One More Disturbance

“Ah~ done, done. Letitia, were you watching~?”

I walked briskly toward my wife.

Yep, yep, I think I showed off a scene where I clinched it perfectly.

After all, having your wife see your cool form is the greatest joy of a husband.

Besides, with this, the possibility of separating from Letitia has vanished too, right?

She’ll praise me too, right!?

No, she doesn’t even have to praise me!

Just seeing her smile happily is enough to make me fully happy!

—Thinking such things, I came up to Letitia’s side while mentally doing a happy dance step, but,

“…”

The scene reflected in my eyes was something too unexpected.

—Letitia was crying.

A single drop flowed from the corner of her eye, wetting her cheek.

“Le-Letitia!? What’s wrong!? Why are you crying…!?!”

Eh, what!?

Did I do something wrong!?

Did I do something to make her sad!?

Is it that?

Was the way I defeated Joshua not cool enough…?

Or was that final “Because I fell for her” line lackluster…?

But falling for Letitia and continuing to fall for her even now is a fact…

What should I do, I don’t know…!

I don’t give a damn if the rest of the rabble cries or screams, but I engraved it in my heart not to make Letitia cry…!

Cold sweat flowed like a waterfall from my forehead.

My face was probably pale blue.

I’m about a hundred trillion times more nervous than when I faced Joshua…

“No, that’s not it… I’m sorry.”

Letitia hurriedly wiped the corner of her eye.

With her eyes slightly swollen, she said,

“When everything ended, I felt somewhat relieved… That it’s okay for me to still be with Alban…”

“Obviously, right? We’re together forever. Or could it be, did you think I might lose to Joshua or something?”

“It’s not that, but…”

“I’m joking.”

I approached Letitia and gently wiped her cheek with my finger.

“I won’t lose to anyone, and I won’t go anywhere. I will be by your side forever.”

“Un… Un.”

“So please don’t cry. That’s not the expression I want to see on Letitia.”

“Yes, I know. …Thank you, my beloved Alban.”

Saying that—finally, she smiled for me.

That was truly the expression I liked best, the one I wanted to see most.

—Ah, that’s right.

I want you to be smiling.

Because a smile suits Letitia best.

And then, we embraced each other.

Without caring about the surrounding eyes.

I managed to protect my beloved wife, after all.

It’s okay to immerse ourselves in joy a little, right?

▲　▲　▲

<Olivia Barrow Side>

—Clap, clap, clap.

I clapped my hands, sending light applause.

Towards whom, you ask?

Why, of course, towards everyone in Class F reflected on the magic projection screen—or rather, towards Baron Odrant and my cute sister Letitia.

“It was the greatest finale. Like a stage play colored by a supreme drama.”

It was truly magnificent.

Surely no greater art than this exists.

It is already a perfect 100 points.

No, the moment my cute, cute Letitia was working hard, 100 points was already decided, you know?

Baron Odrant and everyone in Class F truly performed with such variety.

As I thought, 100 points isn’t enough.

Maybe I should give them about one hundred million trillion points.

I must get a copy of this recording later.

Perhaps asking a playwright to actually turn it into a stage play is also an option.

Ah, I’m looking forward to it!

“How was it, Father? Do you not think we saw a wonderful ending?”

“…”

Father—Duke Barrow remained silent, not taking his eyes off the magic projection screen.

No—perhaps he cannot take them off.

“…Can you still not acknowledge those two?”

“I…”

With a face as if his soul had been drained, Father tried to say something.

────However,

“…No, it is nothing. I will go get some air.”

Staggering, he stood up from his chair and tried to head toward the exit.

Honestly, he’s so stubborn—thinking this, I took a slip of paper from the handbag I was holding.

And without Father noticing, I slipped it into his jacket pocket.

—With a bam, Father left the viewing venue.

“…This is fine, right, Letitia?”

Now then, if it goes according to that child’s prediction, there should be one more disturbance—I wonder how it will turn out?

▲　▲　▲

Leaving the viewing venue, Duke Barrow walked unsteadily along the connecting corridor facing the outdoors.

There were no people around, only the sound of the wind blowing Zaaa quietly ringing out.

“To think… Baron Odrant was that…”

He muttered like he was delirious.

At that moment, “…Excuse me, noble gentleman there.”

Someone stopped Duke Barrow.

“You seem to be unwell. If you are fine with —this humble one—shall I lend you a hand?”

“No… I am fine. I just felt a little dizzy—”

Duke Barrow looked up to see the person who looked like a male student who had kindly called out to him.

And at the same time, he was so surprised that the words about to leave his mouth were cut off.

Because—that male student’s face was covered by a far too eerie “Clown Mask.”

