Novel Full Volume 9, Chapter 8 “Bartofalt Sisters”
Volume 9, Chapter 8 “Bartofalt Sisters”
Part 1
A riot breaks out in the royal capital.
As the inhabitants of the royal capital fled, Finley was there.
In her left hand, she held a paper bag full of clothes and ornaments she had just bought, while Jenna held her right hand as she walked forward.
“Hurry up, Finley!”
“Onee-chan, wait”
The reason Finley wasn’t at the school was because she and Jenna were playing in the royal capital.
Finley shrugged as she heard a gunshot from one street away.
“What’s happening? Hey, onee-chan!”
It was normally time to go back to the school, but Jenna had asked her out and she had broken the curfew.
As they were playing, a commotion suddenly broke out.
While they were wondering what was going on, a battle broke out in various places in the royal capital and they were running around in panic.
Jenna was flustered by the emergency and her tone was raspy.
“I don’t know! Anyway, we have to run.”
“But there’s something wrong at the school too. There was an airship in the sky, and armors were fighting each other in the sky of the capital.”
Anyway, they were running around and didn’t even know where they should take shelter.
Jenna doesn’t stop, just turns her head and yells at Finley.
“Just run! There’s Nix and Leon, they’ll be here soon enough.”
It seems that Jenna is relying on her big little brother, whom she usually makes fun of.
Finley had lived at home until she entered the school, and she doubted that her brothers could be counted on.
“Are you really sure we can trust our brothers?”
Jenna led an exhausted Finley into an alleyway, where she took cover and tried to catch her breath.
“You’re really stupid”
Finley, breathing hard, wipes the sweat from her brow and says back to Jenna.
“What do you mean, “stupid”? It’s onee-chan’s fault! When I tried to leave, you said it was okay to break the curfew and took me around!”
Finley broke the curfew because Jenna invited her to play.
She is aware of it, but there is something about it that she doesn’t agree with.
“You were so enthusiastic and agreed to it! You wanted to go to a restaurant with a nice atmosphere and all that, remember?”
As the sisters begin to argue, a man with a gun appears from the back of the alley.
The sight of the man startled Finley and Jenna. Partly because they were afraid of the man, but most of all because they knew him.
A man dressed in the work clothes worn by janitors at the school speaks to them, pointing a gun at them.
“I guess I’m getting lucky. You two should obey me obediently.”
Jenna stood in front of Finley to protect her and glared at the man.
“Lutoart, you were in the royal capital.”
“Don’t call me that! I should be a baron ―― No, a man who would have been a marquis!”
Finley, who was hiding behind Jenna, gave her honest opinion when he said that all of Leon’s achievements were originally his to take.
“You become a Marquis? Isn’t it absolutely impossible?”
Jenna hurriedly warned Finley.
“Idiot, if you piss him off ―― “
Before Jenna could finish, Lutoart pulled the trigger of his gun. There was a popping sound, and Jenna crumpled to the ground.
“Onee-chan?!”
Pressing her right thigh with her hand, Jenna was strong even at this moment.
“This sucks. This is definitely going to leave a scar.”
“Onee-chan, y-you got injured!”
“It was just a graze”
A lot of blood was coming out of Jenna’s thighs as she was trying to be strong. Fortunately, the bullet seemed to have gone through, but it was not a minor wound by any means.
An expressionless Lutoart approached them.
“Understand your place. You and I have different statuses.”
Lutoart, who has only high pride despite his fall, spoke of their use.
“You two are hostages to Leon. If you don’t want to die, you must obey my orders quietly.”
.
Part 2
A hideout of the Forest of Ladies.
The representative and many others were outside in a less popular area, where Finley and Jenna were handcuffed and shackled behind their backs.
Jenna ties her thighs with a cloth.
They were tossed on the cold cobblestone floor and listened to the three arguing.
Three people with whom the two of them have a history ―― or rather, three people with whom the Bartofalt family has a history.
One was Zora, who used to wear fancy dresses, but now wore dingy clothes.
Her hair and skin are ragged and she looks much older than she really is.
Zora’s hands are covered with black gloves.
Zora, who seemed to be very confused, was blasting the people around her.
“Why these two! What happened to the princess? When we return to retrieve it, the representatives are already gone, and I don’t know what’s going on. Explain it to me!”
The other is Merce.
