Chapter 9: Let’s Crush the Noble’s Ambitions with All the Heroines!

“There just ain’t enough time with Klaus-sama!”

In a temporary base manor granted to Klaus and his entourage, not far from the capital of the Markovar Marquisate, Sophia von Solstia couldn’t help but let her frustration spill out.

It had been dozens of days since they arrived here, spending their time carving a path through the Great Forest of the Underworld. Her magical prowess was growing by leaps and bounds, and taking down the occasional monster that popped up had honed her skills even further.

But despite this being a rare expedition, the one thing she couldn’t get enough of was time with Klaus himself.

“Well, sure, I was often too wiped out to move after casting spells, but I’ve gotten used to it by now. And thanks to Sedia-san and the others’ help, we’ve got a bit more breathing room. Getting the elves to cooperate? That’s unheard of in our kingdom’s history! As expected of Klaus-sama! Ahem. That aside, since we’ve got the chance, I’d love to spend some ‘future husband-and-wife time’ with him…”

Muttering words meant for no one in particular, Sophia reached Klaus’s study and knocked a few times.

“Who’s there?” came a voice from within.

“It’s Sophia. I’ve got business with Klaus-sama.”

After a brief pause, the door slowly creaked open. Stepping inside with permission, Sophia tilted her head at the sight before her.

“Huh? Isn’t Klaus-sama here?”

Inside were only two people: Marie, a black-haired girl in a maid outfit, and Lincia, an elf girl dressed in light, practical clothing. Both served Klaus, but it struck Sophia as odd that their master wasn’t present.

“…Well, if it’s Sophia-sama, I suppose it’s fine,” Marie said, prefacing her explanation.

Marie and Linsia had been tasked by Klaus to gather information on the Markovar Marquisate daily. And the moment Klaus heard one particular piece of intel, his face turned serious, and he headed off somewhere alone.

“I see. Information about Marquis Markovar…”

Marquis Markovar. The noble governing this marquisate, with a proven track record as a capable lord. Yet Sophia’s father, His Majesty King Alden, suspected him of having ulterior motives and had warned her to stay cautious during this mission.

That was also why Marquis Wyndham, the prime minister known as the king’s right-hand man, had been assigned to them—though he’d left early for some other matter.

Regardless, if Klaus had acted immediately upon hearing something about Markovar, it could mean something urgent was afoot.

It was while Sophia was analyzing this that it happened.

BOOOOM!

“““—!?”””

A tremor shook the manor, accompanied by a deafening explosion. The three of them exchanged bewildered glances.

“An attack!?”

“They might’ve timed it when Master isn’t here,”

“We can’t afford to screw up while our lord’s away! We need to figure out what’s going on, now!”

With a firm nod, the trio bolted out of the manor. The next moment, their eyes widened in shock.

“What… is that…?”

Looming before them was a colossal magical stone golem, easily over five meters tall. Its mere presence radiated an overwhelming aura, far beyond any ordinary monster. The golem swung its massive arms, hammering the manor with devastating force.

Its chest was a transparent hemisphere, revealing a brown-haired man inside. For a split second, Sophia thought he might be controlling it, but his closed eyes and motionless state made her doubt it.

As Sophia grappled with confusion, Linsia muttered beside her, “That’s… it was being developed in the underground chamber…!”

“Linsia-san, you know something?” Sophia asked.

Lincia nodded slightly. “Yes. It matches the intel that made our lord spring into action. I believe it’s a magical weapon developed in the castle’s underground chamber.”

“What!? A weapon like that in Marquis Markovar’s stronghold…!?” Sophia exclaimed.

That meant this attack was likely tied to Markovar himself. But why target this place?

Just as Sophia began to ponder, a voice cut through.

“Well, well, what a pity that Lord Renford isn’t here for the grand unveiling of the new weapon we’ve been secretly developing.”

“—! Marquis Markovar!” Sophia’s eyes widened as she turned toward the voice.

There stood Markovar, accompanied by a few hooded guards in coats. She hadn’t expected the cautious noble to show himself at a time like this, let alone openly declare his intentions. If his words were true, he was after Klaus.