“Please do not hesitate to do so. I merely need you… to become ‘bait’ for a little while, you see.”

▲　▲　▲

Having finished the midterm exam, I was returning to the exam starting point while simply flirting with Letitia.

We finished the exam with what was practically a complete victory.

It’s fine to have the lingering comfort of returning slowly while flirting, right?

Since Leonil is following behind us, it’s unfortunate that it’s not a situation where we’re just two alone.

By now, the other Class F members should have returned to the starting point too.

If it ends like this without incident, and Duke Barrow smoothly acknowledges our relationship, I’d have no complaints, but—

Just as I was thinking that,

“—Ah~, ah~, mic test, mic test. Can you hear me, Baron Alban Odrant, and Letitia Barrow.”

Suddenly, a voice echoed throughout the dungeon.

And it was a damn annoying voice I remembered hearing.

Leonil seemed to realize it immediately too,

“! This voice… is it Impaling Baron, Scuyer!”

He called out the bastard’s name.

Yeah, no mistake.

The only one who speaks in this joking manner that mocks people is that guy.

“Congratulations on your complete victory over Class C. It was truly a magnificent fighting style. To the eyesore couple who were the central figures of such a victory, I have an announcement to make humbly.”

Clap, clap, clap, Impaling Baron, Scuyer Scuyer applauded.

And he continued, “—This Impaling Baron, Scuyer has taken custody of Duke Willem Barrow. If you wish for the safe return of the Madame’s father, swallow my demands.”

With a threateningly low voice, he came out with the fact that he had abducted and confined Letitia’s old man.

“My demand is one: Baron Alban Odrant’s “Head.” If you prepare Baron Odrant’s severed head, I promise to release Duke Barrow unharmed.”

“…Hoh, that’s asking for a lot.”

I went past admiration and was just dumbfounded.

No, well, considering the incidents Impaling Baron, Scuyer has caused so far, he could probably pull off this much.

Thinking about his methods, kidnapping Duke Barrow probably isn’t a bluff.

As always, he’s a daring guy if nothing else.

Though you could also say he’s more of an idiot.

“The time limit is one hour. I am watching you all on the magic projection screen as well, so feel free to lop off the head right there. Well then, I am looking forward to a good show.”

—Bzt, the audio cut off.

Good grief, what a pain.

Why does he go to such lengths to pick a fight with us?

Well, fine.

If he intends to tear us apart no matter how many times—I’ll just crush him until I’m done.

Besides, that Impaling Baron, Scuyer seems to be mistaken.

Thinking that by taking Duke Barrow hostage, he has become overwhelmingly advantaged.

But—unfortunately for him.

“…It turned out just as Letitia predicted.”

Grinning, I spoke to my wife.

She also looked completely calm,

“Yes, he appeared after all. But it seems he took the worst possible option for himself.”

“It would have been way more troublesome if he took a noble other than Duke Barrow hostage. So, arrangements?”

“I have left it to older sister Olivia, so there is no need to worry.”

“I see. Then the rest is my job.”

I conversed with Letitia with a flow that said this was all pre-established harmony, like our “usual couple’s conversation.”

—She had foreseen this situation.

That Impaling Baron, Scuyer Scuyer would definitely make a move at the timing when Duke Barrow and other nobles visited the academy for the midterm exam.

Now that she mentions it, certainly, there is no greater situation to disparage us.

Considering the pattern of incidents that have occurred so far, it was the perfect timing to cause trouble.

That is exactly why—for Letitia, it was all within expectations.

She had long assumed such a situation before the midterm exam even started.

Of course, preparations for it too.

“I asked Instructor Paula to prepare a magic circle right next to the ‘Flag.’ If you pass magic power through it, you should be able to fly there in an instant.”

“Got it. I’ll be right back.”

“…Alban.”

“Hmm?”

“Give my regards to Father.”

—Not Otō-sama (formal father), huh.

I’m happy.

To be trusted that much.

“Yeah, I’ll go give him a proper greeting.”

▲ ▲ ▲

“…You realize what will happen if you pull a stunt like this, don’t you?”

Bound to a chair in the dim room, Duke Barrow glared at the “Impaling Baron, Scuyer,”.

Even abducted and confined, he refused to lose his nobility. As expected of Letitia Barrow’s father, Scuyer thought.

“Now, now, do not make such a scary face. In the first place, do not my interests align with yours, Duke Barrow?”

“Interests, you say?”

“The separation—or rather, the breakup—of Alban Odrant and Lady Letitia. That is something you desired as well, is it not?”

“…”

“Besides, surely a man of your intellect realized it long ago? That there is a noble personage standing in my shadow.”

