We will resume posting from today!

This time, the update is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

"Aaaahhh!"

Black hair from his father. Blue eyes from his mother.

A boy with short hair, 【Edward Sera Banfield】—【Ed】—swung a wooden sword down at his opponent.

His opponent was a female knight with long, glossy red hair tied in a ponytail.

She was a cool beauty with narrowed, slanted eyes.

She was clad in a red knight's uniform, with a white mantle draped over her shoulders.

The number three was embroidered on the white mantle.

The knight's uniform and mantle, decorated with gold and silver in a way that wasn't overly gaudy, indicated her high rank as a knight.

In her hand was a toy sword.

The blade part was made of a soft, sponge-like material, but in the hands of 【Ellen Sera Taylor】, a master of the One-Flash Style, even a toy could become a weapon capable of killing.

"Your step-in is weak."

As she knocked away Ed's wooden sword, she grazed the back of his left hand.

Ed's left hand turned red, and blood slowly began to well up.

Clutching his left hand with his right, Ed fell to his knees, his eyes welling with tears.

"It hurts, Ellen."

To Ed, the heir of the Ducal House of Banfield, Ellen was a vassal.

Therefore, he addressed her without an honorific, but Ellen reprimanded his words and actions.

"I will not permit you to address your master so informally. Ed, you may be the son of my master—the head of the Banfield family—but to me, you are a disciple of the One-Flash Style. When you address me, you will call me 'Master'."

Looking up with teary eyes, Ed glared at Ellen.

"You used to let me call you by your name before."

"Now that we are formally master and disciple, I will not allow any coddling."

As Ellen maintained her strict attitude, Ed turned his face away.

Ed had turned seven years old.

He had experienced an education capsule once, spending half a year inside it from the age of five. Even after coming out, he spent another half a year in rehabilitation.

When he began his daily life again, he found that his swordsmanship master, who had been kind before he entered the capsule, had become strict.

Ed puffed out his cheeks.

"I liked it better before."

At Ed's complaint about the strictness, Ellen narrowed her eyes.

"No. From now on, I will train you strictly."

Angry at the knight who wouldn't listen to him, Ed stood up, clenched his fists, and raised his voice.

"In that case, I'll ask Father and Mother to scold you!"

Ed's father was Liam.

His mother was Rosetta.

They were the Duke and Duchess of Banfield, and one of the most powerful noble families in the Algrand Empire.

The doctors, nurses, magic-users, and priests waiting nearby—as well as the maids, knights, and even children of the same age watching over Ed—were all present.

The children were future vassals being raised alongside Ed.

They were assigned as Ed's attendants for the sake of his emotional development.

Their origins were varied, including nobles, citizens of the Banfield domain, and even subordinates of Kukuri dispatched from the black ops division.

The fact that they were dispatched from the black ops division was kept secret, but Ellen seemed to have noticed.

When Liam's and Rosetta's names were mentioned, they were momentarily flustered.

However, Ellen's attitude did not waver.

"Did you think I would change my mind just because you mentioned the names of my master—the Lord and his wife? Discard that weak way of thinking at once."

Seeing that Ellen wouldn't change her mind even after he mentioned his father and mother, Ed despaired.

Ellen showed Ed a smile, but her eyes weren't smiling.

To Ed, it looked like a terribly frightening smile.

Ellen spoke gently, yet with a strong will that conveyed she would absolutely not tolerate any coddling.

"Pick up your wooden sword and take your stance immediately."

◇

I, 【Liam Sera Banfield】, was looking down at the mansion's courtyard from the window of my office.

Down there, Ellen was teaching Ed the One-Flash Style.

I was watching the training, which was harsh for a young child.

To be precise, the scene of the training was merely being projected onto the window.

If I were to open the window, Ellen and Ed would not be there.

—Somehow, I can't help but be concerned about his training.

"More strictly—no, but being too strict is also a bit... But still..."

I've left it to Ellen, but I feel pathetic for worrying so much about his One-Flash Style training.

It seems entrusting Ed to Ellen was not a mistake after all.

As I was staring at the window, someone arrived outside my office.

The knight guarding the office asked for my permission for them to enter.

"'Lord Liam, the butler has brought Lady Serena.'"

"—Let them in."

As I said that, the office door opened and the two of them entered.