This one is dressed flamboyantly, but unlike before, she wears flashy makeup that looks good at night. She is thinner than when they saw her a few years ago, and they can see that she has been struggling a lot.
“You’re really useless! You could have taken a duke’s daughter or a commoner’s woman as a hostage! There are even foreign princess, why can’t you get any of them!”
The two people throwing the tantrum are blaming Lutoart, who is in awe of being yelled at.
The way he started to make excuses in fear was very different from the attitude he showed to Finley and the others.
It seems that Lutoart is normally in a bad position among family members.
“I-I also would have preferred to bring a girl of a higher status! B-But suddenly His Highness and the others showed up, and I had no choice but to run away. On the way, I found these guys, so I brought them in as hostages”
Lutoart’s gaze turns to Finley and the others.
At the same time, Zora and Merce’s gazes gathered, and Finley could only glare in regret.
(I should have obeyed the curfew like aniki told me to)
If she had returned to the school without breaking the curfew, she would not have been caught and Jenna would not have been injured.
As for Jenna, she apologizes to Finley despite her injuries.
“Sorry, Finley. Because I took you around.”
“More importantly, is onee-chan’s injury okay?”
“I’m okay with this much”
Seeing Jenna in so much pain, Finley regretted her thoughtlessness.
She regretted that she hadn’t unintentionally provoked him at that moment.
Hearing the conversation between the sisters, an irritated Merce approaches them.
“You’ve been fussing over an injury of that extent.”
Merce stomps on Finley’s head.
“It’s irritating to watch you guys. Even though you’re not even a real noble, you just claimed to be one because of our generosity!”
Merce, who stomps and grinds her, is taking out her frustrations on them so far.
Most of them were dissatisfied with their current situation.
“We are the more honorable bloodline! How come you’re still nobles and we’re treated like commoners! You make us dress like this and go out with men we don’t like just to live! I’ll never forgive you. “
“Ow, that hurt!”
As Finley screamed out in pain from the stomping, Merce lifted her foot and stomped hard again and again.
Finley was growing angry as she was being trampled by Merce.
(I’ll never forgive these people. I will definitely take my revenge)
Finley was still determined to struggle even in this situation, but something suddenly overshadowed her.
“Onee-chan?!”
Jenna was covering Finley to protect her. Merce was even more annoyed to see the sisters like that, and now she trampled on Jenna.
“You think this is some kind of beautiful sisterhood? You’re all worthless. That Leon’s definitely going to abandon you. I’m gonna kill you right here!”
Finley was thinking that Merce’s words were indeed that Leon would abandon them. He was usually quarrelsome and had a noticeably cold attitude towards his sisters.
If this had been his brother Colin, he would have rushed over immediately, but it seemed that Leon would not have gone that far for them.
(Maybe that idiot brother would abandon us. Damn it ―― I should have been more flattering him. That way, onee-chan would)
She worries about Jenna, who is covering her and being kicked by Merce.
Zora was also mocking them when she saw them like that.
“Merce, you can hurt them, but you can’t kill them. Even if they’re worthless, they might be useful for something, right?”
Breathing unevenly, the corners of her mouth turned up in an addictive smile, Merce obeyed Zora’s words.
“Yes, okaa-sama. As long as they don’t die, it doesn’t matter what I do, right!”
Merce said and kicked Jenna in the abdomen.
“!”
“O-Onee-chan?!”
Hearing Jenna’s pain as she was kicked in the flank, Lutoart clapped his hands.
“It’s a good show”
Seeing Lutoart’s vile smile, Finley’s gut churned.
(I’m definitely――going to give these guys hell)
.
Part 3
A conference room in the royal palace.
There were reports of enemy hideouts being overrun or subdued one after another.
The knights who enter and leave the room one after another are not sad and bring good news.
The knights also seemed to be in a good mood to deliver the happy news.
“All disturbances in the northern part of the royal capital have been suppressed! Einhorn has moved to the east and is dropping troops!”
“Airbike squad, captured the fugitives! They have already been interrogated and have confessed to their involvement with Raschel.”
“Good news from the unit we dispatched to the west! They have successfully captured a group consisting of former nobles.”
On the map placed on the table, one by one, the marks indicating the enemies disappear.
Everyone’s gaze was on me.
“Now let’s see where we’ll attack next?”
Which unit should be dispatched to where?
How to be more efficient?
As I was thinking about this, Julius, who was standing beside me, pointed out a map and made a suggestion to me.
