, we're leaving! We leave the house in your care!"
Erselica and the others got into a taxi. They would go to watch Rudel's duel.
Erselica left Lucy at home since the kingdom's flag was in the garden. So being attacked by someone from Aster would have international consequences.
She waved goodbye until she could no longer see them.
Lucy went inside and closed the door.
She headed to the bunny Lucy after leaving the sapling in the kitchen.
"If your owner manages to win. I wonder what I should prepare?"
Deep down, she didn't think Rudel could win. It was absurd just to think about it.
The moment she headed to the kitchen to see what she could cook, the door was kicked with great force.
"Search for the sacred tree sapling!"
"Is this the place?"
"It wasn't in the other house, so it must be here!"
Lucy watched in panic as mysterious men entered the house.
One of them looked at Lucy.
"What do we do with this bitch? Kill her?"
"She looks very good; let's take her for the boss; maybe we can sell her to some noble here."
The man with dreadlocks approached Lucy; she tried to run, but it was useless.
Lucy was pushed to the floor and then tied up.
"Haha, I found it!"
A bald man with ear piercings showed them the sapling.
"Good. Let's get out of this place before the military notices our presence!"
The man with dreadlocks placed Lucy on his back and, along with his companions, left.
The man with the sapling approached the door but noticed the bunny Lucy.
His gaze was full of disgust.
"I really hate these things."
Lucy watched as the man kicked the bunny Lucy as if it were a ball.
"Geld, don't waste time; let's go!"
"Sorry, Musik, but I can't stand those things; they disgust me."
The men left the house with Lucy and the sapling in their hands.
◇
I had gone to my house before heading to the duel location.
The reason was simple. I had to release a large brown baby from my system since I ate a lot.
After coming out of the bathroom, I didn't notice someone had forced entry.
My things were in disarray.
I got scared thinking the worst.
So, after changing into my suit, I headed to Erselica's mansion.
Upon arriving, I found the door destroyed.
"Guys!"
"Erselica!"
"Lucy!"
"Are you here!?"
There were no traces of anyone in the house, but I found one of Lucy's ribbons on the floor, and near the crib where the bunny Lucy lay, there was a trail of blood.
I was scared; I couldn't believe how far that rat Derrick would go despite seeing the kingdom's flag in the garden.
Suddenly, I found a note on the floor near the kitchen.
I read it. My face turned very serious upon reading the location's address.
I have an hour before the duel begins.
◇◇◇
Lucy had been taken to a warehouse at the port.
After being tied to a chair, she watched as a man in a white suit observed the sacred tree sapling with interest.
"Is this thing really something important? It looks like a common plant to me."
"Perhaps it's something like medicine or for drugs."
"You think? In any case, we must inform Derrick that we have secured this."
"I'll go. I want to buy more cigarettes."
"I'll accompany you; I want to see if there's something good to eat."
A man with dreadlocks and a bald man headed towards the door.
The place had many things.
All of that was merchandise to be illegally imported to other countries.
Many of them were filled with orbs and stolen goods.
The suited man, Ganpino, approached Lucy, and in response to his approach, she showed fear.
Ganpino touched her face to inspect her.
"She's very pretty, has a good body, but is she still a virgin?"
Lucy got scared when he said that.
Ganpino's hand slid down to her shorts; she started to cry.
"Don't worry, pretty, we'll sell you to a good buyer. Or, we'll give you as a gift to Derrick. Since, trafficking people is a very lucrative business."
His hand slowly removed her garment, and tears fell from her face.
Then...
"What was that?"
A loud noise came from the front door where they had left.
"Have the Rosenberg Household forces found us!? Impossible, we made sure to leave separately! In any case, grab your weapons, guys!"
The men inside picked up hidden weapons from some boxes.
They looked like what you'd see in a classic mafia movie. They even used drum magazine-type loaders.
Everyone loaded their weapons, moved away from the door, and took an advantageous position.
Ganpino grabbed Lucy to use her as a human shield.
