The capital planet of the Algrand Empire is a gray planet, as its entire surface is covered in metal.

The interior is also filled with buildings, and is fundamentally gray.

It is a planet where everything is managed by artificial structures.

I'm impressed, but for me, the lack of greenery is unsettling.

Projected onto the sky is a blue sky.

On the capital planet, disasters never occur, and even the rain falls as scheduled.

A completely managed planet is very comfortable for humans. And many people wish to live on such a capital planet.

As a result, the population density is high.

To use an analogy from my past life, it's like the choice between living in the countryside or the city—but taken to a much greater extreme.

There are many apartments meant only for sleeping, and for the average person, capsule hotels are the standard.

But I, Liam Sera Banfield, am different.

I possess the power of a noble and have amassed an enormous fortune.

Status, honor, money—I, the villain who has obtained it all, live in a long-established luxury hotel on the capital planet.

I don't just rent out the best room in a traditional luxury hotel; I've rented out the entire hotel for my use.

I was wastefully renting it out and indulging in luxury on the capital planet.

And so, here I am, changing into a suit in the morning.

Since it's work attire, the decorations are minimal, but all the clothes I wear are custom-made suits with ridiculously high price tags.

When I stand before the mirror, Amagi comes to check my appearance.

"Master, the grooming check is complete."

Every morning, I have Amagi check my appearance. My clothes may be disposable, but Amagi is not.

"I preferred the last suit."

"In that case, I will have a new suit prepared for you by tomorrow."

I don't like it, so replace them all! Such an order is permissible.

Because I'm a big shot.

I have them made with a wasteful amount of money, and if I don't like them, I won't even put them on.

How wasteful. But that is what's permitted for a noble in this world.

"It's about time to leave."

The time to report for duty is approaching.

Right now, I'm working as a civil official at the palace. After graduating from the Imperial University and completing a two-year training period, I took a break in my territory for a while.

There was also the accident of being summoned to a planet with a low level of civilization, but that wasn't all bad.

Chino of the dog-kin, dressed in a maid outfit, is restlessly looking out the window.

"Whoa, it's so high. Are we above the clouds?"

She watched the outside without ever getting close to the window.

Occasionally, she would say things like, "Is this building going to collapse!?" and cling to Ciel, who was by Rosetta's side.

She's a really cute one.

"Chino, don't get too excited and fall."

When I teased her, Chino's ears and tail fur stood on end, and she backed away.

"A-a-a-am I going to fall from here!?"

Thinking she might fall if she did something, her legs were trembling. While reflecting that I might have teased her a bit too much, I turned my gaze to Amagi.

"You'll be safe if you stay by Amagi's side. Amagi, look after Chino."

"As you wish."

As Amagi bowed her head, Chino leaped onto her.

Her eyes were filled with tears.

"I-I'd prefer a room on a lower floor! If possible, one close to the ground! I-it's not like I'm scared of heights or anything!"

As if she couldn't stand being in such a high place, Chino seemed to want to head to a lower floor.

This one really is cute.

"I'll have a room prepared for you on a lower floor among the guest rooms. Ciel, prepare a room for Chino."

When I spoke to Ciel, she didn't let her inner hatred for me show on her face.

"Understood."

This is it. This! This feeling of her being reluctant is the best. The fact that she's trying to bring me down but is too incompetent to do anything is also great.

It seems she's making various moves out of her hatred for me, but all information about them is leaking right to me.

If she were competent, I would have dealt with her, but considering Ciel's abilities, leaving her alone is fine. Moderately competent and moderately rebellious towards me—what a rare talent to find.

As I was rejoicing by myself, Rosetta, having finished changing, came into the room.

Appearing in a suit with a knee-length skirt, she smiled at me.

"Darling, you're ready too. Then, let's go to work together."

My mood instantly plummeted.

"—Yeah, I guess."

"To think I'll be working at the same place as you starting today, Darling. It's kind of exciting."

"Same workplace? Our workplaces are close, but they're separate, aren't they?"

"If the buildings are close, it's practically the same thing."

What's that? That's way too broad.

Originally, Rosetta despised me even more than Ciel and was a rebellious woman. Now, she's like a tamed cat. No, a dog? In any case, she's a beast that's been defanged.