“There’s an old watchtower here. It’ll be tricky if they get holed up. We’d better hit it before the enemy gathers.”
“Ah~, that. I’ve seen that a few times before.”
Now it was just an old building and I wasn’t aware of it.
“Before the expansion of the royal city, this is where they used to keep the guards, but now it is treated as a warehouse. But the inner structure is built for fighting, so it’s gonna be trouble.”
“Then the armor’s no good. Maybe we should send Greg?”
With Julius, who knows a lot about the situation in the royal capital that I don’t, as my chief of staff, I decide where to send them next.
Then, Luxion immediately.
[I’ve instructed Greg to proceed to the next destination, but he needs to replenish his supply of ammunition. The route isn’t the shortest, but I’m sending them this way to resupply.]
When Luxion showed the route that Greg’s troops would take, it seemed that he would have them go through the place where he kept his supply troops and head for the watchtower.
I have no objection to this, so I nod.
“Then we’ll have Jilk and the others resupply”
[Then let us dispatch Einhorn.]
As I made one decision after another, Milene-san watched with her hands clenched.
I called out to her, because she seemed to be alone and nervous, while everyone around her was smiling more and more, relieved from the critical situation due to the continuous good news.
“What’s the matter?”
“――No, I’m just impressed that it’s a really great lost item. I’m convinced that it was active in the Arzel Republic. I’m beyond stunned, even horrified.”
Showing a strong smile, Milene-san seemed to be afraid of Luxion.
Luxion, who certainly has a tremendous performance, would seem to be a threat to Milene-san. No wonder she is afraid of him.
“It’s fine, Milene-san”
“Eh?”
“Luxion may be terrifying, but he will obey my orders. I won’t let anything that could harm Milene-san happen.”
“Marquis ―― No, Leon-kun”
I reassured her with a determined look, and Milene-san’s cheeks reddened.
Julius is standing next to me, backed away.
“Leon, if you’re going to seduce on my mother, can you at least not do it in front of me?”
“I’m not seducing on her. I’m just reassuring her.”
“I see. Can you say the same when you look around?”
When I was urged to look around, I saw that the people in the conference room were looking away from me.
It seems to be a bad idea.
Minister Bernard for example, was a little surprised to see an embarrassed Milene-san.
“It’s only the Marquis who makes this person look like this.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Luxion blames me for getting carried away.
[You’d better think about the time and place. Moreover, even though Angelica is here.]
“Ah, crap”
Suddenly realizing what I was doing, I looked at Ange in the conference room.
If she sees me like this, she’ll get angry and pull my ear again.
I looked at Ange in fear, but she was now having a serious discussion with Deirdre-senpai and Claris-senpai.
Apparently, the conversation was not heard.
“Thank goodness. She didn’t hear it.”
As I was stroking my chest, Julius was amazed at me.
“A guy like you really are ―― But at this rate, the riots will be over soon.”
I returned my gaze to the map and asked Luxion about it.
“More importantly, did you find Jenna and Finley?”
There was no sign of Finley at the school when they evacuated.
The female student told me that she went out to play with Jenna and didn’t come back until after curfew.
Breaking the curfew at the worst possible time is nothing short of bad luck.
[Currently under investigation]
“Find them quickly”
―― I would feel bad if they died, and my family would be sad.
.
Part 4
By the conference room window.
Ange, who had been talking with Deirdre and Claris there, looked out the window at the royal capital.
(This whole ruckus sounds cute)
The revolt, led by former nobles, was unplanned and sporadic.
The commotion would have been quelled even if Leon had not been there, but Ange had other concerns.
Deirdre speaks to her in a whisper.
“Onee-sama has captured a man from Raschel. He seems to have a grudge against the Fiend Knight, identifying him as an enemy of the state. There’s also evidence that Raschel was behind this whole mess. Make sure you tell Marquis about this.”
Deirdre gave Ange the information she had received from her parents’ house.
The same goes for Claris.
“Our people have captured some people who call themselves the Forest of Ladies. They seem to have a history with Leon-kun, and we’ll hand them over if necessary.”
They both tell Ange, not the royal palace, and leave the decision to her.
That made Ange dissatisfied.
“I think you should inform the palace first.”
When Ange said the obvious and warned them, they looked at each other and then made a wry smile.
The look on their faces said, “You’ve got to be kidding me” as if they could see through Ange’s inner thoughts.
