That was close.

That defiant Ciel was about to be taken away.

Just where did the information leak from?

I can't imagine Kukri and the others would ignore my orders, and besides, Ciel is someone who isn't a problem even if left alone.

She hates me and gets in my way, but with her abilities, there's only so much she can do. And because she's a good person, the means she can take are limited.

If she were a villain, I would have eliminated her immediately.

Acting recklessly is dangerous, after all.

To me, Ciel is the perfect woman to have wrapped around my little finger.

A replacement isn't easy to find, and it feels wrong to go out of my way to search for one to keep by my side. It's like she has value because she's naturally like that—well, it's a matter of how I feel.

"Still, where did the information leak from? Should I have Kukri and the others investigate?"

As I was feeling a sense of crisis in my office about the information leak, Eulisia entered my room carrying some documents.

"Lord Liam, I have something to discuss with you regarding Lady Rosetta's personal guard."

Eulisia in work mode, wearing a skirt suit, gives off more of a 'capable woman' vibe than usual.

This girl, she should be serious all the time.

"Rosetta's?"

Looking through the documents, I saw that a boring, ordinary personal guard had been formed.

It's not bad, but it's not particularly good either.

It's become a boring, solid personal guard.

"A personal guard just like Rosetta. It's too safe and boring."

"I worked hard on this, you know."

Working hard is meaningless.

"In this world, results matter more than effort. Produce results."

"That's so mean! Oh, in that case, please praise me for one thing."

"For what? You? Why?"

Why should I have to praise Eulisia? She's someone who's supposed to work for me. After all, she lives as she pleases on my money.

It'd be a waste if she didn't work at least a little.

"It's about Ciel-chan. See, I was the one who investigated her meddling with Lady Rosetta's personal guard behind the scenes!"

Seeing Eulisia puff out her chest with confidence, I was left dumbfounded.

I stood up from my chair and approached Eulisia.

"Oh, are you going to praise me? Then, please be gentle—ouch!"

I flicked the smug Eulisia on the forehead, and she collapsed to the floor, clutching it with both hands.

"What are you doing!"

"What have you done, you disappointing woman!"

Eulisia protests the unfair treatment with teary eyes, but from my perspective, having a traitor this close was completely unexpected.

This woman, she found proof that Ciel was working behind the scenes and tattled to Baron Exner!

"You, you, you!"

I poked Eulisia's cheek with my index finger.

"St-stop it. This is cruel."

"Be grateful I'm letting you off this easily. From now on, stay out of Ciel's business."

Eulisia, holding her cheek, stared at me dumbfounded. Just when I wondered what she was so surprised about, she came up with a completely off-the-wall idea.

"Y-you get angry at me, but you'll forgive Ciel-chan even when she betrays you?! Do you like her that much?!"

It seems she can't stand that Ciel is loved more than her.

—Hey, have you forgotten you were saying things like you wanted to dump me?

Was there even any love to begin with?

"She's certainly better than you."

Compared to Eulisia, Ciel is still in the 'healing' category. She's a precious existence that supplements the components Rosetta is lacking.

"You're always letting your eyes wander to other women!"

"When did my eyes ever wander to you?"

Don't mess with me! The only one I'm crazy about is Amagi!

While I was bickering with Eulisia, Rosetta showed up.

"Darling, is your discussion over? Actually, about the personal guard—"

Rosetta entered with a smile, but upon seeing the teary-eyed, clamoring Eulisia—her expression turned cold.

However, her cold gaze was directed at Eulisia.

"Eulisia-san, what are you doing?"

"Me!? Don't you think I'm the one at fault?! It's Lord Liam's fault! Because his eyes wander to women other than me!"

—Why does she so naturally assume she's the one on my mind? This girl is truly full of herself.

If she weren't so disappointing, I'd think about treating her better.

More than that, it's scary that Rosetta sees this situation and doesn't doubt me. Normally, if there's a crying woman, you'd protect her.

This trust, this faith is heavy.

"It just looks like you're bothering Darling. Besides, your usual attitude is just awful."

Since she knows how Eulisia usually is, it seems she's judged that I'm not at fault.

Rosetta—why are you such an easy heroine?

