Fated to Die to the Player, I'll Live Freely with My SSS-Class Ship! Chapter 76: Unavoidable Clash

From the preliminaries of the Aegis Grand Prix, only the top 16 racers were allowed to participate in the main event. Among those numbers, both of Astoria’s racing teams safely made it through.

Right, as for Eden—if we exclude our record—they should have been ranked 16th. In short, they were exactly one spot short of qualifying for the main race.

That was probably the main reason they confronted us yesterday.

They wanted to secure a spot in the main event no matter the cost, and they chose to target us—the most "nonstandard" of all the participants. Too bad for them that their plan failed spectacularly.

After the race, I gave Cassandra a full day of rest. She had given 120% of her effort, so she deserved it.

Eva stayed by her side the entire ti, accompanying her as they went shopping, indulged in food, and enjoyed the city’s luxuries.

? No, I didn’t join them. I had more pressing matters to attend to than taking a leisurely break.

"Phew... Finally done."

What I had been working on, of course, was the training program for Cassandra—a full simulation of the actual track for the upcoming main race.

Unlike the preliminaries, which ended in just one lap, the Grand Prix lived up to its nasake.

The track itself was convoluted, spanning a total of over 1,800 km per lap. On average, a ship should finish one lap in about 10 minutes—but that was assuming a perfect, uninterrupted run with no need to slow down.

Scattered throughout the track were various "obstacles" placed at random intervals. These could range from large asteroids and laser traps to dense gas clouds that interfered with electronics. Avoiding these hazards was a crucial part of the Grand Prix, making it not just a test of speed but also one of strategy and adaptability.

By the way, the track itself wasn’t that wide. The entire raceway was maintained by massive, interconnected loops, each with a diater of 50 ters, held together by laser guides. That ant each racer only had a narrow 50-ter-wide space to maneuver within.

Still, that was more than twice the width of the preliminary tracks.

Anyway, with the training program now complete—featuring randomly generated "traps" along the path—Cassandra would be able to familiarize herself with the course and prepare thoroughly for the main event. Find more chapters on .Côm

"The only problem remaining is... stamina..."

The race required pilots to complete 50 laps, which ant roughly 500 minutes of continuous high-speed piloting. Unlike typical races, there were no pit stops, no pilot changes—just pure endurance and focus until the very end.

Cassandra was not a trained racing pilot. She had literally only a single day of piloting experience. And she was a princess—one who had likely never undergone any serious physical training for endurance.

I seriously doubted she had the stamina to last the entire race.

"If push cos to shove, we can just boost her stamina with enhancers, but..."

Doing that carried risks. Not only could it backfire on her physically, but it could also be considered "doping," which might lead to disqualification.

Training her stamina was an option, but with just one week, any noticeable improvent would be minimal at best.

"Hmm... What to do...?"

I racked my brain for a solution, but nothing promising ca to mind. I must have been getting tired. A short rest might help.

*Knock!* *Knock!* *Knock!*

But just as I was about to retire to my bed, a knock echoed from my door.

"Is it the girls?"

I muttered to myself as I walked over and checked the intercom... only to find a soldier standing on the other side.

"Young Master Gerard. The President is calling for you."

"Father is?" I tilted my head slightly. "What does he need from ?"

"I was only instructed to fetch you. I haven’t been inford of the details," the guard replied briskly.

This level of secrecy... I wonder what topic he’ll bring up?

Our bet wasn’t over yet, so it likely wasn’t related to that.

"Well, I needed to speak with him anyway. Guide ."

Leaving my room, I followed the guard’s lead.

To the President’s Office!

---

Around the ti Aster and the crew had just arrived at the Aegis Star System, a certain location buzzed with activity.

"Sire, we’ve confird the location of Arthur Grail and Eva Beastol!"

From that mont on, the gears of fate began to turn in reverse—almost as if trying to correct the flawed plot it had beco.

Inside the Eclipse Sovereign, King yers frowned as he processed the report. "Only those two? What about the Princess?"

"W-We haven’t received confirmation of her presence yet, but the two were seen alongside another woman. I believe she must be Princess Cassandra in disguise!"

"I see." He nodded, inhaling deeply. "Issue the command—mobilize the entire fleet. We head for their location at once!"

"Y-Yes, sir!"

"E-Ergency report!"

But just as his orders were given, another officer raised a clamor, his voice laced with panic.