Claris takes a glance at her father, who is near Leon at the meeting, and then talks to Ange about the current situation.
“You can’t keep avoiding it, Angelica. The only reason the Duke hasn’t sent an army is because they’ve given up on the Royal Family, right?”
Claris’s words were whispered so low that the others couldn’t hear her.
However, Ange criticizes her.
“This is not the place to talk about it.”
However, Deirdre showed no signs of stopping either.
“Winning or losing is not even a question. Kouhai-kun ―― Look at Marquis. He’s leading the army with precision, isn’t he?”
Leon is leading the army with an attitude that doesn’t seem to be motivated as usual.
But the problem is the result.
All of them were so accurate that those around him were both impressed and afraid.
Information is always coming together in real-time.
It was a surprise to Ange that he could instantly know what was happening outside while he was in the conference room.
In order to obtain information accurately and quickly, the military allocates a large amount of budget.
That’s because they know the value of gathering information.
But it was impossible to get accurate information immediately.
With Luxion making the impossible possible at his side, Leon would be both dependable and terrifying to those present.
Deirdre put her mouth close to Ange’s ear and whispered.
“Don’t worry, Angelica. If we fight, we’ll surely not lose.”
Leon, who is not based in the royal capital, is now in control of everything like this.
Claris teaches Ange the reality of the situation.
“You will eventually have to fight, even if you don’t want to. The current royal family can never leave him alone. They’re terrified of a person that can take them down and replace them at any time.”
The royal ship, which has been considered the trump card of the Kingdom of Horfalt, has been lost in the war against the Principality.
In the midst of all this, the presence of Leon, who possesses a powerful lost item, is a threat to the royal family.
In fact, Milene is wary of Luxion as she considers him a threat.
Ange thinks that Leon, who doesn’t notice it, should be a little more moderate.
(That idiot. Even if you’re going to get serious, you need to hide your abilities a little better)
After revealing Luxion’s main body in the Republic of Arzel, she felt as if Leon’s guard had been loosened.
(It’s too late to tell him to behave himself now. But at least discuss what you can do in advance ――)
When Ange looked at Leon, Claris and Deirdre turned their heads to him as if following her.
The three of them all had stiffened expressions.
Deirdre lowered her eyes.
“Well, if there’s a problem, it’s the Queen.”
Claris also has cold eyes on Leon.
“They seem to be getting along pretty well.”
The three of them looked at the scene where Leon was trying to remove Milene’s anxiety.
It was no fun for the three of them because it looked like he was seducing her.
Ange closes her eyes and spits out sarcasm.
“Leon’s loyalty to the queen is troubling.”
(Don’t carelessly woo the queen, you should think about your future a little more. I’ll give him a lecture later.)
It was an unforgivable sight for Ange, but she also knew that Leon was not serious when he was seducing her without hesitation.
Ange understands the troublesome personality of Leon.
Deirdre said sarcastically, complimenting Leon’s actions.
“I’d like to praise him for having the guts to seduce her right here. That’s really all I have to say.”
Claris put her hands on her hips, looking unamused.
“The only concern is the Queen, no doubt.”
Ange took her gaze away from Leon and gave them both a serious look.
(It’s more of a problem after we get through this)
Ange was anxious about the future, but the atmosphere in the conference room changed.
Everyone’s eyes were drawn to the sight of Leon, who had been calm until then, in a rage.
“Luxion, say it again”
He was quiet, but his words were oozing with anger.
It was his partner, Luxion, who was being looked at by an enraged Leon.
[Both of them have been taken hostage. The ringleaders are the remnants of the Forest of Ladies, Zora and the others. I have also confirmed both Lutoart and Merce.]
After hearing Luxion’s report, Leon abandons his duties as the General Commander.
“I’ll go”
At the noisy meeting, Ange saw the look on Leon’s face and knew it was useless to stop him.
The people around him try to stop him.
“We can’t let the Marquis leave this place!”
“It’s already finished, isn’t it? All that’s left is to clean up.”
“So we need orders to clean that up.”
“I’ll give orders when I get back, and if you want, I can do it from outside.”
A lot of people were surrounding Leon at the meeting, which became noisy at once.
Ange let out a small sigh and stepped forward to help Leon.
“Let him go”
As Leon and the people around him looked at her, Ange put her hands on her hips and glared at Leon.
“If you’re going to do whatever you want, you’re going to have to be responsible.”
