The Guide, who had been shot all over by Liam's bullets of gratitude, was walking down a dimly lit alley.

"Euresia—you've betrayed meeee!"

He had never imagined that Euresia's pitch-black desire for revenge would manifest as her romantically abandoning Liam.

Why did she join the special forces! — It was no wonder the Guide felt betrayed.

Normally, one would return to the military for retraining, not join the special forces.

And so, the Guide came to check on Yasushi, who had shown no movement this time.

"Yasushi. If you've betrayed me too—"

As blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, what the Guide saw when he came to check on Yasushi was—.

"Not yet! At this rate, you'll never surpass Liam—your senior disciple!"

—There was Yasushi, living in a secluded place, where he had built a training ground and was teaching swordsmanship to two children.

In this sight, the Guide saw a ray of hope.

Standing in an unstable position, the two children gripped their wooden swords, sweating.

Though they were clearly small children, they looked stronger than Yasushi.

"Yasushi—I believed in you!"

Yasushi was drilling the One-Flash Style into the two of them.

He was trying the same method that had succeeded with Liam, and it seemed he was using almost all the money he'd acquired to train the two.

He had used education capsules multiple times, spending his entire fortune to make the two of them stronger.

There was a reason why that Yasushi was going to such lengths.

A group of clearly ill-mannered knights came to visit Yasushi.

"Hey, old man. I heard a guy named Yasushi of the One-Flash Style is here, right?"

Yasushi replied immediately.

"The One-Flash Style? Never heard of it."

"Really? We got a tip that the master of that amazing knight, Liam, is here."

"What! Isn't he a celebrity? However, this humble one does not know him."

"Tch! Let's go, you guys."

—This was because the number of people searching for Liam's sword master was increasing.

Yasushi was terrified.

(Damn it! This is all Liam's fault for spreading this fictional sword style, the One-Flash Style! Now even I'm standing out in a bad way!)

He had no time to fool around.

He had to defeat Liam and show the world that the One-Flash Style was nothing but a phantom.

For that purpose, Yasushi was carefully raising the two children.

"That's enough!"

The two children, still blindfolded, breathed heavily, their shoulders heaving.

"Good, both of you. You're getting stronger."

The two children removed their blindfolds.

"Master, why did you lie to those guys?"

"Hm?"

"We could've easily beaten weaklings like them."

"W-Well, that's because—you mustn't swing your swords recklessly! Your swords exist to defeat the strong!"

Both of them had called the earlier knights "weaklings."

Even the Guide could tell that the two were stronger than the knights from before.

"—They're still no match for Liam, but they're definitely growing. Yasushi, keep up the good work."

As the Guide vanished from the spot, a dog was watching.

The two children wiped their sweat.

"We've heard it a million times. If we beat our senior disciple, you'll acknowledge us as full-fledged swordsmen, right?"

"That's right. If you defeat Lord Liam, you pass."

"But is our senior disciple really the famous Liam? I find that hard to believe."

"D-Don't doubt me! The time will come when you'll understand."

Both of them, apparently hungry, headed back to the house.

"Okaay. More importantly, I want to eat."

"I'm hungry~"

"H-Hey, wait up!"

Seeing Yasushi struggling to take care of the two children, the dog also disappeared.

◇

—Something's strange.

Inside Avid's cockpit.

When I tried to push the Machine Heart in, it was absorbed by Avid.

"Even though it didn't work on Amagi."

There might be some issues, but it's an out-of-place artifact the Guide gave me.

I used it on Avid, thinking it would surely be useful.

And now, I feel like its output is higher than before.

Well, it's probably just my imagination.

I don't pay attention to the fine numbers anyway.

"It's good that Avid got a power-up, but what's really going on?"

Well, when I think about it, I'd hate for it to fail if I used it on Amagi, so maybe this was for the best, but—hmm.

◇

A room in the mansion.

Beds for the maid robots were lined up there.

Amagi, who had been lying on one of them, opened her eyes.

"—Life."

To give life to a lifeless being.

Amagi, to whom the Machine Heart hadn't reacted, felt a small bit of happiness along with her disappointment.

"Were the emotions I felt real?"

While feeling a little regretful, Amagi stood up to return to her duties.

Just then, a call came in from Liam.

"Amagi, I'll let you ride in the powered-up Avid."

"Master, did you use the Machine Heart?"

"Yeah."

"—I believe I told you not to use it until it was examined?"

"No problem. Its source guarantees its safety."

Amagi had no idea what that source was.

"Come on, let's go."

