Book 9: Chapter 13: Unfavorable Situation
Book 9: Chapter 13: Unfavorable Situation
Time goes back a bit.
There was a large fleet moving through space.
It was Rosetta's SS.
Rather than having a fleet of state-of-the-art equipment like Liam's, the fleet is now equipped with a stable of current mainstream weapons.
It was spectacular to see 20,000 space battleships with the Claudia familys crest on them.
Rosetta sits uncomfortably in her special seat on the bridge, watching the scene unfold.
Being Liam's wife, the exclusive seats are as luxurious as if the queen were sitting in them.
The seats are decorated with an emphasis on functionality.
I wonder if it was a good idea to have so many of them?"
It was Ciel, dressed in a maid's outfit, who distracted Rosetta from her worries by placing her hand on her cheek.
No problem! This is also proof that many of us adore you, Rosetta-sama!"
We've come in under budget, but that's still too much."
Hearing Elysia's story, Rosetta also felt sorry for the quandary.
I know," she said. It's a little too much.
It's not just a little bit. They have more military power than a lowly countess.
Elysia corrects her, making Rosetta shrink back.
I don't know if I can go out and train like this."
This time it's a big move, with the whole army in tow.
In a sense, the purpose is to show Rosetta's military power.
It was Ciel who planned the whole thing.
No problem. How amazing is the SS of Rosetta-sama--oh?"
It was then. Ciel stopped talking and scurried around.
Elysia crosses her arms.
What's wrong with you all of a sudden?"
No, no. I just thought that I heard a dog barking."
Elysia let out a small sigh of dismay.
Chino is at home in the mansion, remember?"
Chino, of the dog tribe, is a maid in the mansion.
When told she was not present, Ciel shakes her head.
No, it isn't about Chino! Like a real dog howling--"
Suddenly, the operators began to make a fuss.
"Rosetta-sama," he said. "We have received a request for assistance from our fleet."
Rosetta's expression changed.
Assistance? Which fleet?"
It appears to be present in the database, but no detailed information is disclosed."
Make the full disclosure under my authority."
Ha!"
According to the information disclosed, it was a fleet formed by Liam.
This is--Master Liam's fleet!
Darling!?
The operator confirms that the situation is correct.
"They have entered into a state of combat with the Calvinist faction. The difference in strength is more than sixty times!"
The bridge begins to make a commotion.
Elysia rushes to make contact.
The commander aboard Rosetta's flagship had issued an order.
"Quickly call the main planet for help!"
Rosetta gets up.
"The entire SS is to be dispatched to Darling's rescue."
"Rosetta-sama!?"
The commander was surprised and shook his head when Rosetta tried to start persuading him to return to the main planet immediately.
"It is my decision," she said. " We are going to help them!"
The commander is moved by Rosetta's resolve, and the SS heads off to help Liam.
Ciel thought.
( Uh, huh? Why would my planning save Liam's life!?)
--This is wrong.
In the face of the 20,000 ships that showed up, I wanted to complain.
"But it's all wrong. This is not right, guide!"
I had cut communication with Marie and was in the cockpit of Avid with my head in my hands.
"Why is Rosetta coming out at this point in time! Why couldn't it have been somebody else!"
I never expected Rosetta to save me, of all people.
After writhing for a moment, I tightened my grip on the controls.
I'll have to take it out on them if it comes to this!"
I launched my avid to take it out on the Calvinist faction who had come in to take it out on the Calvinist aristocrats who had come in.
A pilot who later antagonized Liam recounts that day.
I still remember that day in my dreams. --It was a nightmare."
The pilot was shot down and wandering through space before Liam could launch.
He was swept away and saw the battlefield from a distance.
The cockpit monitor stayed active, the pilot said. I was watching what was going on out there, but I don't think anyone would believe me about that whole battlefield story. I don't want to believe it either.
Even though the video is still there, people say it must be a synthetic video.
It was such an incredible sight.
When that Avid aircraft goes through, there's a slight delay, and then my allies start exploding. They are cut to pieces and swallowed up by the explosion. After he went through, there was a trailing explosion.
The pilot gulped down his drink.
"When the count's fleet tried to retreat, a band of traitorous mercenaries blocked their withdrawal and there was no escape," he continued. "They offered to surrender. I could hear it in my cockpit. --But guess what they said?"
When the count's fleet offered to surrender, Marie, who commanded Liam's fleet, is said to have looked at him coldly and said, "I'm not going to accept your surrender, because you are not a man of your word."
We will not accept surrender. You are finished here.
The pilot is crying and laughing.
