The Banfield family mansion.

There, stood Rinfa and Fuuka, dressed in maid outfits.

The reason they both looked as if they'd bitten down on a bitter bug was because they had been provided with cute maid outfits.

Because they were from the same school of swordsmanship, Liam had given them special treatment and had these custom-made uniforms made for them.

For the two of them, it was unbearably embarrassing.

Normally, even with skirts, they preferred cool-looking ones.

But wearing these frilly, cute maid outfits only fanned the flames of their shame.

"Why do I have to wear clothes like this?"

Rinfa was truly disgusted.

In contrast, Fuuka, unlike her usual assertive self, was just shy.

"I-I wouldn't look good in clothes like this, would I!"

Standing before the two of them was Serena, who had been appointed as their instructor.

To be taught directly by Serena, the head maid, was nothing short of special treatment.

"You two are really like wild children."

However, while they had been taught etiquette, they were completely useless as maids.

Their awareness of being swordsmen was strong, and their rough behavior was conspicuous.

At Serena's words, Rinfa began to exude a dangerous aura.

"Huh? Don't get carried away, will you? Even if you took my sword, an old hag like you is nothing—"

Just then, the figure of a young child appeared, watching them from the shadows.

Fuuka noticed and jabbed Rinfa with her elbow, stopping her from saying any more.

"Hauugh!"

As Rinfa clutched her side, Fuuka frantically pointed to the shadows.

"Y-You idiot! Ellen's watching!"

Rinfa, also clutching her side, forced a desperate smile.

Ellen, in the shadows, was watching the two of them.

"—I'm going to tell Master."

At those words, Rinfa's face turned pale even as she smiled.

"Ellen, it's nothing. Just don't tell our senior disciple. Please, just don't tell him."

The reason the two of them feared Liam lay with Yasushi.

Yasushi had watched over them warmly, and even when he scolded them, he never shouted or raised a hand.

But Liam was different.

Not only was he strict, but if the two of them were too selfish—he would draw his sword.

He showed no mercy to his junior female disciples, whom he acknowledged as swordsmen with a certain level of skill.

If they were to break Liam's orders in the mansion, they would truly end up coughing up blood.

With Ellen watching over them, the two put on a docile act in front of Serena.

"We look forward to working with you, Head Maid!"
"We look forward to it!"

Watching the two of them suddenly snap to attention, Serena worried about the future.

"Honestly—if it weren't for Lord Liam's request, I never would have taken you two on."

Could she really educate these two properly?

Serena couldn't help but feel anxious.

◇

The basement of the Banfield family mansion.

There was a place here where only a select few were permitted to enter.

This was where the facilities for Kukri and the black ops were located.

I, having visited the place, was looking inside the coffins.

"—So thirty of them died."

By rampaging on the capital planet, we had lost thirty members of Kukri's black ops.

I had no complaints about the price paid.

We had managed to significantly thin out the Empire's black ops—the ones who followed Calvin.

Kukri, standing by my side, looked apologetic.

"My apologies. But their deaths were not in vain."

"Of course not. They died for me. There's no way their deaths could be in vain."

—The dead do not betray.

I don't know what would happen if they were reincarnated, but these people dedicated their lives to me.

They were beings who did not betray me.

That is very precious.

It's always the living who betray you.

I don't trust people.

But those who died for me are precious.

I came here after hearing there was a funeral for the black ops in order to mourn them.

"What will you do with the bodies?"

Kukri answered calmly.

"Our bodies are a mass of technology, so they will be cleanly disassembled. Nothing will be left behind. It is the fate of those in this world to vanish without a trace."

How lonely.

I'd like to at least build them graves, but they even refuse that.

They're quite thorough.

"—Kukri, I'll give you a reward."

"Sir? We have already received our payment."

I favor those around me.

Since I'm free from financial problems to begin with, I can pay them as much as I want.

But I'm a corrupt lord, and a stingy one at that.

I'll spend money on myself, but I only act generous when the mood strikes me.

I only pay a reward commensurate with the work done.

However, a lot of good things have happened recently.

Tia tried to protect me by throwing herself on the line, and Kukri's people carried out my orders at the risk of their lives.

They risked their lives for me.

I'll at least prepare a reward for that.

"You all were useful. I'll prepare a reward for that. Is there anything you desire?"

The key point here is not to say, "Ask for anything!"

I have no intention of listening to a wish I can't grant!

Kukri and the black ops were perplexed, but after a moment.

"—In that case, could we have a planet?"

"A planet?"

"Our homeworld has been lost. If we could receive one planet with favorable conditions, we would like to make it our new homeworld."

When I checked the conditions, there was one suitable planet among those in my territory.

There were people living on that planet, but the population was still small, only a few tens of millions.

Kukri knelt before me.

"The revival of my clan is our dearest wish. We want land for that purpose."

A hidden village where the black ops live, huh.

There's a certain romance to that story.

Besides, it would be a great help to me if Kukri's people increased in number.

"Very well. I'll have the current residents driven out immediately."

"No, that won't be necessary. It's more convenient for us if there are residents."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Understood. I'll have the necessary supplies prepared at once."