"—Understood."

To check on Avid's condition, Amagi decided to board as well.

(Why does Master attract all sorts of things?)

Too many items of lost technology were gathering around Liam.

Amagi wondered if there was something more to it.

◇

The hotel on the capital planet that Liam had booked out.

Managing it was Rosetta's job.

In the lounge, the hotel manager was explaining the upcoming schedule to Rosetta while operating a tablet.

"Currently, eighty percent of our hotel's rooms are occupied."

The knights, soldiers—and officials—from the Banfield family were using the hotel rooms.

In addition, they had brought children from the houses that had become Liam's vassals to have them study abroad.

Also, many of the women who attended to Rosetta's personal needs came from those vassal families.

They also aimed to use Liam's study abroad as an opportunity for them to experience life on the capital planet.

After all, many nobles were cooped up in their own territories, and there were a great many women who couldn't shake their princess-like attitudes even while training.

From her own training experience, Rosetta wanted to show them that there was always someone better.

"We still have room to accept more, don't we?"

The manager nodded.

"Yes. However, if we fill it to capacity, we won't be able to handle any sudden needs."

"That is a dilemma. There are so many people I wish knew more about the world."

They were originally a collection of rural nobles from the frontier.

Even if they'd heard the capital planet was amazing, they didn't understand just how amazing it was.

It was also necessary to teach the common people.

Sometimes, people would gain knowledge, think they could do anything, and try to depose their lord.

When that happened, the Empire would burn the entire planet to the ground.

They showed no mercy to those who tried to usurp their power.

That's why it was necessary to teach them the vastness of the world.

The easiest way was to not give them power in the first place.

However, that went against Liam's style, so Rosetta had decided to provide support.

Besides, she had other work to do.

"I also need to go and check on the mansion on the capital planet."

"My lady, you are quite busy."

"I-I'm still just his fiancée."

"My apologies."

Seeing Rosetta's face turn bright red, the manager changed the subject.

"By the way, I heard you both will be attending the university. Will you also be working as an official, Lady Rosetta?"

When Liam returned, she would enroll in the university with him.

Rosetta was looking forward to it.

"That's the plan."

In the future, if Liam were absent, she would need to act as the lord's proxy, so she wanted to be able to handle at least the basic duties.

While Liam was away, Rosetta acted to make up for what was lacking.

(Darling, I wonder when you'll be back.)

Rosetta was looking forward to enrolling in the university with Liam.

◇

—I'm back on the capital planet after a long time.

Back home, I can act like a king, but here I'm just another noble.

I can still throw my weight around plenty, but having people above me is unsettling.

Also, this time I learned that picking fights carelessly is a pain.

I won't lose, but fighting piecemeal for years is boring.

But what I gained from the Berkley family was significant.

Planet development devices—multiple.

A Machine Heart.

And the Berkley family's fortune.

I also obtained several resource satellites, so I have an excuse for flooding the market with rare metals in the future.

Riding in a limousine-like vehicle with Amagi seated beside me, I looked out at the scenery of the capital planet.

"It's all gray."

A concrete jungle—well, apparently the material isn't concrete, but there's very little green.

It feels too much like a huge metropolis.

Wallace, who was riding with us, looked like he was suffering from a hangover.

"Liam—give me some medicine."

"It's your fault for partying too hard. Suffer for a while."

The medicine would fix him right up, but that's no fun, so I decided to ignore him.

This would be better medicine for Wallace.

Amagi turned her gaze to the hotel that came into view.

"—Master, didn't you say the reception would be modest?"

Lined up there to greet me were knights and soldiers.

I had them prepare a grand welcome.

I had intended to be more low-key, but since Amagi was coming, I requested a flashy reception.

A band was preparing to play, and the lined-up knights and soldiers were in their formal attire.

It feels really good.

"It's a surprise."

"You should be doing things like this for Lady Rosetta."

"—Uh, yeah."

She'd probably be happy no matter what I did, and if I actually did it, she'd probably jump on me with a hug.

But when I'm on the receiving end of such honest emotions—well, it's troubling.

Also, I wonder if she's had a hard life, because contrary to her appearance, her lifestyle isn't flashy.

Euresia was still more extravagant.

When the limousine landed on the ground, my lined-up subordinates saluted in unison.

When the door opened, I was the first to get out.

"Amagi."

When I held out my hand, Amagi took it, albeit with a little hesitation.

And when I stepped outside—there was some kind of commotion outside the hotel.

"What's this? There's a guy holding hands with a doll."

