It was around the time I reached my mid-thirties.

I had sent the Mobile Knight that my great-grandfather used for repairs, and it had returned safely.

It was a humanoid weapon characterized by large shields on both shoulders held by auxiliary arms, and otherwise clad in armor like a knight.

I thought humanoid weapons were the height of futility, but apparently, humans in this world find them easier to operate.

Fantasy worlds are amazing.

Avid stood in the mansion's garden, and looking up at it was quite imposing.

"Isn't this amazing?"

Standing beside me, who was satisfied, was a technical officer from the Algrand Empire's Seventh Weapons Factory.

As a soldier, his work uniform had rank insignia.

The technical lieutenant had bobbed hair that reached her shoulders and wore glasses.

She was an intellectual-looking beauty who seemed capable of her work.

I hadn't asked her name.

"I'm glad you like it. I never thought I'd be the one to maintain this unit."

"You know this unit?"

"It's a unit we manufactured. We have the same unit in our archives. Skilled technicians maintained it with a sense of nostalgia."

It was a large unit that was no longer in use.

But, as they say, the greater encompasses the lesser, so there's no problem.

The technical lieutenant seemed worried.

"However, was it alright? You've removed the assist functions, so it's quite difficult to pilot."

Is it like the difference between automatic and manual in cars?

My master, who was with me, folded his arms and smiled.

"Liam-dono can pilot this with ease. There's no need to worry. More importantly, may I ask your name? I'd like to explain a few things about the unit, perhaps in my room—"

"I have a manual, so there's no problem. Besides, the Count is the one piloting it. It would be better to explain it directly to the Count."

The technical lieutenant seemed to be the master's preference.

But she politely refused the master's invitation with a smile.

I saw my master's shoulders slump.

Should I, as the corrupt lord, make my master deal with her?

But then again— she's also a soldier of the Empire.

I hesitated to make a move on her.

"Well then, shall we get into the cockpit, Count?"

"Ah, ah."

Guided by the technical lieutenant, I headed for the cockpit.

◇

The cockpit wasn't exactly cramped.

"It's quite spacious. No, isn't it too spacious?"

"This is a cockpit that utilizes spatial magic. We've also prepared the finest seats for your comfort. While it lacks assist functions, everything else is top-of-the-line."

When I sat down, the seat was plush.

It felt like it was embracing my body— and then it did.

The control stick automatically moved to my hand's position.

"It's black and looks cool, I like it."

"Men like black, don't they? There are many black units."

Most nobles possess Mobile Knights.

The reason is that they are symbols of their knighthood.

There's also the simple fact that humanoid weapons are very popular among nobles.

They look good. Some nobles even display them in their mansions.

Many nobles use elaborately decorated Mobile Knights.

"However, not many people spend this much money to maintain a unit."

"Is that so? I heard they all decorate them excessively."

My master told me that.

That's why he said it was okay to spend as much money as I wanted.

"Many of them are just modified mass-produced units. Since the budget was ample, our technicians got carried away. Now, please try starting the engine."

With the flip of a switch, the engine started, and it began scanning my body.

It recognized me as the pilot and set it up so that only I could operate it.

"This locks the pilot to the Count. Only you can operate this unit. It's your personal machine."

"The term 'personal machine' sounds good."

When I gripped the control stick and moved it, the surrounding scenery changed.

The cockpit shook slightly.

"Ah, what?"

Before I knew it, Avid had fallen over.

The technical lieutenant had a "just as I expected" look on her face.

"This unit has all assist functions like the auto-balancer cut off. The piloting method is difficult, but if you can master it, you can move it as if it were your own body."

The piloting difficulty was extremely high.

I understood what my master had said.

"I see, if I can master this, the path to becoming first-class will open up?"

"No, if you can handle this unit, you are first-class as a pilot."

The technical lieutenant placed her hand over the hand holding the control stick.

I felt the gentle scent and warmth of a woman.

—My distrust of women is slowly healing.

But I was still somewhat anxious.

"This unit requires direct control and imagination. Always be mindful of operation using magic. Now, let's slowly move the control stick."

Avid slowly stood up.

Just standing it up required immense concentration.

It was a unit that would fall over with even the slightest mistake.

The technical lieutenant explained Avid's functions as I focused my attention.