In the short time Klaus had been here, he’d achieved feats no one else could: pioneering the Great Forest of the Underworld, something thought impossible, and even bringing the famously aloof elves under his command. On top of that, the rising reputation of the Renford territory had drawn people away from Markovar’s lands, and Klaus’s esteem was growing even within the marquisate.

For a lord like Markovar, that might be unbearable.

But—

“Marquis Markovar, you seem to be targeting Klaus-sama, but he was personally entrusted with this land by His Majesty the King. Cooperating with him was part of the penalty imposed on you. To harm Klaus-sama is to defy His Majesty himself!” Sophia declared forcefully.

Markovar, however, didn’t flinch. “Nay, that’s where you’re mistaken, Princess Sophia!”

“What?”

“This is purely a matter between territories. A mere princess may not understand, but our marquisate has suffered grievously at the hands of the Renford territory for years. I’m merely rising to protect my people. Even royalty has no right to interfere. If you’ve got complaints, report to His Majesty and let him pass judgment here. Of course, if Your Highness chooses to leave for that purpose, we’ll see you off without interference.”

“—!” Sophia’s brow furrowed at his unexpected words.

Markovar’s argument wasn’t entirely baseless. Royalty meddling in territorial disputes was frowned upon. And she had no immediate evidence to counter his claim of suffering at Renford’s hands. By rights, she should report to the king and seek his guidance.

But after weighing it all, Sophia shook her head. (His claims are clearly a flimsy pretext. A proper investigation would quickly prove Klaus-sama hasn’t done anything nefarious. Markovar must know that… which points to one truth.)

Markovar was buying time to eliminate Klaus, even if it meant his own downfall later. For a cunning man like him, this impulsive, foolish act driven by fleeting emotion was unthinkable. And that made it all the more troublesome for Sophia.

(As a princess, I should avoid clashing with him now—but!)

With resolve, Sophia locked eyes with Markovar. “I’m sorry, but I must decline your proposal.”

“Oh? You’d oppose me here and now?”

“Yes. That’s my decision—not as a princess, but as Klaus-sama’s fiancée!”

Markovar’s eyes widened at her bold declaration, but then he burst into laughter. “Hahaha! Very well, then! Let our magical war machine teach you the error of your judgment!”

In that instant, the stone golem—now a magical war machine—lurched back into motion. Perhaps it was under Markovar’s control, not the man inside. Sophia turned to Marie and Linsia behind her. “I’m going to destroy that thing. Will you two help me?”

“Ha! I won’t let anyone who threatens my lord pass!” Linsia declared.

“Of course. It’s my duty as Master’s personal maid… By the way, about that earlier comment, could you explain it in detail later?” Marie asked, her tone suddenly chilling.

“M-Marie-san? I’ve thought this a few times before, but why do you suddenly feel so… scary?” Sophia stammered.

As they bantered, the battle against the superior war machine was about to begin.

“Captain! The entire intelligence unit has arrived!”

Suddenly, nearly a dozen elves appeared out of nowhere. Marie and Linsia weren’t fazed, and Marie quickly issued orders. “We three will destroy that wretched puppet that dared attack the manor where Master rests. Ensure no one interferes—capture that fool who turned his blade on our lord!”

“““Yes, ma’am!”””

The elves, moving with practiced precision, closed in on Markovar. But he wasn’t one to go down easily. “You lot! Protect me!” he barked, and his guards stepped forward, skillfully holding off the elves’ onslaught.

Watching the scene, Sophia, slightly bewildered, turned to Marie. “I must say, that’s a different kind of intensity from earlier.”

“It’s only natural as Master’s one and only personal maid,” Marie replied coolly.

“Enough chatter, you two! It’s coming!” Linsia shouted.

Snapping their attention forward, they saw the war machine closing in, its massive right arm raised high. The three leaped back just as its fist slammed down, cratering the ground with a thunderous roar. One hit from that would be fatal, no question.

“Even so, we know what we have to do!” Sophia declared, and the three charged at the war machine.

