On the Banfield family's capital planet, Hydra, there is a group of swordsmiths that I, Liam Sera Banfield, have assembled.

The One-Flash Style is a school that uses katanas.

To have those katanas prepared on the capital planet, I invited craftsmen with proven skills.

I've provided them with the best possible environment to forge these swords, but—

"The feel is the same as before. I think it's a perfect finish—but seeing the looks on your faces, I suppose that's not the case."

In the audience chamber prepared in the mansion, the heads of the swordsmiths are all kneeling before me.

The leader of the group wore a frustrated expression.

"We began the repair work as you requested. However, it seems less like our skills repaired it and more like the sword repaired itself. Lord Liam—I ask this knowing it is disrespectful, but where did you obtain that sword?"

The sword I cherish most is an antique that was once owned by the Goaz Space Pirates, who ravaged the Empire in the past.

It got chipped during a clash with some being called Farabaru, but according to the craftsmen, the sword regenerated on its own.

It's quite a mysterious sword.

Drawing it from its sheath and looking at the blade, it was polished so beautifully it was like a mirror.

"It's a sword I obtained when I destroyed the space pirates. Its origin was unknown, so I've kept it nameless, but if it's such a mysterious sword, perhaps it's time I gave it a name?"

After all, it's the beloved sword that has supported me all this time.

As I pondered what to name it, the craftsmen exchanged glances before speaking to me.

"With all due respect, upon examining the metal of the blade, we confirmed the presence of a few grams of an unknown metal. Even a few grams can be dangerous, as many metals in the world are harmful. We believe it would be best if you refrained from wearing it at your hip, Lord Liam."

They're telling me not to use it anymore because it contains an unidentifiable, unknown metal and is therefore dangerous.

I'm sure their suggestion comes from concern for my well-being, but I have no intention of listening.

"If it were going to cause harm, it's had plenty of opportunities until now. Since I'm fine, there's no need to worry. Still, it's a sword full of mysteries. Leaving it nameless forever... or perhaps 'Nameless' itself could be its name?"

I ask the sword in my heart.

...I wonder what your real name is.

Sheathing the sword, I look down from the dais at the assembled craftsmen and speak.

"You've done well. I have prepared a reward for you, so please accept it."

The audience with the craftsmen came to an end.

They looked worried until the very end, but I will never part with this sword.

After all, this sword is—

"A gift from the Guide. I'll continue to use it with care."

—because it's a gift from the Guide who watches over me.

As I was smiling to myself, Brian came rushing into the audience chamber.

"Lord Liam, this is a disaster!!"

Seeing the face of Brian, who had barged in claiming it was an emergency, I let out a small sigh.

It's probably nothing important, and he's just making a fuss, I thought.

"What is it this time? Have hundreds of thousands of space pirates come to attack? Or has the Imperial Army scraped together its meager forces and prepared a million ships?"

Seeing my dismissive attitude, Brian protested with tears in his eyes.

"This is a crisis for the family! Lord Edward has—"

I turned my face to Brian.

"What about Edward?"

◇

Liam's number one disciple, Ellen Sera Tyler, is a female knight with red hair tied in a ponytail.

Although she dresses as a knight, she is, in essence, a swordswoman of the One-Flash Style.

She is merely fulfilling the role of a knight as requested by Liam.

This Ellen had a disciple named Edward Sera Banfield.

He is the candidate for the next head of the Banfield family and the first child of Liam and Rosetta.

He looks to be around ten years old.

Although decades have passed since his birth, in this world, he is still a young child.

With blond hair and blue eyes—having strongly inherited Rosetta's blood—Edward looked like a beautiful boy even to Ellen.

Because he trains regularly, he has a sturdy build.

However, lately, his selfishness had become more pronounced.

"What is the meaning of being late for training? Ed, you lack awareness as a swordsman of the One-Flash Style."

When Ellen scolded Edward, he yawned, looking uninterested.

He must have been playing late into the night again.

"You say that, but I'm busy too. I can't spend all my time training in the One-Flash Style."

Edward had become quite cheeky, but his argument was also valid.

If he were to succeed Liam, Edward would become a lord.

He was not in a position to be concerned only with martial arts.

Ellen sighed in exasperation.

"Your father, who is also my master, balanced his studies and One-Flash Style training since he was a child. On top of that, he even handled political affairs."

The moment Liam was mentioned, Edward's mood soured.

"My father is my father, and I am me."

Seeing the sulking Edward, Ellen had a realization.

(Comparing him to Master was too harsh on this child.)

The reason Liam was called a child prodigy in his youth and treated as a wise ruler on the capital planet was none other than his extraordinary nature.

The person she was comparing him to was just too exceptional.

"—You're right. You are you, Ed. However! That is no excuse for being late. In the first place, you seem sleep-deprived. What were you doing last night?"