All the black ops members knelt before me, but since it was a funeral, I had them stand up.

I placed flowers inside the coffins.

"—Only the dead do not betray me. You all did not betray me. At the very least, rest in peace until you are reborn."

◇

In the Banfield family mansion.

Ciel, working as a maid, was recalling the busy days on the capital planet.

"—I couldn't do anything."

She had tried to expose Liam's true nature, but she couldn't do a thing.

On the contrary, she had only seen Liam working diligently.

He was sent to a local government office for training, where he brilliantly cleaned up a workplace riddled with corruption.

While supporting the expeditionary force from behind the scenes, he held parties every day and worked energetically for the Cleo faction.

She tried to find some fault with him, but—he was too serious, and she couldn't find any.

"What is he? What is that guy? Isn't he just a normally competent lord? So why does he reek of being a petty villain more than anyone else!?"

Everyone she asked just said, "Lord Liam is a wonderful lord!"

No one saw Liam's true nature.

And Ciel, who was able to work by Liam's side—or rather, by Rosetta's side—was often the target of jealous looks from those around her.

"This isn't a position to be so envious of! The people here are just too blind!"

She couldn't understand how they could be so devoted to Liam.

As she was cleaning the room, Rosetta arrived.

"Ciel, so this is where you were."

It seemed she had been looking for Ciel.

"Lady Rosetta? If you had called for me, I would have come right away."

Why does this person wander around looking for her servants herself?

She couldn't help but find it strange.

"I wanted to see you working, too. It's my job to see if you're doing well in this mansion, which is different from the capital planet!"

Ciel was the daughter of a Baron family, direct retainers of the Empire.

Her standing was higher than that of the vassal houses Liam looked after, and she was the first child of a noble family that the Banfield house had ever accepted for training.

It was different from accepting the children of one's subordinates.

If Ciel succeeded, requests to accept more children of nobles would come one after another.

If that happened, there would be more opportunities to connect with the nobility in the future.

Furthermore, they would be regarded as a prestigious house that was sought after as a place for training.

Ciel thought to herself.

(This place is just as rural as my family's home, yet the manners are as strict as on the capital planet. It's certainly not bad for education, and as a place for training, it's a jackpot, but...)

Head Maid Serena was strict, but she was a person who had served as the head maid in the Imperial Palace for many years.

Brian also had some issues, but he performed his duties as a butler properly.

Rosetta was also strict, but fundamentally kind.

She cared about her and guided her patiently.

The environment was probably the best she could ask for.

If there was a problem, it was only Liam.

Rosetta looked happy to see Ciel working seriously.

"It seems you're doing fine in the mansion. At this rate, the day you finish your training and return to your family is near. But it'll be lonely when that happens."

She truly looked lonely.

(She's a good person, though. Why did she fall for someone like Liam? I can forget about the others, but I really want her, at least, to realize the truth.)

Ciel wished that Rosetta, at least, would open her eyes.

◇

The territory of the Oxis United Kingdom.

A fleet from the Henfrey Company was moving through space.

Among the fleet was a single spaceship.

It was a specially designed luxury liner.

Thomas was on board, dealing directly with Count Noden.

Having lost his position in the United Kingdom, Count Noden was trying to plot his escape from the country with the help of the Henfrey Company.

His destination was the house of Baron Noden, a vassal of Liam.

In the past, the two families had been related by blood.

He intended to rely on that connection, using Thomas.

He was drinking alcohol on the ship, trying to drown his anxiety.

"Thomas, this is your fault! You will take responsibility and get me to a safe place! Dammit! How did it come to this?"

Thomas, with a cold look in his eyes, confirmed that they were about to enter Imperial territory before getting to the main point with Count Noden.

Until then, he had been dealing with Count Noden.

Just listening to him talk.

"—Count Noden."

"What is it?"

"We at the Henfrey Company are purveying merchants with our main store in Lord Liam's home base."

"What of it? I gave you the money, didn't I? Get me to a safe place. Honestly, are you trying to talk about loyalty, you mere merchant? You money-grubbing fiend."

"That stings. It's true that merchants are strict about money. But you know—even I have a sense of duty and humanity. If we were to lend a hand to you, who betrayed Lord Liam after he helped us so many times, don't you think that would be disadvantageous for our company?"

Count Noden snorted.

"If you keep your mouth shut, no one will notice. Isn't this something everyone does? You might as well just be honest and tell me how much money it would take to betray Liam."

Count Noden, no longer a noble, had abandoned his house and family and fled alone.

All he had now was the large sum of money he had obtained by betraying Liam.

And Count Noden was, for all intents and purposes, still a noble.

He thought he could handle a mere merchant, and he had his escort knights by his side.

He had abandoned his family, but he had brought his escort knights with him.

For that reason, he did not waver from his assertive attitude.

In the first place, the reason Count Noden had relied on Thomas was that the trading companies involved with the United Kingdom had refused to help him.

No one would help him, as being known to have helped the traitor Noden for a large sum of money would make it impossible to do business in the United Kingdom.

His only connection was the Henfrey Company, which was based in the Empire, so he had no choice but to rely on Thomas.

And so, he had planned his escape to the house of Baron Noden, a distant relative.