Not a shred of her rebellious spirit remains.

"Whatever. Amagi, prepare the car."

"It is already on standby."

Being chauffeured to and from work is a matter of course.

"Well then, I suppose I'll work moderately for another day."

I don't need a high evaluation.

After all, I'm a great noble. I'm important, so I'll get promoted just by sitting around silently.

There's no need to work myself to the bone.

When I left the room with Rosetta, Tia and Marie, in their maid outfits, were glaring at each other with their faces close.

"I will be the one to clean the floor Lord Liam is on. You, get out."

"I will be the one to clean every nook and cranny of Lord Liam's floor. The one who's leaving is y-o-u. You need to understand that."

Faced with these energetic idiots in the morning, I felt my energy drain away.

Why are so many of my subordinates useless?

It must be because I prioritized their looks when hiring them.

Knights should be chosen based on ability and loyalty.

Tia and Marie possess both of those, but they're useless because they have no common sense.

"Don't be so noisy in the morning. If you want to clean that badly, have it all finished by the time I get back."

The two of them, having been addressed by me, hurriedly knelt.

It's surreal to see them kneeling in maid outfits.

"Lord Liam, good morning!"

I ignored Tia's greeting.

"Who taught you to kneel? I taught you a greeting befitting you, didn't I? Now, do it over."

When I demand a do-over, the two of them, being knights, have no choice but to obey.

They stood up and, looking embarrassed, performed the greeting I taught them.

Tia made cat ears with her lightly clenched fists and wiggled her hips.

"Good morning, Master-nyan!"

And Marie, for her part, extended her hands to form bunny ears.

"Lord Liam, good morning-pyon!"

These adults, who have risen to become first-class knights, are giving this greeting with all their might in the morning, dressed in maid outfits. Seeing them blush and tremble with embarrassment puts me in the best mood.

Rosetta averted her gaze from the two of them. It was probably something like a warrior's pity.

It seemed she couldn't bear to watch their pitiful state.

But I'm not done yet.

"I'll let it slide for today. Improve the quality of your performance by tomorrow."

When I gave the order, Tia and Marie's shoulders slumped.

"If it is Lord Liam's command..."
"If it is what Lord Liam desires..."

I passed the two frustrated idiots and headed for the elevator.

The elevator was spacious, and a sofa had been prepared for me.

As I sat down, Amagi and the others arrived.

The only one who can sit next to me is my fiancée, Rosetta. I'd actually like to have Amagi sit there, but she herself refused, saying, "That's out of the question, of course."

Rosetta, sitting next to me, spoke to me inside the descending elevator.

"Darling, may I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"I heard the Hegemony is going to invade, but you didn't want to participate? Wallace seemed to think you would, Darling."

The Hegemony, huh.

Its official name is the Gudwar Hegemonic Kingdom.

Apparently, it's an interstellar nation that embodies the principle of 'might makes right,' a land of carnage that is constantly at war. I'm amazed they can keep fighting without getting tired of it.

The Empire has plenty of wars too, but to hear it's even more than that is astounding.

In terms of Japan's Warring States period, they're like the Shimazu clan. Or like the famously martial samurai of the Kamakura period, strutting around with impunity even in this space age.

Fighting against people like that? No, thank you.

I don't want to fight strong guys. I just want to trample the weak.

Fighting against battle maniacs who are at it year-round is a pain, so I'd rather not.

"I'm not motivated. Besides, I want to let my army rest for a while."

"You're so kind, Darling."

That's a lie.

I'll work them to the bone when I have to, but I'm just letting them rest because I don't feel like moving.

Also, I'm not kind.

I prioritize my own convenience above all else, and I'm selfish to the core.

Besides, the one fighting that insane Hegemony is my political rival, Calvin.

His Highness the Crown Prince himself is leading the army to subjugate them. That's because his position has been precarious lately, being pushed back by Cleo's faction.

"Calvin is the one fighting the Hegemony. Let's just sit back and see what he's got."

"Can His Highness Calvin win? Even though I understand he's your political rival, Darling, I can't accept the Empire losing."

Rosetta is a good person. Considering the interests of the entire Empire, it would be better for Calvin to win. But I'm different.

As long as I don't get hurt, I don't care who loses.

If the Empire loses and I benefit from it—I'm thinking it's fine for the Empire to lose.