“――Ange”
Leon looked surprised, as if he had expected Ange to stop him.
Ange bursts into a smile.
“Get it done quickly”
“――I’ll be right back.”
As Leon ran out of the conference room with Luxion, Milene came to her side.
“You trust him a lot, don’t you? But your decision is wrong just now.”
“I think so too. It’s just that he’s also a fated opponent for Leon, and he’s trying to save his precious family.”
When Ange told her the reason why she let him go, Milene let out a small sigh of astonishment and looked at the door where Leon had jumped out.
“I was misunderstanding about him.”
“Misunderstanding?”
Milene changes her opinion of Leon.
“I thought he was a strong boy who could do anything with dexterity, but he’s clumsy at heart.”
Milene smiles sadly as she assesses him as clumsy.
“Poor boy. ――Ange, you must support him firmly.”
With that said, Milene left Ange’s side.
Ange wondered about Milene’s remark about the “poor boy” but she had some ideas.
(Poor huh. Indeed, because this situation is not what Leon would have wanted)
.
Part 5
When I left the conference room and went out into the hallway, I somehow found His Highness Jake and Oscar there.
In addition, there’s also Aare-chan by His Highness Jake’s side.
Apparently, they were waiting for me.
Oscar approached me.
“Marquis! Have you found Finley-san yet?”
“Rest assured. I’m going to save her.”
For some reason, looking at Oscar’s concern for Finley, I wondered what was going on. I don’t mean to interfere with my sister’s love life, but Oscar is one of the capture targets.
It was probably for my own reasons that I wanted him to be with Mia-chan, if possible.
I’m on my way to help Jenna and Finley, and Oscar asks for permission to follow me.
“Then, me too!”
“No. You should stay quiet.”
“B-But.”
I ask Oscar, who is about to head to help Finley, how he honestly feels.
“What do you think of Finley? I assume you like her enough to go out of your way to help her.”
Oscar smiled in trouble and answered my question vaguely.
“I don’t even understand myself. However, I don’t think I hate her. Yes, from my point of view, she is a caring big sister, I guess?”
“Big sister?! Finley is?!”
His Highness Jake interrupts our conversation when I am surprised to find Oscar adoring the petite Finley as his older sister.
“Bartofalt, I’m coming with you”
“Ha?”
“I’m better than my brother. I’ll be useful to you for sure.”
His Highness Jake asked me to take him, but he was constantly worried about Aare-chan, who was behind him. The girl he likes? I guess he’s at that age where he wants to look good in front of the girl he likes.
――Julius and His Royal Highness Jake are brothers as I thought.
It’s enough to make me think, “Are you sane?”
“What makes you think I can take the prince around? You’re supposed to be staying behind, aren’t you? Why don’t you go help Julius.”
“Y-You, I’m still a prince ――”
“Your Highness, you’re in the way.”
When I curtly refused His Highness Jake’s request, and he was about to say something that he wasn’t convinced about, but Oscar pushed him aside.
“OSCARRRR?! I’m a prince and aren’t you my foster brother?!”
Oscar ignores His Highness Jake, who rolls on the floor after being pushed, and looks me in the face.
“Please let me help you. I will not interfere. So please!”
Oscar bows his head deeply, and I’m going to lose my patience.
“I’m wasting my time with you people. If you get in my way, I’ll blow you away.”
When I allowed Oscar to accompany me, the man himself had a big smile on his face ―― His Highness Jake was lying on the floor, severely depressed.
Aare-chan is comforting him.
“His Highness Jake, let’s be obedient”
“――H-How dare you, Bartofalt”
For some reason, he seems to have a grudge against me, but if I bring out the second prince, I will be the one getting scolded.
You two brothers, all together, are giving me trouble.
Is this also part of Roland’s blood?
.
Part 6
“Open your eyes, onee-chan!”
Hideout of the Forest of Ladies.
There, Jenna was covered in scars after being beaten up by Merce.
Her breathing was weak and she was unconscious.
Finley was in tears at the sight of Jenna defending herself, and Merce, holding the broken stick, was laughing.
The stick that was hitting Jenna broke, rendering it useless, and she threw it away.
“What’s wrong? It wouldn’t be fun if you didn’t speak up more!”
Lutoart, who was next to her, also stomped on Jenna.
Both of them were unhappy with their current situation and took their frustrations out on Jenna.
“If we do any more, she will die. But one of them is still alive, so what does it matter.”