"This unit is sturdy, but it also has power. Ordinary units wouldn't stand a chance, but remember that it's even more difficult to handle."

The technical lieutenant leaned closer to me.

"And this part here—"

Her body was toned, with flesh where it should be.

Her chest and hips were full, her abdomen tight, and she had a great figure.

While piloting, my attention drifted to her chest.

At that moment, Avid sensed my consciousness and magic— and started moving its hands on its own. No, it moved because it sensed my consciousness.

The technical lieutenant noticed the movement, gently distanced herself from me, and covered her chest with both hands.

"N-No, that's not it!"

"Let's take a break. Oh? The communication is cut off. Is it a setting error?"

◇

Brian, who was observing from a distance away from Avid, was moved by the revival of Alistair's Mobile Knight, whom he respected.

Even though its appearance had changed, the resemblance remained.

However, he was bothered by the very lewd hand movements of Avid, Alistair's beloved unit.

"—Liam-sama, what exactly are you doing?"

I understand.

I understood.

The dispatched technical lieutenant was beautiful, and they were alone in the cockpit.

Liam, who usually makes advances on Amagi, might make a move, I thought with anxiety.

But Liam, who hadn't made a move on a living woman, was different.

I was worried that perhaps he was only aroused by dolls.

It made me happy that he was showing interest in living women, and I was relieved that the issue of succession might be resolved.

However, the fact that the Mobile Knight was making breast-grabbing gestures was unacceptable.

Brian felt like crying, thinking that Alistair's beloved machine was making such pathetic movements.

Avid's hand movements precisely replicated the pilot's finger movements.

It was as if there was a chest there, and it was fondling it.

At least turn it off before doing that! Brian thought, but he couldn't approach Avid, which could fall over at any moment, and could only watch from a distance.

Moreover, the communication was cut off.

Anshi had a vein throbbing on his forehead.

"That brat is fondling the lieutenant's chest. Is it soft? Is it that soft!?"

As his fingertips made a motion as if grabbing something, Anshi, who had reached his limit, repeatedly sent communications to Liam.

"Liam-dono, get down immediately. Don't do anything enviable— or rather, improper— in the cockpit. Get down immediately. Liam-dono? Are you listening, Liam-dono!"

He put on a good act in front of Liam, but he was a man whose attitude changed when Liam wasn't around.

Brian didn't trust this man either.

(Why does Liam-sama achieve results by learning from a man like this?)

Because he was achieving results, he couldn't be fired, and even if I reported it to Liam, he respected his master Anshi and wouldn't listen.

There was no major damage, and since Liam was getting results, Brian remained silent.

Personally, I felt indebted to him for telling Amagi to revive Alistair's beloved machine.

If it had been left as it was, Amagi, who prioritized efficiency, would never have repaired Avid.

Anshi was shouting.

"Get down here, you damn brat!"

Then, Amagi glared at Anshi.

Anshi noticed that and apologized.

"Oh, excuse me. I got a little carried away."

He was sweating profusely, showing a fawning attitude towards the doll-like Amagi.

—Is this man really a master swordsman or martial artist?

Brian couldn't help but wonder.

◇

(That bastard, I'll never forgive him.)

Anshi was furious at his disciple for making a move on the intellectual beauty, the technical lieutenant.

However, he planned to get revenge by making his training even stricter, as he was afraid if Liam truly got angry and made a move.

He was a small-minded man— that was Anshi.

"Liam-dono, you're trembling."

"I-I'll be careful."

He made him stand on an unstable log, blindfolded him, and had him hold a sword made of very heavy material.

He also taught him things like tightrope walking and other street performance skills.

All because he made a move on the woman he desired.

"How can you not swing a sword in an unstable place? Come on, let's start over from the beginning."

Liam, sweating profusely, looked quite exhausted.

However, he intended to push him to his limits— to train him by carefully assessing the edge.

"Once this is over, we'll have piloting training. There's no time to rest."

"Understood, Master!"

Liam was obedient, but he was a man who made a move on the woman he desired.

That was unforgivable.

(If that's the case, I'll demand something incredibly difficult. I'll break his pride by making him do things he absolutely cannot do. Lose your confidence, kid!)

The technical lieutenant, who had stayed for about a month, returned after completing the maintenance guidance and unit explanations.