Scuyer spoke with a tone of conviction.

In response, Duke Barrow answered with silence.

“That is why you attempted to entrust Lady Letitia to Joshua Ryduan. However, what a pity, what a shame… that Joshua turned out to be quite the disappointment. In that case, there is no other option but for this humble one to lend a hand.”

“So… you intend to kill Baron Odrant?”

“Kill? Heavens no. I shall have him choose death himself. To save his beloved wife’s father, he will slice off his own head… you see? Do you not think it will be the greatest show?”

Kukuku, Scuyer laughed, beginning to pirouette and dance.

His body expressed just how delightful, how amusing he found this.

Seeing this, Duke Barrow snorted, “Hmph.”

“Utterly tasteless… I wonder since when the Third Princess started keeping such a lowlife as a pet.”

—The moment those words were spoken, Scuyer’s dance came to a sudden halt.

He slowly turned his face, covered by the clown mask, toward Duke Barrow.

“…Even if you are the head of the Barrow Ducal House, that statement was careless. Do you intend to scorn my Master?”

“Do you take it as an insult to the Royal Family? A fool who cannot even plot the murder of one of my daughters has no right to bear the name of Vahlrund.”

“…You bastard.”

Murderous intent lodged itself in Scuyer’s diction.

But—at that moment.

“Attention, attention! School announcement! To the criminal who kidnapped Duke Willem Barrow! My name is Paula Velvet!”

Accompanied by a high-pitched keeeen of feedback, a woman’s voice echoed throughout the academy.

The owner of the voice was Class F’s homeroom teacher, Ms. Paula.

“To you, who abducted Duke Barrow with such brilliant skill, I have a message from Letitia Odrant-san! “Release Father immediately and surrender. If you do not, someone more terrifying than a Cyclops will head your way”—”

Hearing that message, Scuyer tilted his head in genuine puzzlement.

“A Cyclops…? What nonsense are you spouting all of a sudden—”

“”But since you likely won’t surrender, I’ll send him over quickly. Consider this payback for the time you used Ivan to entrap us”—that is the message!”

Being told “Ivan”—that single word finally tipped Scuyer off.

“N-No way…!”

Scuyer frantically rummaged through Duke Barrow’s jacket, finding the slip of paper that had been placed in his pocket.

“—! This is—!”

A magic circle was drawn on that slip of paper.

It was the very same magic circle for “Teleportation Magic” that he himself had once used to send the Cyclops into the dungeon.

By the time he realized, it was too late.

Faster than Scuyer could tear it up, the paper imbued with magic began to glow purple, projecting the magic circle across the entire floor.

And—from the center of that magic circle, a single man appeared, as if floating up from the depths.

Gripping a sword in one hand, clad in an aura of sheer laziness—Alban Odrant.

“Yo… Long time no see, Impaling Baron, Scuyer.”

“Wha… H-How…!?”

“The fact that you’d show up was something Letitia saw through ages ago. Do you understand a little of how Leo and I felt when you summoned a Cyclops right in front of our eyes back then?”

You have to be joking—

A threat that didn’t even compare to a Cyclops had been summoned right before his eyes—!

Beneath the clown mask, Scuyer’s face went pale.

He had made absolutely no preparations to confront Alban directly.

He had never imagined a situation where the man would appear so quickly, and so suddenly, right in front of him.

Scuyer finally understood everything.

His movements, every last one of them, had been read by Letitia Barrow.

The one who had been lured by the “bait”—was him.

Locking eyes with the flustered Scuyer, Alban slowly moved his sword.

“I figured I needed to settle the score with you sooner or later… so I’ll end this here.”

▲　▲　▲

“Baron Odrant…!”

Duke Barrow looked at my face, wearing the same shocked expression as the “Impaling Baron, Scuyer.”

He probably never imagined I’d show up for a rescue mission.

“Duke Barrow… No, should I call you Father-in-law? Sorry, but we’ll have to do the greetings properly later—”

“Tch—!”

Interrupting my line, the Impaling Baron, Scuyer hurled several razor-sharp playing cards at me.

He really does fight in a bizarre way, this guy.

“Interrupting people’s greetings? You’ve got some nerve.”

I deflected the cards with my sword effortlessly, closing the distance to the “Impaling Baron, Scuyer.”

I forced him into a deadlock between sword and cards.

“Just so you know, don’t think you can run away. Today is the day I catch you and pay back all the grudges I’ve got piled up.”

“Ku, kukuku…! You really are a persistent one…!”

I could feel the terror and fear seeping out from behind the “Impaling Baron, Scuyer’s” mask.

Am I that scary?

Am I that terrifying?

Ah, that’s good then.