About ten minutes into the battle, the fight had grown fiercer.

“—Haa!”

“Shadow Crossbow!”

Sophia’s sword strikes and Marie’s jet-black bolts struck the war machine, but they left only shallow scratches, no significant damage. (Its attack power is insane, but its durability is unreal! Normal attacks barely scratch it…!)

They’d expected it to be tough, given it was built to challenge Klaus, but this was beyond imagination.

Despite their all-out efforts, they’d only managed dozens of minor scratches and severed its left pinky finger.

“Both of you! It’s sweeping with its left arm!” Linsia warned.

““—!””

Sophia and Marie leaped back as the giant arm swung past, the gust whipping their hair wildly.

“Hahaha! What’s wrong? All that bravado, and you’re just on the defensive!” Markovar taunted from behind his guards.

Sophia’s irritation flared, but she kept her focus on the war machine. (This is bad…)

The three of them—Sophia, Marie, and Linsia—were fighting alone. Marie excelled in shadow magic, versatile in attack and support but lacking in raw power. Linsia specialized in wind magic for support, reading enemy movements through air and mana flows, but contributed little to offense. Sophia was meant to be the main attacker, but the gap in strength, combined with the absence of her treasured sword Sword that Guides Hope—unlike her fight with Braze—meant she couldn’t deal meaningful damage. They were being worn down, with no decisive blow in sight.

Just when all seemed lost—

“You’re here, Princess Sophia!”

“We’re relieved to see you safe!”

Knights from a separate garrison appeared with a clatter. They’d been frantic, unsure of Sophia’s location since she’d snuck away to be alone with Klaus, only to hear battle sounds from the manor. And they weren’t alone.

“Even from the forest, I sensed something amiss… What in the world is happening!?”

Next came Sedia, the elf chieftain, and her kin. Stunned but seizing the moment, Sophia shouted, “Marquis Markovar has declared war on Klaus-sama and attacked! Since Klaus-sama is absent, we’re holding the line!”

“““What!?”””

“Not only us, but to turn his blade on our benefactor Klaus-dono… Unforgivable!”

The knights gasped, and Sedia’s group trembled with rage. (Everyone’s shaken by this sudden attack, but with their help, we can turn this around!)

Sophia was certain. Without Sword that Guides Hope, they’d been sorely lacking firepower. But with their allies’ strength—Klaus’s gift to them—they could defeat this war machine.

“I’ll explain later! For now, lend me your strength to destroy that thing!”

“Your Highness, what do you plan to do!?” a knight asked.

“Isn’t it obvious? We’ll use the magic Klaus-sama taught us, the one we’ve been using every day!”

“—Understood!”

“Aye, if that’s the case, we’ll lend our power too!”

The knights and Sedia responded with conviction. Since the elves were entrusted with managing the Great Forest, they’d joined Sophia’s expeditions, sometimes casting magic together, so they knew the drill. They immediately began channeling mana into Sophia.

(The mana needed for the spell is building up so fast. This should work…!)

She was confident they could destroy the war machine. But then—

“Is that the magic used to clear the Great Forest?” Markovar called out.

“Yes, exactly. With this, we can destroy your puppet,” Sophia replied.

“I see… But are you sure you want to use it?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s simple. Even if—impossibly—you destroy the war machine, the man inside will die too. His name is Claude Rosemist, punished for defying my plans and forced to serve as the machine’s core. Are you prepared to kill an innocent man, Your Highness?”

“—!”

The revelation hit Sophia like a thunderbolt. She hadn’t considered involving an innocent. “What… what should I do…?”

Avoid hitting Claude’s section? No, this spell’s overwhelming power and destructive force left no room for precision.

“Damn it, how despicable… There’s no way to save just him in this situation…” Sedia muttered bitterly.

Struck by despair, Sophia caught a hint in Sedia’s words and turned over her shoulder. “Sediima-sama, is there a way to save him?”

“There’s an elven relic, the Mystic Amulet, that can protect someone from a single fatal blow.”

“Then use it!”