Various strange sounds came from outside.
And suddenly, the door was destroyed by two men who entered after being propelled by a mysterious force.
They were the man with dreadlocks and the bald man. The dreadlocked man had a broken jaw and his teeth scattered everywhere; in contrast, the bald man had a broken nose and his ears bleeding.
The armed men slowly approached the place to see who was hidden there.
But there was no one; in fact, the fake door they use as an entrance was intact.
Did someone enter but didn't force that door? That's what some thought.
Ganpino asked what was happening, and at that precise moment.
Something fell from the ceiling, crashing into a large box containing antique furniture.
Ganpino was the first to notice before his subordinates.
What crashed into the box was Rudel, who was in a cat-like position from falling.
He raised his head; his face stared intently at Ganpino, very angry.
Before he could take out his weapon from his coat and use Lucy as a shield.
Rudel stood up using a taekwondo technique.
Ganpino's chin was sharply hit, sending him flying several meters through the air.
His subordinates, upon realizing it, watched their boss flying and crashing into a large box containing glass.
The noise was so loud that Ganpino screamed in pain, making everyone look at Rudel and aim their weapons at him.
Rudel had a terrifying expression.
He looked at Lucy, who lay on the floor.
He quickly took something from his pocket resembling an octagonal disc and threw it over her body.
"Don't move for anything in the world."
He told her that while a strange ghostly membrane covered Lucy's body.
She looked at him in fear.
Rudel turned his eyes to the members of the Cashmiro Family and sighed before speaking.
"... You idiots, who dared to touch my Lucy?"
◇
I quickly arrived at the port; it took me 20 minutes in total of the 40 it normally would take.
The address indicated this place, but it seemed like a common warehouse.
I used a futuristic master key to enter. I had it at home in case I lost my keys.
Upon entering, I found two guys walking very cheerfully; they noticed me, and before they could scream, I lunged at them.
I broke one's jaw; I don't know if he'll be alive or dead. The other I hit so hard he fell near some liquor bottles.
The guy with the broken jaw was still standing, so I had to be tougher with them.
Obviously, they must have heard the noise.
So I activated my special suit that I had Ixion prepare for me.
It's an improved version of the flying suit he made last year.
But it squeezes my crotch a lot. So I don't think I'll use it after today.
I climbed up the roof; thank heaven it had holes to enter.
As if I were a cat, I climbed across the ceiling and then, after finding Lucy being taken hostage by that mustache guy, I released my hands and fell to the ground like a cat.
Upon raising my head, I gave him a good kick since I remembered a movie of a kid who did the same move.
The guy went flying. I threw Lucy an object called an energy shield.
It's like an invisible force shield of the kind you'd see in sci-fi games.
After seeing it activate since I feared a stray bullet might hit her, I looked at these idiots and asked who dared to touch my bunny.
For some reason, Lucy looked at me in fear, but her cheeks then turned red. It must be from the shock.
The idiots shouted.
"Finish off that son of a bitch!"
"Where the hell did he come from?"
"That bastard is the kingdom guy we placed the fake documents on!"
Oh, so these guys are the famous Cashmiro Erselica told me about. These guys will be a problem whether I want it or not.
Furthermore, they are responsible for all the weapons trafficking, drugs, and even for creating slavery.
It seems slaves never existed until these guys decided to trade people.
Well, let's clean up the world a bit. It doesn't feel bad doing something I could never do in my previous life.
"Open fire!"
Like a torrential downpour, the bullets flew to hit me.
They did nothing to me because I had the force shield activated. The problem was I could feel the damage impacts; it was as if a hundred syringes were hitting me.
It didn't hurt, but it was very uncomfortable.
I ran forward to hide from the bullets.
"We hit him, but why is he still alive?"
The men shouted while removing the magazine for a new one.
(Now!)
With that thought, I came out of my hiding place straight at the closest one, not before grabbing a leg of the chair I broke.
The guy saw me; I saw him. It didn't matter since what happened next was that his face was hit by a piece of wood that broke.