Zora was sitting on a chair in the hideout, watching the two children who were suffering.
What she’s thinking about is a revenge.
“That’s good. I’m sure Barkas will figure it out once he sees his dead daughter. We’ll have to show him who the hell they’ve been up against.”
Merce, tired from beating Jenna, sits on a crate in the room.
“If our plan succeeds, we will return to the nobility. This time, we’ll make you work for us and make your life miserable.”
The Zora family looked as if they had won.
Finley recalled a memory from when she was little.
(These guys really are the worst. Yes, they’ve been worse since forever.)
.
Part 7
The house of the Bartofalt family.
The Zora family, who usually don’t show up, came to complain to Barkas that day.
The young Finley watched from the doorway as Barkas and Ruth were being abused in the reception room.
“What do you mean the amount of money you’re sending me is decreasing? This is a breach of contract. It’s absolutely impossible. Can’t the countryside noble even keep a promise like this?!”
The reason why Zora had come all the way over was because the money sent by the Bartofalt family was not enough.
But there was a reason for this.
Barkas looks apologetic.
“I-I’m sorry, Zora. We’re trying our best, but with the disaster this year, we just can’t afford it.”
The disaster took up a lot of manpower and budget for reconstruction, and on top of that, the crops did not grow well.
It wasn’t a bad harvest, but it was worse than usual.
Therefore, they sold everything they could sell at the mansion and managed to find the money to send her money.
Finley knew that Ruth had given away all of her clothes and the few ornaments she had.
The house was running low, and we were having trouble finding food to eat.
But Zora still wouldn’t tolerate it.
“What does it matter? What does it matter to me if you guys suffer? If you don’t send money as promised, I’ll have an idea. Shall we take this to the royal palace?”
Perhaps Barkas thought it would be a bad idea for the royal palace to hear about this, so he bowed to Zora.
“P-Please forgive me for that!”
The royal palace favors women like Zora over the feudal lords, and judging by this kind of story, the lords are to blame, resulting in extra fines.
Sometimes, Barkas had no choice but to apologize because his territory could be taken away.
“If that’s the case, do whatever you can to get the money. You’re really useless for making me go to all this trouble.”
With that said, Zora took out her usual dissatisfaction on the two of them.
Finley couldn’t stand the sight of his parents, so she left the room.
As she walked down the corridor, she saw Lutoart and Merce, who were dressed in expensive clothes, unlike her own.
When they noticed Finley, Merce mocked her.
“She is dressed so shabbily. I really hate country girls.”
Lutoart looked at Finley and shrugged his shoulders.
“I agree with you. How can she live in the middle of nowhere like this.”
Watching over the two of them is an elf who serves as Zora’s personal servant.
“Young lady, young master, I’ve prepared some sweets in that room that I brought from the royal capital.”
When Finley’s stomach rumbled at the mention of sweets, the elf put his hand over his mouth and smiled condescendingly.
“Unfortunately there’s no share for you.”
After saying that, he took the two of them and headed for the room.
Merce looks at Finley, who is holding her stomach, and smiles wickedly.
“Too bad ~”
Lutoart didn’t look too happy when he heard it was sweets.
“It’s the same old sweets we always eat, isn’t it? I’m tired of it”
That made Finley extremely angry.
How can Zora and her family even have snacks when they can’t even afford to eat?
As she endured her hunger, Finley grew angry with Zora and her family.
.
Part 8
(That’s right. I’ve been frustrated ever since. These guys are living happily because they are all sucking up our money.)
Finley was frustrated when he found out that they were struggling to provide Zora and her family with a luxurious life.
Things have relaxed a bit lately as Leon has risen in the ranks, but until then they were forced to live a difficult life.
It’s all for the Zora family.
(Why are these guys hating us when they brought this on themselves? We’re the ones who are holding a grudge)
Hatred swelled inside Finley.
Then they hear the sound of the door of the hideout being kicked down.
At the same time, a loud male voice could be heard.
“Finley-saaan!”
What can be heard is Oscar’s shouting.
Then the familiar voice of his brother is heard.
“Don’t scream in the attack!”
Leon rushed in and immediately saw the Zora family inside the hideout and pointed the muzzle of his rifle at Lutoart, who had a weapon.
Lutoart, who was pointed at the muzzle, panicked and pointed his pistol at Leon, but he was too late.
It was Leon who pulled the trigger first, and Lutoart was shot in the right arm.