“But it only works if the target equips it. With him sealed in that transparent stone, there’s no way to get it to him!”

“No…”

A glimmer of hope, snuffed out in an instant. As Sophia despaired, searching for another way—

“No problem, then,” Marie said matter-of-factly.

“Marie-san?”

Marie held a fragment of the shattered war machine, glanced at Claude, and nodded again. “Sophia-sama, may I borrow something of yours?”

“Uh, sure, this handkerchief will do…”

“Thank you. Sedia-sama, may I have that item?”

“A-aye. But how will you get it to him?”

“Like this—Tracking Transfer.”

“““—!?!?”””

In an instant, Marie vanished, and everyone gasped.

“Done,” she said, reappearing just as quickly.

Sophia’s voice trembled with shock. “What did you do, Marie-san?”

“I delivered the item. Here’s your handkerchief back.”

“Huh?”

Glancing at Claude, Sophia saw the amulet now attached to his chest. “How did you…?”

“A personal maid’s finesse. More importantly, we’re ready now.”

“Right…!”

Though Marie’s explanation was vague, Sophia refocused on the war machine, urgency snapping her back. Channeling all the mana gathered within her into her hands, she declared:

“Link—Extreme Overchain Barrage: Blasting Inferno!”

The torrent of flames she unleashed was unlike anything she’d cast before. A blinding strike slammed into the war machine.

BOOOOM!

CRASH!

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-CRASHHHH!

Though not yet on Klaus’s level, the chained explosions were several times larger than usual. Each blast chipped away at the machine’s sturdy frame until the final detonation shattered it completely. As the dust and shockwaves settled, only Claude remained, unharmed.

“Impossible!”

Markovar’s voice rose to a fever pitch, stunned that the war machine was obliterated—and Claude survived. It was a sight he couldn’t fathom.

“Now, you’re the only one left,” Sophia said, forcing her exhausted body to stand and glaring at Markovar.

Her fierce gaze made him stumble back a step. “No, no, no, no…! The superior machine, defeated by mere lackeys, not even him!?”

Gone was his usual composure; Markovar was visibly rattled. But only for a moment.

“…Haa. Fine, if it’s come to this,” he said, exhaling deeply and regaining a semblance of calm. “It’s incomplete, but let me show you an even greater special machine!”

“What!? Something stronger than that!?” Sophia exclaimed.

“Indeed. It’s less mana-efficient, drains the pilot’s mana instantly, and can only operate briefly… but no matter. We’ll use the nobles we’ve imprisoned for defying me as its core. I’ll contact Leyard to activate it now!”

As Markovar summoned a blue bird for a transmission spell, another bird flew in from the castle’s direction. It landed by him, chirping fragmented words: ‘Marquis Markovar, reporting—intruders—the special machine is heading your way—’

Though garbled, Markovar grinned ferociously. “Well, well! As expected of Leyard! Sending the special machine without my orders!”

A moment later, a tearing roar echoed as something approached from the castle. At first a speck, it grew larger until—

It hovered above them, slowly descending.

“No way…”

“It’s massive…”

“We have to fight that next!?”

“…”

It wasn’t a lie—this new war machine was nearly ten meters tall, its oppressive aura overwhelming. Even at full strength, they’d be no match, let alone now, drained of mana. As it landed with a heavy thud, despair gripped Sophia and the others.

Markovar’s glee peaked. “Hahaha! Behold, our ultimate weapon! Now, crush these insolent fools—gah!”

In the next instant, the machine’s massive right arm swept through, sending Markovar flying into the half-ruined manor.

“““—… Huh?”””

The sudden turn left everyone (except Marie) speechless, dumbfounded by the chaos. Then, their gazes shifted to the transparent cockpit of the war machine—and their eyes widened.

No wonder.

Despite Markovar’s claim of multiple captive nobles, the one in the cockpit was none other than—

“Klaus-sama…?”

Klaus himself. Surveying the scene from the cockpit, he wore a solemn expression before slowly opening his mouth—

“I can explain.”

For some reason, his first words were a defense.