His teeth and red liquid poured out in heaps.
I imagine the blow knocked him out.
I don't know how many guys are inside, but I know there must be more, and surely they'll be on their aircraft resting; not only do I have no time to waste with them, I also mustn't lose more since the duel will begin in less than half an hour.
Approaching another guy, I grabbed his shirt and sent him flying towards other guys.
They all fell together; I approached them and hit them so hard just once.
"Ammo loaded! Fire!"
The rain of injections would continue, but I didn't care.
I'm super annoyed with these idiots.
I ran to the center and directed my left fist at one, then my right at another. Both flew against boxes.
I grabbed a submachine gun and fired it randomly. They crouched.
Then I took one who crouched and kicked him very hard, sending him flying against the wall.
I headed to the others who remained crouched, and one by one they stood up.
I punched them, kicked them, and gave one a headbutt.
The bullets hit me, and occasionally their companions received them.
I don't care if they die; this is their problem, not mine.
I won't worry again if criminals die or not. Only if innocents or idiots are involved, yes.
I took an antique lamp and used it as a bat.
Here and there, these guys went flying.
The number kept decreasing. I watched as some tried to escape.
"T-This guy is a monster."
"Bullets don't hurt him."
"Let's get out of here."
"I won't allow it!"
With those words, I took out a small grenade and threw it at the door, which exploded upon impact.
It was something similar to green gelatin that was on the door.
"... I can't open it!"
"This sticky stuff won't come off either."
"He's coming!"
The guys trying to escape turned to look at me.
I still had the lamp. I used it against them until nothing was left.
The number had decreased further.
No matter how you look at it, this was my victory.
I quickly approached one to hit him when I heard a voice.
"That hurt, damn it."
I turned my face to see who said that; it was the guy I sent flying at the beginning.
(Is he still alive?)
That guy was resilient, it seems. But it doesn't matter; I am the victor here since I'm the one with the traps, and you're not.
His eyes looked at me fiercely.
"... So you, little vermin, are the one who destroyed my chance to be a true noble?"
"I'm not interested in what you're talking about. Only the beating I'll give you for taking Lucy and the sapling matters."
After hitting him, I observed that the sapling was safe inside an open safe.
He shook his pants. Then, for some reason, he threw his elegant coat on the floor, and from his pocket, he had a pill bottle.
"B-Boss, don't tell me you'll use that!"
"It's dangerous; it's still experimental!"
"The republic didn't get good results with them!"
I have no idea what they're talking about, but they seem to be just simple pills.
I laughed a little.
"So you'll use doping, eh? It seems fine to me. Even though I'll win soon anyway."
The guy also laughed as if he had won.
"This thing is called energy steroids."
"It's a secret project of the republic to create something called a super soldier or something like that."
What is he talking about?
The guy removed the cap and brought all the pills to his mouth, biting them with a crunch, crunch sound with each bite.
"In short. This thing is something to create a kind of super-strong warrior."
Just when I was about to go kick his ass, I noticed an anomaly.
Hey, were you that tall?
Certainly, over the months, I've grown both in muscle mass and my height, almost reaching Chlust.
But this guy, isn't he even taller than before?
Wait. What the hell...
His shirt was tearing. His expanding muscles were shown.
His legs also tore his pants. Fortunately, the middle part resisted the pressure a lot.
Now with his shirt destroyed, I could see that this guy measured three meters.
His hands were so big he could grab a heavy truck tire and lift it as if it weighed nothing.
His arms were so long, and his torso was as burly as that of a gorilla on steroids.
... I think I just ruined and delayed my victory, didn't I?
The guy smiled with his mustache that moved for some mysterious reason; his eyes showed flames.
"Super muscle strengthening magic: Herculean strength increased by a thousand."
When he walked, the ground seemed to move.
His steps were small but intense.
"Brat. Let me show you the absolute champion. I am, a true invincible super man."
The guy approached me smiling as if he were going to play with a toy he wanted to break.