A flashy man, his face red since morning, had arrived with an entourage of followers and guard knights.

It seems he came to mock me.

The other party seems to be a noble, too.

My subordinates were rushing over to the men, trying to make them back off.

"The Banfield family has booked this entire place. Leave at once!"

When my knight said that, the other man laughed.

"A mere knight dares to complain to me, the heir of a marquis house? You think your status has risen just because you've made a bit of a name for yourself? Besides, booking out a run-down hotel like this, are you short on cash?"

Does he know about this hotel?

—Well, whatever.

It seems he came to pick a fight with me, but there's no need to waste my time on him.

"Amagi, get inside the hotel, quickly."

Amagi squeezed my hand tightly.

"Master, you mustn't."

Seeing this, the marquis's heir pointed at me and laughed.

"Hey, he's really talking to a doll. 'Liam-kun who plays with dollies'."

I looked at the man's face.

"Huh?"

—I don't know him, but this idiot seems to know me.

It seems he knew who I was and came to pick a fight.

"This is the capital planet, wittle boy. You shouldn't bwing such a diwty doll hewe~"

Seeing my opponent taunting me with baby talk—I turned my back and led Amagi into the hotel.

I spoke to Tia, who had rushed over to me.

"Hey, clean this up."

"Are you sure?"

"Is there a problem? Also, carry Wallace."

I had them carry the limp Wallace from the car, and then all that was left was to enter the hotel.

No problem at all.

"Gyahahaha! Can't say anything back, dolly—Lia—m."

The man who had been laughing just moments before collapsed, split vertically in two, and fell to the ground, scattering blood.

I cut him down because he was annoying—and it felt refreshing.

The noisy place suddenly fell silent.

Ignoring the scene, I headed for the hotel, and Amagi narrowed her eyes.

"Didn't you say you would be cautious when fighting with nobles?"

"Ah, I made a cautious judgment. And as a result of that judgment—I decided to crush them. Investigate his house thoroughly. All his relatives, too. —I'll make them disappear, just like the Berkley family."

Anyone who picks a fight like that is small fry anyway.

His rank seems high, but his house is probably nothing special.

I've already studied up by dealing with the Berkley family.

◇

The entourage and knights, whose heir had just been killed, crowded around Tia, who had arrived on the scene.

"You bastards, do you have any idea what you've just done!"
"Do you intend to make an enemy of a marquis house!"
"Don't you think you can get away with this!"

Tia smiled, drew her rapier, and with a horizontal swing, lopped off a knight's head.

Blood spurted out, and watching the knight's body fall, she spoke.

"Let's clean this up quickly."

Her subordinate knights were panicking.

"B-But!"

"Knights who can't protect their charge are a disgrace. It's more merciful to give them a chance to fight for their master's sake. And as for the entourage, they'll lose their standing anyway, so—kill them."

"No, but..."

"Lord Liam has ordered us to clean this up."

The opposing knight hastily drew his sword, but Tia's rapier pierced his head, and he fell.

When Tia pulled out the blade, blood gushed forth.

"Lord Liam shows no mercy when Amagi is insulted. Kill every last one of them and dump their bodies at their mansions."

The trembling nobles and knights.

Liam's knights, imagining his fury at Amagi being insulted, drew their swords.

The soldiers also raised their guns.

"—You insulted Lord Liam. For that alone, you deserve to die a thousand deaths."

The entourage and knights were then killed by Liam's knights—and their corpses were thrown into the marquis's mansion on the capital planet.

◇

As I was relaxing in the top-floor room, Rosetta burst in.

"Darling, did you do something?"

"What about?"

I was sitting on the sofa, reading a book on a tablet.

Various pieces of information were floating around me.

"—An acquaintance from my training days asked me to intercede on her behalf, no matter what."

"An acquaintance of yours?"

"A girl I trained with as a lady-in-waiting at the palace."

What could someone like that want with me?

"Who is it?"

"She's from a marquis house. She said she absolutely must apologize because she angered you, Darling."

"Is she a friend?"

"W-Well..."

Seeing Rosetta at a loss for words, I could guess.

They probably weren't close at all.

As I was wondering what to do, Marie entered the room.

"Lord Liam, here is the file on the marquis house from earlier."

"—Ah, that one."

I took it and checked; it was a large-scale house.

It was large enough to be called a marquis house, but—its territory was just like the Berkley family's.

It wasn't developed, and to top it off, its fleet was a paper tiger.

The number was a hundred thousand ships, but the Berkley family's was stronger.