He probably didn't think a traitor would be right under Liam's nose.

Baron Noden's house was also full of traitors.

"Count Noden, I'm not the only one who is dissatisfied with this matter."

"Huh?"

Suddenly, the spaceship shook.

"W-What was that!?"

As Count Noden and his escort knights became wary, an alarm sounded, signaling that intruders had boarded the ship.

As the sound of frantic footsteps grew closer, the door to the room was kicked down.

The one who entered was a woman wearing a purple powered suit.

The swords in her hands were sinister great hatchets, their blades jagged like saws.

They were moving like chainsaws.

Malevolent weapons designed to inflict pain on people.

"F-o-u-n-d... y-o-u~"

The visor of the woman's helmet opened, and the helmet itself folded up and was stored away.

The woman, her head now exposed, had an ecstatic expression on her face.

Behind her were knights exuding bloodlust.

When Noden's guards drew their weapons and charged, they were all cut down by the knights who had stormed in.

As Noden's eyes widened at the sight, the woman—Marie—thanked Thomas.

"Master Thomas, I thank you for relying on me. You did well to call on me, and not that mincemeat woman. You have a good eye."

Marie, who had been left behind to guard Liam's territory, had led a fleet of several hundred ships to attack this place.

Thomas had a troubled look on his face.

"I have certainly handed him over to you."

The blades of the great hatchets Marie held let out a piercing, ear-splitting sound.

"Noden! The crime of betraying Lord Liam is a heavy one! I shall slowly teach you of your sins as I slice you to bits. Don't worry. I have plenty of medicine. I won't let you die so easily."

The surrounding knights had the same atmosphere.

"Death to traitors!"
"Kill Lord Liam's enemy!"
"Let the show begin!"

When Noden looked to Thomas for help, he was hastily leaving the room.

Noden, pinned down by the knights, screamed.

"H-Help meeee!"

Marie smiled.

"N-o."

◇

The United Kingdom, having lost the war, was in a major dispute over where to place the blame.

"—Huh? Come to think of it, what happened to Noden?"

Liam, relaxing in his room, was lying on the sofa and looking at the news on his terminal.

He must have remembered while reading a news article about the United Kingdom.

He asked Amagi, who was preparing drinks in the room.

"We have received a report from Master Thomas that he and Lady Marie have disposed of him."

Liam yawned.

"I was wondering why I hadn't seen Marie, so she was taking care of a traitor. It's quite splendid that she's working hard."

As Amagi prepared tea and sweets, Liam sat up and enjoyed their aroma.

"It smells like Amagi's tea."

"You drink these tea leaves regularly, though?"

"The tea you brew is different from the others."

"Is that so?"

Could Liam perceive the subtle difference?

Amagi watched Liam, thinking this.

And she remembered that day.

(That being who shouted Master's name—what in the world was that?)

It had a human form but was not human, a strange existence full of static.

One thing was certain: it was not friendly towards humans.

(Is Master being targeted? If so—)

Amagi worried about Liam, who was being targeted by an inhuman being.

However, Liam was as carefree as ever today.

"Huh? I haven't seen Brian today."

Seeing Liam like this, Amagi showed her usual attitude.

It was the only thing she could do.

"He has the day off today. He said he's having a meal with his grandchildren."

"Brian's grandchildren, huh. In that case, arrange for the meal expenses to be put on my tab. It's good to curry favor at times like these."

"As you wish."

◇

Outer space.

Small arms and legs sprouted from the Guide's top hat, which was drifting there.

A mouth appeared on the top hat, and it gnashed its teeth in frustration.

"Damn it... damn it..."

It was sobbing and crying.

—The Guide was not dead.

He couldn't even get close to Liam.

In his territory, and in other lands—Liam was being thanked, and by receiving that energy, he, a mere human, had obtained immense power.

The weakened Guide was no match for him, and it was doubtful whether he could have put up a fight even at his peak.

Still, the Guide would not give up.

"I will not give up on my revenge. I will kill Liam, no matter what!"

He would defeat Liam using any means necessary.

The Guide renewed his resolve.

A dog was watching the Guide.

It looked dissatisfied that he hadn't died, but perhaps deciding it was no problem to leave him be, the dog vanished somewhere.

The Guide shouted.

"I'll accept defeat for now. But I will return, Liaaaam—"

The Guide drifted away somewhere, spinning as it floated through space.

Brian .·゜·(ノД`)·゜·. "Lord Liam! This Brian's tears of emotion will not stop!"

Brian (´；ω；｀)ノシ "And with that, Chapter Six comes to a close today. We won't see each other for a while, but everyone, please stay well until we meet again."

Wakagi-chan ( ゜∀゜) "We're always accepting comments, ratings, and reviews! There's a section at the bottom where you can add them, so feel free to write whatever you like!"

Wakagi-chan ( ゜д゜) "But please follow the terms of service."

How did you enjoy Chapter Six?

I'm planning to use the activity reports for my own thoughts.

I'd be happy if you could check it out when you have time.

The posting date for the next chapter, Chapter Seven, is undecided, but I plan to prioritize updates for my other works.

Well then, I look forward to your continued support.