Lutoart dropped the pistol he was holding on the floor and was severely distraught when he saw the blood pouring out of his arm.
“GYAAAAAAA !! M-My arm !! B-Blood!”
Both Zora and Merce could only watch as Lutoart screamed and cried. In the first place, they could not understand what was happening and could not move.
Leon doesn’t see them as a threat and runs up to Lutoart and knocks him down by hitting him in the head with a gun barrel.
Leon took one look at Finley and Jenna, narrowed his eyes and kicked the noisy Lutoart as hard as he could in the abdomen.
Leon then mounted Lutoart and beat him to a pulp with his gun. There was no such thing as restraint, and there was a different kind of roughness in Leon’s appearance.
“S-Someone ―― help――!”
“Gya- Gya~ noisy! How dare you guys do that. I’m going to pay you back for everything you’ve done.”
Finley was watching Leon’s rampage, when Oscar arrived.
“Finley-san, are you all right!”
“Oscar-san”
The sight of Oscar coming to help her was very reassuring to Finley.
When Luxion appears, he shines a laser through the red lens to remove the handcuffs.
[It looks like this is the end.]
Finley, helped by Luxion, immediately looks at Jenna.
“The sphere, please, onee-chan!”
[Of course I will help her. Otherwise, Master will be very fussy.]
When Luxion pointed the red lens at Leon, the out-of-breath Leon was about to stand up.
Lutoart’s face has been deformed to the point where its original form is unrecognizable, and he seems to be alive but unconscious.
Leon readied his rifle and pointed the muzzle at Zora and Merce.
“It’s over. Quickly tie them up.”
When Leon said that, Merce pretend to be tough while trembling.
“Y-You idiot. It’s too late for everything. Out there, the revolution must have succeeded. You’re the ones who will get caught, not us!”
Merce had no doubt that their plan would succeed.
Zora is the same.
“Yeah! Don’t you dare get carried away, you damn brat! A man like you should have just obeyed obediently!”
But Leon snickered at that.
Zora, perhaps offended by his attitude, shouted in a shrill voice with a blue streak on her forehead.
“A poor, good-for-nothing man like you should have been a slave to us women! You misunderstood the situation and destroyed the order of the kingdom! It’s all your fault! You think you can get away after making this country such a terrible place!”
Leon deflected the muzzle of his gun away from the squirming Zora and fired at the crate.
When Zora is silenced by that one shot, he starts to laugh.
“It’s a long, long story. In other words, you’re trying to say it’s not your fault, right? All the horrible things you’ve done to our family, all the disrespect you’ve shown to men, all of that is justice? You guys really are idiots, aren’t you.”
Zora squeezed her hand and the black glove made a gnashing sound.
“You’re a man, and you’re getting carried away”
“A man. Man, right. Yeah, it’s really a man favorable society. It may be unfortunate for you, but it’s great for me!”
“T-This man”
Leon was getting on Zora’s nerves, but when his smile disappeared, his face turned serious.
“You guys are so stupid. It’s all your own fault that you’re in this situation. It’s not our fault? Don’t make me laugh.”
Leon, who says it was their own fault, talks about how Zora and the others got into their current situation.
“In this world, trash is trash, no matter if it’s a man or a woman.”
Zora and Merce, who were called trash, stared at Leon with deep wrinkles between their brows. Leon is completely unfazed by the hatred directed at him by the two.
Merce curses Leon.
“What’s do you mean trash! You’re the trash!”
“I know I’m trash. But you guys are the worst kind of trash because you don’t realize you’re trash and unaware of it.”
Leon replied with a smirk, but this time Zora countered.
“The kingdom was a righteous society that respected women until now! If you――”
“If you can’t respect others, don’t expect them to respect you. You should be aware that you’re being resented in the first place. What have you done to us? Are you trying to tell me that you weren’t wrong?”
Zora’s face reddened as she was told that they were wrong and she couldn’t admit it.
“What did you say?”
“You guys don’t really care about legitimacy, do you? Why don’t you take a look at what you’ve done? Because what you guys have done is the worst, regardless of gender. And while I’m at it, let me tell you that your little revolution? The miscellaneous riots that you were talking about have already been put down.”
No matter what Leon said, they didn’t listen to him, but when they were informed of the failure of their plan, they instantly lost their strength.
Zora pointed at Leon with a trembling hand.