Questioned, Edward looked away from Ellen, finding it hard to answer.

"Well—I had friends over in my room, and we were playing games and stuff."

"Losing sleep because you were playing is proof that you lack awareness of your position. I'm not telling you not to play, but you need more moderation."

"You always scold me like that, Master. Let me tell you, besides you, only Mother can scold me like that in this mansion."

"So you're telling me to be more considerate? I told you, didn't I? Your father instructed me to train you strictly. At this rate, I'll have to have your father scold you."

From Ellen's perspective, Liam was a strict master.

He was kind, but at times terrifying—with memories of that time, she thought it would be more effective than her own scolding.

But Edward was different.

"Father won't scold me. Even if I do something wrong, he just asks for the reason and tells me to be careful in the future. —He's probably just not interested in me."

"There you go again, saying things like that."

Edward had no awareness that he was loved by his father.

"I'm just an incompetent second-generation heir, anyway."

As Edward started saying he had no talent, Ellen crouched down to meet his gaze.

"A swordsman who has mastered the One-Flash should not belittle himself. To have learned it at your age means you have definite talent, Ed. Have some confidence."

Stared at by Ellen, Edward blushed and looked away.

"It doesn't matter how skilled a lord is with a sword. What's important is the ability to govern. I'm sure that—once I succeed Father, they'll call me the foolish second-generation."

With Liam's era of rule being so good, it was unbearable for Edward to be compared.

In every way, the existence of Liam weighed heavily on Edward.

That was probably why.

Even though he didn't mean it, the words slipped out.

"Maybe I should do the opposite of my father and make a name for myself in infamy? I'll leave my mark on the history of this universe as an evil lord."

Hearing this, Ellen's gaze sharpened.

"Do you intend to tarnish your father's name?"

"!"

Edward's face tensed up, but just then, Liam appeared.

Hearing footsteps, the two turned around to see that he had apparently been listening to their conversation.

Ellen's face paled as she thought, Oh no, but Liam's expression was joyful.

His voice was cheerful, too.

"An evil lord, you say? That's a bold claim."

A frozen Ed trembled in fear of Liam.

He probably didn't think that kind of joke would go over well with Liam, who was known as a wise ruler.

But Liam was looking at Edward with great interest.

"I thought you resembled Rosetta, but it seems my blood truly flows within you."

"—Huh?"

What is this person saying? As Edward made such a face, Liam offered him advice.

"The path of an evil lord is a harsh one. It will be interesting to see if you can pull it off."

"Ah, yes."

Liam averted his gaze from Edward, who had given a tentative reply, and turned to Ellen.

"Ellen, is Ed's education proceeding smoothly?"

Ellen stood up before Liam and straightened her posture.

"Y-yes! He has already mastered the One-Flash. However, his fundamentals are lacking in many areas, so he is not yet a full-fledged swordsman."

Even hearing that his fundamentals were lacking, Liam didn't seem too concerned.

He seemed more interested in the fact that he could perform the One-Flash.

"He learned it faster than I did. But fundamentals are just something you build up day by day. When you become a full-fledged swordsman, I'll have a fine sword prepared for you too, Ed. Keep up the hard work until then."

With those words, Liam departed.

Stared at by Edward, Ellen spoke with a complicated expression.

"Well then, shall we begin today's training?"

"Master—does Father ever actually get angry? Not getting mad after what I just said... I think that's pretty incredible, don't you?"

Far from getting angry at his son wanting to be an evil lord, he said he was looking forward to it.

Ellen was troubled by Liam's bad habit.

(If only Master didn't pretend to be evil sometimes, he'd be perfect—well, I suppose that bad habit is part of his charm, too.)

◇

I received a report from Brian about problems with Ed's daily attitude.

But I never thought that boy was aiming to become an evil lord.

"I never expected his inner self to have so much of my blood."

To think he aims for the same path of an evil lord as me—I'm starting to think it wouldn't be so bad to try and be a role model for him.

"Two generations of villains, father and son. My subjects are truly unlucky. Well, they're fools who protest for absurd reasons, so it can't be helped. They can just suffer at the hands of me and Ed."

I headed to my office with a light step.

◇

There was a woman watching Edward and the others' exchange from the shadows.

She was Satsuki Rinho, a swordswoman of the One-Flash Style.

Her long, dark blue hair spread out silkily when the wind blew.

Her cherry-blossom-pink eyes were staring intently at Liam and the others.

Rinho, holding a long sword, had overheard Liam's earlier conversation.

It was the scene where Liam praised Edward and talked about preparing a sword for him.

Even though they were father and son, they didn't have a master-disciple relationship, so it looked as if Liam was spoiling Edward.

To a swordsman of the One-Flash Style, it might have seemed like a heartwarming scene—but Rinho's expression was grim.

She was watching Edward and Ellen with bloodshot eyes.

"—The weak have no place in the One-Flash Style."