One was Brian, in his usual tailcoat, but Serena was in her casual clothes.

When I sat down in my chair, Serena performed a splendid curtsy. It was a greeting where she pulled one leg back and bent her knees while keeping her back straight.

"Thank you for everything you've done for me."

The reason Serena had come to see me was that she was leaving the Banfield household.

"Thanks to you, the mansion has gained a level of formality befitting our status. I'm grateful."

When I said this with a smile, Serena gave a forced smile.

"The only thing that never improved until the very end was your foul mouth, Lord Liam."

"That's because I have no intention of fixing it."

As we exchanged light banter, Brian looked at Serena with a sad expression.

"I wish Serena could have stayed at this mansion."

"I have a family too, you know. Besides, my role here is finished."

Serena's contribution in spreading etiquette that would be acceptable even in the imperial palace throughout the Banfield household was significant.

I wanted her to stay as well, but it would be tactless to insist.

"I'll have Tia escort you to the Capital Planet."

"I feel bad for you to go to such lengths."

To the hesitant Serena, I said with a wicked smile.

"Give my regards to the Prime Minister."

At that, I saw Serena's eyes waver for just a moment.

I couldn't tell if Brian was aware of our conversation or just not thinking about it, but he changed the subject.

"Lord Liam, you have dark circles under your eyes."

"—Shut up."

"As I thought, the fierce battle with the Hegemony Kingdom—"

"Brian, be quiet."

"Y-yes, sir."

Several years have passed since the war with the Hegemony Kingdom ended, but it has left a deep scar on my heart.

Thanks to that, I've been having nightmares.

Treatment is available, but for some reason, I've refused it, feeling like it would be admitting defeat to the Hegemon.

There's no way I would lose to the Hegemon!

As I looked displeased, Brian's cheeks softened as he saw the image of Ed projected on the window.

—Damn. I forgot to turn it off.

"Were you worried about the young master? Despite saying he should be raised strictly, you were concerned after all, Lord Liam."

My butler can't read the room. What should I do?

"It doesn't matter. Just hurry up and take Serena to the spaceport."

When I made a shooing gesture with my hand, Brian and Serena left the office.

After the door closed, Kukuri, who had appeared in the room at some point, offered his advice.

"Are you sure about this? Serena is a spy sent by the Prime Minister."

The fact that Serena had been passing information about the Banfield family to the Prime Minister was something Kukuri's people had already grasped.

However, on my judgment, any talk of punishment had been stopped.

"Serena was useful. Make sure she gets to the Capital Planet safely. —And you, keep an eye out to make sure no idiot misinterprets my orders."

When I warned him not to do anything stupid, Kukuri bowed his head.

"Yes, sir."

After Kukuri said that and vanished as if sinking into the floor, I immediately stood up and approached the window.

Looking out, I saw Ellen send Ed flying with the toy sword.

"That's going too far! W-wait, did I do that much too?"

As I was worrying to myself, it seemed the training had ended.

When Ed collapsed onto the courtyard lawn, doctors and nurses rushed over and began to treat him.

Watching this, I remembered how Amagi and Brian had treated my injuries when I was young.

I recalled that I am who I am today because I encountered the One-Flash Style as a child and trained in it.

"Rather than a villain like me raising a child, it's better to leave it to Ellen and Klaus."

If I were to raise a child now, it would surely have a negative influence.

I don't know how Ed will turn out, but he's an unfortunate child to have a villain like me for a father.

I touched the windowpane.

A small window then appeared on the windowpane, which had turned into a monitor.

Projected there was Amagi.

"'Master, what can I do for you?'"

Amagi appeared, as blunt as ever, but I paid it no mind and stated my business.

"Ellen and Ed's training is over. Ellen must be tired, so prepare some tea and sweets for her. —Oh, right. The other children are there too, so it's better to prepare something sweet."

While showing concern for Ellen, I also told her to prepare sweets for the children.

At that, Amagi smiled faintly.

"'Understood. I will prepare sweets for Lady Ellen and Master Edward's group.'"

"—That's right."

"'I will arrange it immediately.'"

When the communication ended, I covered my face with my right hand, even though no one was watching.

"This should be fine—probably."

I should have maintained my dignity as an evil lord.

Probably.