Doubt me more.

"That's enough. More importantly, did you need something from me?"

"Ah, well... it's about Ciel."

Ciel's?

◇

Having been lectured by her father and brother, Ciel was told to reflect in her room.

Baron Exner had said, "There's no other noble as splendid as him! What's so villainous about him!"

Kurt had started saying, "No matter how much we apologize to Liam, it won't be enough. If it comes to this, I'll undergo a sex change and—"

Ciel soaked her pillow with tears.

"Brother, you idiot! Doesn't anyone realize his true nature?!"

The most frustrating thing was that she had just been saved by Liam.

Because he had bowed his head to Baron Exner and said, "I'll pay whatever it takes, so please forgive her!", Ciel's crime had been swept under the rug.

Ciel was saved by Liam, and the Banfield family would continue to be responsible for her education.

Crying over her pathetic self, crying over her brother who was seriously considering a sex change despite having a fiancée, her eyes were red and swollen when—the door opened.

Even though she should have locked it, Liam was standing there.

"Yo."

Liam, grinning slyly, must have guessed how Ciel was feeling.

He looked amused as he watched Ciel crying in frustration.

"Y-you."

"If you're a maid, you should at least greet your master."

"Who says! Besides, I'm under confinement right now!"

Ciel was in a position where she normally wouldn't even be allowed to talk back, but Liam seemed to enjoy seeing it.

In fact, he looked like he welcomed it.

"I told you, didn't I? That no one would believe your words."

"Kuh!"

The current situation was that if she told people Liam was a villain, they would either worry and ask, "Are you okay?" or get furious with her.

But Ciel wouldn't give up.

"—I will definitely expose your true nature."

She was determined to expose the fact that everyone around them misunderstood Liam to be a good person.

Hearing this, Liam brought his face close to Ciel's.

"I'm looking forward to it. Do your best, Ciel-chan."

"I'll definitely make you regret this! I'll make you regret saving me!"

Ciel could not forgive Liam for seducing her brother.

Kurt was seriously considering a sex change, trying to go from a brother she could be proud of to a sister. Ciel would never accept that.

To open her beloved brother's eyes, she intended to expose Liam's true nature.

"If you can make me regret it, I'll praise you."

Liam, looking at Ciel who refused to back down, seemed to be having the time of his life.

And then, he left the room.

Ciel wiped her tears, steeling herself that this was no time for crying.

"—I will definitely drag your true identity into the light of day."

There was a light in the corner of the room, watching Ciel.

A dog, its outline blurred by a faint light, tilted its head.

When Ciel showed her motivation and shouted towards the ceiling, it left the room.

"I'll never, ever let my big brother become a big sister!"

◇

Returning to my room, I drank the tea Amagi had prepared.

This is the time when I feel most at ease.

While preparing sweets, Amagi asked me a question.

"So, has Ciel-san recovered?"

"I panicked when I heard she was sad, but her spirit wasn't broken. She's a real gem."

She's putting on a brave front, saying she'll expose my true nature, even though she can't.

That sight is truly adorable.

It's the kind of cuteness you see in a chihuahua picking a fight with a tiger.

"Master, it would be troublesome if you tease her too much."

"It's fine. Anyway—that Cleo fellow is also making a lot of moves behind the scenes."

"His Highness Cleo?"

"He's generously scattering the funds I provided to poor nobles. I have Kukri and the others investigating, but it seems he's gathering people to be his limbs."

Does he intend to be satisfied as a mere figurehead, or—

Amagi was looking at me. Though her expression was blank, she seemed somewhat worried.

"Don't worry. Cleo is no enemy of mine."

"Despite being hostile to His Majesty the Emperor, you seem quite composed."

It's true that if I were to fight the Empire, a mere lord like me wouldn't stand a chance.

But the fact that he's making sneaky moves behind the scenes means he can't openly fight me.

Or perhaps, I'm being played with.

—However, there is something that bothers me.

The 'true enemy' the Guide mentioned.

If the one who manipulated the Berkley family from the shadows and became my enemy is His Majesty the Emperor, then everything makes sense.

If this is true, he's a much more formidable enemy than Linus or Calvin.