"Funny, isn't it? We had 60,000 people on our side, even if some of them betrayed us. And yet, the enemy has less than half that number, 24,000. We were overrun by more than twice as many. I--I could do nothing but watch."
The pilot is asked why the battle occurred.
"The reason for the fight?" It was a decision made by the top. How am I supposed to know that? --But if it's a rumor, it's been circulating. The Count's idiot son has captured Liam's master. You know, that so-called One-Flash? Liam was furious, so he came over. How is that even possible?"
Everybody denied the gossip.
There was no way that the then Count of Banfield, one of the most prominent aristocrats in the empire, would go to the trouble of venturing into the frontier.
There must be some other reason - the pilot seems to think so.
"An explosion of light occurs in the allied fleet," he said. "In contrast, however, we do not see such a light on the enemy's side. As for our fleet, it is a tiger, but I never thought it would be that weak. We were so proud that we could win if we had the numbers."
The pilot's hands were shaking as he recalled the scene.
"The Banfield family has some damned knights, I had heard rumors about them. But I didn't realize it until I saw the real thing on the battlefield. They are very good at what they do. But the scariest thing about them is that they are fascinated by battle. The people who are not afraid to die are the scariest of all. The Named who came out in the middle of the battle was especially bad. It was Chenshi. She used to go on a rampage on the battlefield, regardless of friend or foe. But under Liam, she's a quiet, loyal subject. Can you believe it?"
Since that time, Liam has won in inferior situations.
They ask if he didn't know that.
"If you actually believed it, you would never have taken the challenge in the first place, would you? We thought it was just a myth. Thinking it was just a slightly stronger story with a twist to it. But it was still sixty times stronger. We were reasonably alert and well armed, but we were overrun.
They ask the pilot to describe Liam on the battlefield.
"Liam? He would definitely be a great leader for the feudal lords of the Banfield family. I'm so envious, it brings tears to my eyes. Our lord was a terrible man."
Because he was a terrible man - past tense.
What happened to him?
"He died. By the time we returned to the estate, the count and all the prospective heirs were dead. Rumor has it that they were trying to silence him, but we don't know what happened. We don't know what happened, but we heard that the way they were killed was pretty bad."
In an attempt to still continue the questioning, the pilot gets up from his seat.
"I've had enough of this. I don't want to remember anything about this. I've decided I'm never getting involved with the Banfield family or Liam ever again. I've seen a lot of things on the battlefield--those are the real monsters."
After the battle was over, I left the cleanup to my men and made myself at home on the ship -NOT.
When the battle is over, Marie is tending to me, crying.
"The wounds on Master Liam's body--the wounds--this Marie, I'm so sorry for my inadequacy. I will apologize in death."
"Are you an idiot?" Just keep on tending to it."
Even if I say this, Marie, who is full of loyalty, says in her brain, "Liam-sama is wonderful for forgiving me!" I think.
The spirit of the great corporate employee is repulsive.
I hate the idea of being a corporate employee because in my previous life I was a corporate slave for a certain period of time.
Simplicity is the best in this world.
No expectations, pay only what you work for.
This is good. It is better like this.
After finishing my treatment, I straighten my clothes and sit on the tatami mats I have prepared.
Rinho and Fuuka were already sitting on the tatami mats, and Ellen followed me in sitting on the tatami mats.
The people facing us are the master and his family.
"Master, I am so glad you are safe."
As I bowed my head, Rinho and Fuuka also bowed their heads.
For some reason, I felt that only Ellen was reluctant to do so - I would have to scold her later.
Master Yasushi was laughing.
"Ha ha ha--thank you for your assistance, Liam-dono."
Such a generous master.
But we had something on our minds.
It was Fuuka who opened her mouth first.
"Master! Why were you captured by the School of the original One-Flash bastards?! If I was the master, I'd have taken a swing at those bastards!"
--Yes. Why was the master caught?
And Rinho is worried about Master Yasushi's situation.
And what does he mean he can't fight? He was such a strong and powerful master.
In addition to their questions, I ask another.
"Master, I am sorry to inform you that we have failed to catch the master of the original One-Flash. I thought he was with the deputy, but I was unable to locate him even after I had Kukuri and the others check."
Master who was listening to our questions, crossed his arms and closed his eyes.
And what's even more disturbing is that giant octopus.
"Then there's that monster. He was making an enemy of the One-Flash Style. Is there something about it?"
We had never met before.
And yet, they knew me. No, they knew about the One-Flash.
He was a giant octopus that should not exist and was hostile to me.
Master Yasushi opens his eyes and gives us the answers to our questions.
"It's time to tell you everything, isn't it?"
Master then begins to tell us about the hidden secrets of One-Flash.