“L-Lie”
“The fact that I’m here is proof. Your leaders have already been caught. If you were competent enough to succeed in the revolution, you wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place. Rachel’s men played you for a fool, didn’t they.”
Merce collapses to her knees.
“What am I struggling for?”
All the hard work they had done up until now had gone down in smoke, and Leon looked at the despairing Zora and Merce with a cold look in his eyes. He must have had something on his mind as he looked at Zora and her family, who had put him through so much.
“You should have tried harder a long time ago. That being said, you’re going to pay for messing with my family.”
Saying this in a low voice, Leon seemed to already be planning on capturing them. He didn’t try to beat them up as thoroughly as he had done to Lutoart.
Seeing him like that, Finley――.
“Ha? Why don’t you do anything to them?”
When he turned to Finley, who couldn’t get over her anger, Leon was not as crisp as before.
“No, even I wouldn’t hurt a woman.”
Finley snapped at Leon for saying such a thing.
“There is no way I’m going to let the people who hurt onee-chan like that as they are! A payback, it doesn’t matter if they’re a man or a woman!”
“Fi-Finley? Let’s calm down. Okay?”
Oscar also speaks to Finley, whose breathing becomes ragged.
“Finley-san, more than this is”
Finley’s face looked like a demon as she glanced back at the weak-kneed Oscar.
“I can’t keep quiet after onee-chan got beat up! Are you still a man?”
“I-I’m sorry.”
Taking her gaze off the apologetic Oscar, Finley walked up to a slumping Merce――She grabbed her hair and slammed her face into the floor.
“I’ll avenge――onee-chan!”
“S-Stop――Not the face!”
Merce desperately resisted, but Finley slammed Merce’s face into the floor again and again with one arm. Her nose bleeds from her beautiful face, but she doesn’t care and Finley smashes her silently.
In order to avenge Jenna, who had defended her, she didn’t hold back at all.
“I’m going to mess up your beautiful face!”
As expected, even Leon tried to stop her.
“Finley calm down! Please!”
Then, when Merce stopped moving, Finley ignored Leon’s restraint and took aim at Zora. Her clothes and face were covered with Merce’s return blood, causing Zora to back away.
“Hiih!”
“I’m gonna make you look like a potato too!”
.
Part 9
Finley, who was rampaging around like a demon, gave Zora a jumping kick and then used joint techniques to torment her.
Luxion thinks that Finley, who is laughing at Zora blowing bubbles, is just like Leon.
As such, Leon is trying to stop Finley, but is unable to do so.
“Finley, stop it!”
“It’s because they’re women that you cut corners! The enemy of women is women! They’re my enemies!”
Finley, whose tone was rough with excitement, beat up Zora mercilessly.
The sight of her mounted and slamming both fists into the ground repeatedly with no expression on her face made Leon and Oscar drew back.
[As expected from Master’s sister.]
As Luxion turned his red lens in the other direction, Jenna woke up in Oscar’s arms. She is not acquainted with Oscar, so when she wakes up, the handsome man is holding her and she looks happy.
“Oh, my goodness, he’s so handsome”
Despite being injured, she still feels relaxed.
Oscar is puzzled as well.
“No, I’m Oscar Fia Hogan.”
Perhaps Jenna was dazzled by Oscar’s earnest answer, but she was enthralled. However, she soon remembered that she was injured.
“What a disgraceful, I can’t believe I’m letting Oscar-sama see me like this.”
Luxion is impressed with Jenna’s toughness.
Oscar had a general idea of ??what was going on.
“I understand that you were injured protecting Finley-san, right. There is no need to be ashamed. You are an admirable person.”
“Oscar-sama ―― Excuse me, do you have a woman in a relationship? Like a fiancée?”
“He? Etto”
Oscar glanced at Finley, who was rampaging, and then answered Jenna.
“――I don’t”
“Then, someone you like?”
“I-I don’t have”
Perhaps his love for Finley, who was rampaging around like a demon, had vanished, Oscar replied that he didn’t have a girlfriend or anyone he liked.
For a moment, Jenna looks at him like a starving carnivore who has found a herbivore.
Then she showed Oscar a weak appearance.
“Oscar-sama, I ―― I feel dizzy.”
When Jenna hugged him, Oscar wavered and hugged her gently.
“Are you okay?!”
Seeing the two of them, Luxion realized once again that Finley’s words had not been a mistake.
[A woman’s enemy is a woman, isn’t it?]