A villain who isn’t scary just doesn’t look the part.

I put even more strength into the hand gripping my sword, trying to crush the “Impaling Baron, Scuyer.”

It seemed that in a contest of pure strength, I had the upper hand.

The Impaling Baron, Scuyer clicked his tongue, “Tch!”

“Both you and Lady Letitia… Why won’t you just hurry up and be ruined…!”

“Ruined? That’s asking for the impossible.”

Crack, a fissure appeared in his card.

“As long as I’m here, Letitia will absolutely never become unhappy. And as long as Letitia is here, I won’t lose to anyone.”

“Gu… ugh…!”

“…You’ve got guts, targeting Letitia all this time. Today—I kill you.”

No sooner had I said it, I swung my sword with full force.

Sliced clean in two, a single playing card shattered into pieces.

At the same time, the blade reached the “Impaling Baron, Scuyer’s” body, and fresh blood sprayed from a wound stretching from his shoulder to his flank.

“Gu—gaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!”

“…That was for making those thugs kidnap Letitia.”

I spoke coldly, readying my sword again.

The room where the Impaling Baron, Scuyer had confined Duke Barrow—in other words, this place—had only one exit.

And naturally, I had zero intention of letting this guy pass through it.

Basically, there was nowhere to run.

So, the Impaling Baron, Scuyer had a choice of two options.

Fight me and die miserably—

Or struggle to escape and die miserably—

Those were the only two.

“Haa, haa…! Damn it…!”

Pressing a hand to his wound, the Impaling Baron, Scuyer pulled out new cards.

Good, looks like he still wants to play.

“…This is for using Raymond to try and make Letitia prey for a <Cursed Gear>.”

“Gyaaaah!”

After exchanging two or three slashes between sword and cards, I let my blade slide toward his right arm holding the cards.

He might be better at using his head for cunning schemes, but when it comes to a direct sword fight, I’m far superior.

Therefore—I trampled him.

“And… this is for snatching Letitia’s old man.”

Finally, I swung my sword aimed at the “Impaling Baron, Scuyer’s” face.

—The clown mask split right down the middle.

A slight spray of bright red blood.

His silk hat fell to the ground—and finally, the Impaling Baron, Scuyer exposed the true face he had hidden behind the mask.

“Y… You…! How dare you…!”

“Heeh, you’re quite the lady-killer, aren’t you?”

To put it simply, the “Impaling Baron, Scuyer’s” true face was that of a handsome man.

Blonde hair, golden eyes, pale skin, and delicate features.

What is this—he kind of resembles Leonil a little, doesn’t he?

Though compared to Leo, this guy has much nastier eyes.

Plus, in the process of cutting the mask, I’d given him a large gash diagonally across his face, ruining his good looks.

Well, his face doesn’t matter anymore.

Since he’s going to die here anyway.

“…It’s over, Impaling Baron, Scuyer.”

I pressed the blade against the neck of the “Impaling Baron, Scuyer,” who was kneeling on the floor.

And just as I put strength into my grip to lop off his head, at that very moment—

“Wait!”

Duke Barrow’s voice stopped me.

“Eh… Duke Barrow…?”

“Do not kill him. I need to entrust that man with a message.”

“A message…?”

“…Baron Odrant, I apologize, but could you undo these restraints?”

Eh? At this timing?

No, well, if it’s a request from Letitia’s dad, I’ll listen, but…

Reluctantly, I pulled my sword away from the “Impaling Baron, Scuyer’s” neck and headed over to Duke Barrow, who was tied to the chair.

I cut the ropes to free him, and then,

“Now then… lapdog of the Princess. I shall leave you with a message.”

Standing up from the chair, he walked over to the “Impaling Baron, Scuyer.”

“Go back and tell her. ‘From this day forth, I am joining the faction supporting Baron Alban Odrant’—tell her that.”

“…Heh, switching sides at this late hour? After caring so much about Joshua?”

“Yes, I was mistaken. Baron Odrant is no ‘Lowest, Worst Baron’.”

Duke Barrow spoke with a clear, firm tone.

Looking down at the Impaling Baron, Scuyer with eyes full of contempt, he added,

” ‘If you try to kill my son-in-law, know that you will make an enemy of Willem Barrow’—tell her that as well.”

“…………You will regret those words.”

“Regret? I have been regretting for a long time. Ever since I engaged my beloved daughter to a fool like Mauro…”

With a distant look in his eyes, Duke Barrow moved his head slightly, signaling “Now go.”

Seeing that, the Impaling Baron, Scuyer made a truly frustrated face before heading to the exit and vanishing from our sight.

“…Um, Duke Barrow—”

“That is all. Take care of my daughter, Son-in-law.”