She said she would come again someday, but Anshi intended to get her name and contact information this time.

"Your legs are trembling. Your training is insufficient."

"I-I'll retrain them."

"Of course. Starting today, it will be even stricter."

Anshi made his training stricter due to personal resentment.

◇

Passing through the door to another world, the guide appeared.

It was on the roof of the mansion.

The guide, looking into the distance from there, seemed to be enjoying himself.

"Now, I wonder how Liam-san is doing? Oh? The territory seems to have developed quite a bit."

It seemed he was doing better than expected.

That, in itself, would be a source of enjoyment when he eventually brought him down.

He wasn't paying much attention to it now.

"The territory is full of vitality. Well, more importantly, I wonder if that con artist is doing well?"

It didn't matter if Liam saw through him and killed him, or if he managed to deceive him successfully.

Either outcome would be enjoyable for the guide.

As the guide was happily searching for Liam, he happened to be in the mansion's garden.

He had logs arranged around him, but none were within reach of the sword's blade.

"Oh, were you training? Well, I'm looking forward to seeing how skilled you've become."

He wasn't a frog in a well, but he thought Liam, who learned swordsmanship from a con artist, had only playful skills.

A level that wouldn't pass as a knight.

If he was satisfied with that, the guide would find it very amusing.

In this world, there are vast differences in individual strength.

There's a big gap between those who regularly entered education capsules from childhood and those who only entered once or twice and didn't receive education.

Extremely speaking, it's a world where even with talent, if your birth is poor, you won't achieve great things.

Those who received proper education— nobles and knights— are naturally strong.

Knights were special beings, to the extent that they could defeat soldiers with guns using swords.

Liam pushed the sword's guard with his left thumb and then released it, making a clicking sound.

The guide was surprised.

"—Huh?"

Immediately after, the logs placed around him were cut down with lightning-fast swordsmanship and fell to the ground with a patter.

The cut surfaces were remarkably clean.

"—Huh? Huh!?"

The guide was also surprised.

In the thirty years he had left him alone, Liam had become very strong.

The doll watching Liam, and the butler, were clapping.

"Magnificent, Master."

"I am moved, Brian."

It was an unbelievable sight.

Even with magic and physical superiority, only a handful of people could become that strong.

Liam wiped his sweat with a towel received from Amagi, looking dissatisfied.

"With this, I can't reach Master's swordsmanship. I wish he had taught me more, but Master suddenly gave me the master's certificate and left, which is a shame."

The guide thought.

(What did that man do? Why has it become like this?)

He hastily prepared visuals of the surroundings and checked, and found Anshi, who had fled to some planet, drinking alcohol.

It seemed to be a bar counter, with a woman by his side entertaining him.

"—What is that guy? I don't understand."

"Anshi-san, are you talking about your disciple again?"

Anshi was complaining.

"I'm a swordsman of second-rate or worse. Third-rate, fourth-rate. Yet, that guy executes even my impromptu ideas. In ten years, he surpassed me, and in twenty years, he's one step away from being first-rate."

The woman laughed, finding it amusing.

"And in the last ten years, you made him a first-rate swordsman? Anshi-san's jokes are funny."

The woman didn't believe him.

However, Anshi strongly denied it.

"It's not a joke! That brat, towards the end, he said he'd build a magnificent dojo in the territory and asked if I would teach swordsmanship there. I— I got scared and ran away. That guy is strange. He cuts enemies without drawing his sword, he's crazy."

He had perfectly reproduced the street performance I showed him as swordsmanship.

Liam, who did such a thing, was unbelievable.

The guide erased the video, placed a hand on his forehead, and pondered.

—I have a headache.

The cause was Liam.

Liam's gratitude was palpable.

Liam's voice that could be heard was—.

(Still, I'm lucky. I learned swordsmanship from a wonderful master, albeit unknown, and the territory has developed this much from its ravaged state. At first, I thought I was deceived— but that guide is the real deal. He's amazing.)

—The gratitude that was conveyed.

It was extremely unpleasant for the guide.

He loved negative emotions, but he felt nauseous towards gratitude and affection like this.

Liam's gratitude was too strong, creating a situation that was not pleasing to the guide.

"I need to think about a few things."

Feeling unwell if things continued like this, the guide decided to set something up to make Liam harbor negative emotions.