However, this case is different.

I want to avoid the Hegemony gaining momentum, and it would also annoy me if Calvin achieved a complete victory. My true desire is for them to wear each other out.

"—Calvin isn't incompetent. He'll listen to the opinions of his military officers. I hear the Empire has the advantage in numbers. There shouldn't be a problem."

Believing my words that there was no problem, Rosetta showed a relieved expression.

But inwardly, I was feeling resentful.

Yes, Calvin is competent.

That bastard summoned me to an inquiry and laughed at me in front of everyone.

He created an atmosphere like, 'Look at the guy whose people held a baby-making protest in his territory,' and made a fool of me.

That's why I won't underestimate him.

The elevator arrived at the first floor, and I stood up.

"I'm going to hurry up and finish my work as a civil official and end my training as a noble. Once that's done, I can spend the rest of my life playing around as much as I want."

My training, which had continued for over fifty years, was about to come to an end.

It's long. Too long.

In my past life, I'd already be past the halfway point of my life.

"Your training ends in four years, right? Th-then, we'll—um..."

Looking at Rosetta, her face bright red as she placed a hand on her cheek, I thought.

How did you end up becoming so pathetic?

◇

The Gudwar Hegemonic Kingdom.

The one visiting the interstellar nation that Liam had called a land of carnage was the Guide.

This was the capital planet of a nation where the strong rule the weak.

It was a place that felt more chaotic than the Empire's managed capital planet.

Fights broke out normally on the streets, and even those in the position of police officers were getting excited by the sight.

The Guide watched this scene, dumbfounded.

"How barbaric."

Strength is everything.

It was, in a sense, a fair country, as one could rise through the ranks with strength alone.

The Guide was heading towards a colosseum-like arena.

This was a place where the blood of hundreds of millions had been spilled.

In the arena where battles to decide the strongest in the Hegemony were held—a place that should be sacred—there was an unfitting, eerie presence.

It had thrust its sharp, slender mouth into the earth and was sucking up blood. It was a being that loved the blood and sweat of the strong that had soaked into the ground.

"The blood of the strong is delicious no matter when I drink it!"

Though it was only a head, this being was the same kind of existence as the Guide. Unlike the Guide, he preferred conflict over human misfortune.

For that reason, he manipulated the Hegemony from the shadows, ensuring that battles were always taking place.

"I've found you, Gudwar."

"It's rare for you to initiate contact. What business does a world-walker like you have with the great me?"

The arrogant being was Gudwar, the very name of this country.

"I hear you plan to invade the Empire."

"Fighting only within the country gets boring. What? Are you here to tell me to keep my hands off because it's your territory?"

When the now-standing Gudwar postured as if to fight, the Guide immediately surrendered.

After all, he was currently completely weakened because of Liam, so he had no chance of winning.

"Whoa, that's not it. Actually, there's a strong human in the Empire."

"—Strong? Stronger than my pawns?"

Gudwar, his interest piqued, listened to the Guide's story.

"Of course. In the Empire, there is a strong man that you, Gudwar, would love. Wouldn't you like to try and defeat him?"

"Who is he? Tell me his name!"

"Liam Sera Banfield."

When the Guide murmured Liam's name, Gudwar's octopus-like legs quivered with delight.

"I've heard of him! The One-Flash Style's Liam, who defeated three Sword Saints! I see, so he's really strong. This will be fun!"

The Guide gave a polite bow to the motivated Gudwar.

"I would very much like to borrow your power. Together—let us bury Liam."

The Guide joined forces with Gudwar.

Brian (´・ω・｀): "Lord Liam isn't going to the Hegemony... I never thought the Guide would be checkmated on the first move. Well then, an announcement for the book version—"

Wakagi-chan (ノ・∀・)ノ: "Hiyah!" ＝＝＝＝＝┻━┻))゜Д゜)・∵. "This is painful!"

Wakagi-chan ( ゜∀゜): "【The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs】, or 【MobuSeka】 for short, 【Volume 6】 will be released on 【July 30th】! This time, a limited edition with a drama CD will be released at the same time! Everyone, please buy it~♪"

Brian (´；ω；｀): "I'm the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire! Volume one will be released on 【July 25th】. ...I was too slow."