"If Cleo remains a figurehead, I can let the Empire be, but if not—"

I decided to close my mouth there.

The high probability that the true enemy is the emperor of my own country has emerged, but all I need to do is move to win.

And the one who will win is me.

The way Amagi looked at me seemed somewhat anxious. So, I spoke to reassure her.

"Don't worry. There's a chance of victory."

"Enemies appear one after another, don't they?"

"They really do."

I don't have time to hole up in my domain and fool around. No, I really don't have time to play. I wanted to have more fun during my university days.

So, I think I'll spend some time fooling around on the capital planet.

The emperor is pulling the strings behind the scenes anyway. Even if I defeat one enemy, another will just appear.

Amagi asks how I intend to handle Cleo.

"Will you give a warning to His Highness Cleo? I don't recommend leaving him be."

"I'll leave him be. It's more interesting that way. Isn't it admirable? He's gathering those who oppose me to fight me, you know?"

The ones who oppose me are basically good people.

We are a gathering of evil lords, so those who raise the banner of rebellion against us are the decent nobles.

Cleo is a vacuum cleaner that will gather them all up for me.

Once they're all gathered—I'll erase them.

"I'll also focus on accumulating power for a while. I have to raise a successor for the One-Flash Style, and also—"

My One-Flash is still far from reaching my master's level.

Something is missing.

"—Should I try looking for Master?"

It seems the time has come to once again ask for my master's teachings.

I was able to defeat Izel, but it's doubtful whether I've grasped the method to cut the uncuttable.

As I was thinking about various things, Amagi came to report to me.

"Regarding His Highness Cleo, he is doing the same thing as Lady Rosetta."

"As Rosetta?"

"Yes. It seems he is reaching out to knights and nobles in difficult situations to establish a personal guard. He is also providing support."

"Hmph."

That's just like that good-natured guy. As I thought, preparing a personal guard for her was the right call.

Even with Eulisia there, she'd probably only be able to maintain the appearance of an army.

"Lady Rosetta is conducting her investigations carefully, so it's different from just scattering money around, though."

"I don't care. Let me know if any problems seem likely to arise."

"Understood."

Amagi lowered her head, and when she raised it, she looked at me.

"What is it?"

"No, it's just that being by your side like this, Master, reminds me of the old days."

"The old days?"

"Yes. I have been privileged to serve by your side for a very long time."

Come to think of it, has it been over a hundred years? It certainly has been a long relationship.

But the fact that Brian is number one is a bit...

"I'm counting on you from now on, too."

"—Yes."

Ciel (#゜Д゜): "I'll never, ever accept my big brother becoming a big sister!"

Brian (´；ω；｀): "—It's painful how badly Lord Liam treats this Brian."

Brian (´・ω・｀): "Well then, Chapter Eight concludes today. To think that this work, which was meant to promote another work, would end up promoting itself is a baffling turn of events that has surprised even this Brian."

Brian ヾ(´ω｀)ノ: "This Brian is delighted to hear that [I'm the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire! Vol. 1] has been well-received! Please also support [The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs Vol. 6]."

Brian (*´ω｀): "Regarding I'm the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire! Vol. 1, it has been significantly expanded upon for the book release. It's been made enjoyable even for readers who enjoyed the web version. Please consider purchasing it."

Brian (´ω｀)ノシ: "Well then, everyone, let's meet again in Chapter Nine."

—How did you enjoy Chapter Eight?

July 25th: I'm the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire! Vol. 1 release!

July 30th: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs Vol. 6, Regular & Limited Edition release!

August 7th: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs, Comic Adaptation Vol. 4 release!

—And so, it's become a publishing rush (^_^;

As the author, I'm very happy that both series seem to be well-received. This is all thanks to you, the readers.

Thank you very much (^▽^)

Also, I am looking for your "impressions" and "ratings" for this work.

You can write your impressions and give rating points from the bottom of the page, so please feel free to leave your thoughts and ratings.

I'm also waiting for your reviews.

※But please follow the terms of service.

Next, Chapter Nine is still undecided, but I'm thinking of updating it within the year.

Well then, thank you for your continued support!