Just as I thought, small fry.

Marie was watching me with a straight back.

I sat slouched on the sofa and returned the file to Marie.

"They're an eyesore, so I'll crush them. This time, let's be the ones to actively make a move."

It'll be a pain if it drags on, so let's finish it quickly.

"That may be difficult. The marquis has already asked the Empire to mediate. He has offered to apologize to us."

"What, they're not going to fight?"

"I hear that as soon as he heard his heir picked a fight with you, Lord Liam, he immediately began the disinheritance process. He's even willing to offer his daughter. I'm told she is the daughter who studied as a lady-in-waiting alongside Lady Rosetta."

I felt like Rosetta's expression clouded over for a moment.

Something must have happened during their training days.

It might be interesting to keep a woman like that by my side, dote on her, and see Rosetta's reaction.

That's it.

I'll corner her from this angle.

The thought piqued my interest.

"Is there a video? She's beautiful, I assume?"

"Here it is."

Marie prepared a holographic image, and it indeed showed a beauty, or rather, a beautiful young girl.

She had just come of age and still had a childish air about her.

—But, no good.

She can't be added to my harem.

"She's too flashy, and I just don't like her. Tell the marquis I don't want her."

"Are you sure? You could take her as a concubine and make the child between you the next marquis."

It's a chance to take over the house, but if you ask me if I want it that badly, it's debatable.

Besides, I just don't like the daughter.

She's beautiful, but she has a face that looks like it would betray you, how should I put it?

I get the same vibe from her as my ex-wife from my previous life.

She's good-looking, but I can't allow a woman like her in my harem.

I'm picky about my tastes.

"I'm not interested. If I wanted her, I'd just take her by force."

When I said that, Rosetta's expression brightened.

"Darling!"

—Hey, I'm not turning this down for your sake.

Why do you look so happy?

Marie looks happy too.

"I thought this would happen."

—Then why did you bring it up? No, given her position, she had no choice but to tell me.

"Darling, I love you!"

Misunderstanding something, Rosetta hugged me.

H-Hey, don't mess with me! Tell me what part of that was something to be happy about!

"L-Let go! Rosetta, stop!"

As I was struggling, Amagi, who had brought tea, saw me.

"Oh my, you two seem to be getting along well. —Shall I bring the tea in two hours?"

"N-No, this isn't what it looks like!"

I felt like I'd been caught in the middle of an affair.

Marie started saying something completely off the mark, "Lord Liam, I won't let a single intruder get near you!"

This one's useless after all.

As I was trying to pull Rosetta off me, Euresia came into the room carrying lots of shopping bags.

It seems she had another energetic day of shopping.

"Lord Liiiam~ I want to flex on my former colleagues, so please take a picture with me!"

This girl is the worst.

Wanting to send a two-shot of us to her colleagues who were also aiming to be concubines or mistresses of nobles, just to taunt them.

As expected, the disappointing girl was still a disappointing girl.

Amagi and Marie escorted that Euresia out of the room.

"Euresia, you need to be more aware of your position as Lord Liam's adjutant."

"Don't get in Lady Rosetta's way, you piece of junk."

"Ah, wait! I've been taunted so much until now! I want to get them back~"

The three of them left.

Only Rosetta and I were left.

—Uh oh, this is bad.

Rosetta was blushing.

Just as I was thinking about how to escape this situation—Wallace burst through the door, seeking my help.

"This is terrible, Liam!"

With Wallace bursting into the room with a panicked look, Rosetta, though looking disappointed, moved away from me.

"Nice timing, Wallace! —So, what's up?"

Keeping this guy around was the right choice.

Rosetta was straightening her appearance.

What the out-of-breath Wallace told me was—a new troublesome matter.

"The sis—no, that's not it. The, the Third Prince..."

"The Third Prince?"

"The prince third in line to the throne has requested a meeting with you!"

At those words, Rosetta covered her mouth with both hands in shock.

"The Third Prince—no way!"

Wallace's and Rosetta's gazes focused on me.

It seems things are getting interesting.

Brian (´；ω；｀)ノシ "It is painful that the time has come to part with you all again, but I look forward to the day we meet again!"

Advertising Machine ヽ(°▽、°)ノ "TIME TO ADVERTISE~ With the survey bonus for Volume 3 of 'The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs,' you can read the [Complete Marie Route]. It's a whopping twenty thousand characters long! WHAT A DEAL"

Brian (´；ω；｀) "Being treated the same as a plant calling itself an Advertising Machine—it's painful."