"What is it now?" King yers growled, irritated by the interruption.

However, the officer’s next words changed everything.

"W-We just received intelligence! The standing army of the Astoria Conglorate is on the move! All of our scout teams were annihilated the mont they approached the designated area!"

The Astoria Conglorate and the yers Royal Family—both were titanic forces, even on the universal scale.

There had been grudges between them, sure, but nothing to warrant outright hostility.

"...Did Anderson say sothing? Why did the Astoria forces attack us?"

"T-That is..." The officer hesitated, visibly struggling to deliver the news. "I-It seems the reason is that they are protecting Gerard Astoria, the President’s son... Who is also Arthur Grail—one of our targets!"

"Of all people..." King yers exhaled sharply, rubbing his forehead as a headache settled in.

He had already known Arthur was an Astoria, but with millions—if not billions—sharing that surna, he never imagined their target would turn out to be the only son of Anderson Phi Astoria himself.

Letting out a reluctant sigh, he issued a new order. "Patch through to Anderson."

"Yes, sir!"

Within monts, a video link connected, bridging the king of the yers and the president of the Astoria Conglorate. The atmosphere in the Eclipse Sovereign’s command center turned ice-cold—every soldier present tensing at the sheer gravity of the eting.

{King yers, it’s been a while. Five years, I believe?}

The call connected in re seconds, revealing a man in his pri. As always, his silvery-gray hair was tied into a topknot. Despite the warm smile on his face, however, the glint in his eyes was devoid of warmth—if his gaze carried a temperature, it would be near absolute zero.

"President Astoria, I know we are both busy n, so I’ll get straight to the point." King yers, unfazed by the cold stare, t it with his own. "Your son is holding my daughter hostage. I demand that you return her to us imdiately."

{Hmm? That’s strange.}

Anderson’s expression remained perfectly composed—his lips curling into an amused smile.

{As far as I’m aware, my son’s crew consists of only two won. Both are commoners, and I even have their official records on hand. I’ve confird that not a single mber of the yers Royal Family is anywhere near my son. You must be mistaken, King yers.}

With a flick of his hand, Anderson transmitted the dossiers of Eva Beastol and "Casey Lancellia"—both real identities, completely untampered with, as if he had prepared them long ago.

"Don’t underestimate , Anderson. I would recognize my own daughter at a glance." King yers didn’t so much as flinch.

He knew the truth—he knew that the one called "Casey" was none other than Princess Cassandra yers, concealed under a simple disguise.

His expression darkened as he took a deep breath, slamming his fist against the armrest of his throne.

"I am warning you. Send her back to us this instant, or face the consequences."

{King yers...!} Anderson’s smile grew ever sweeter, as if he was thoroughly enjoying the exchange. {Are you threatening ? I will give you one chance—rescind that threat, apologize, and I will let this matter slide.}

"Anderson... I am a king." King yers leaned forward, his voice steady and unwavering. "A king bows to no one."

He exhaled deliberately, then spoke once more.

"Return my daughter, and I will spare your clan. Fail to comply... and count your remaining days."

{Hahaha! So this is a declaration of war, then?}

Anderson chuckled—his laughter rich with amusent rather than concern.

{Let spell it out so even your slow brain can understand. We are not handing anyone over. Co at us whenever you please.}

"Anderson..." King yers sighed, as if truly saddened by the response. He shook his head, a rare expression of pity flickering across his face.

"If you believe your military strength makes you untouchable, think again."

Raising three fingers, he issued his final warning.

"Three days. We attack in three days. Tremble in fear as you await your annihilation."

{Three days, is it?}

Anderson remained utterly unfazed, his smile growing even brighter.

{Then we’ll be sure to prepare a grand welco for your forces—perhaps even a graveyard befitting royalty.}

"You’re right about preparing graves," King yers sneered, a rare and dangerous grin forming on his normally severe face.

"You’ll be needing them when we arrive."

---

"It’s war."

"...Huh?"

The mont I stepped into the President’s Office, Anderson greeted with that single sentence—spoken with an almost cheerful grin.

His words and his expression were so wildly mismatched that I montarily wondered if I had misheard.

Seeing my reaction, he let out a small sigh, as if disappointed.

"I said, we’re going to war." He clarified. "King yers has declared war on us and intends to launch a full-scale assault in two days."

"...Fuck."

This... This was definitely not part of the plot.