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Chapter 15: Gratitude

The Imperial Capital's Palace.

It was so vast, I couldn't tell where the palace ended and began.

It was practically a city in itself, this Imperial Palace.

In such a place was the Prime Minister's office.

A white-haired old man was working while dealing with a man who was pressing him.

The man was Cliff, Liam's father.

"Prime Minister, what is the meaning of this! Why won't you approve the change of head of household!"

While nobles looked around twenty and didn't change much, the Prime Minister, who appeared elderly, meant he had lived a long life.

He was a man said to have served the Emperor for generations and to know everything about the Empire.

"--The procedures for changing the head of household have already been completed. There is no reason to overturn it."

While the Prime Minister was indifferent, Cliff was speaking passionately.

"That child brought a doll into the palace. He lacks the self-awareness of an Imperial noble. Are you telling me to let the Banfield family be shamed like this?"

The Prime Minister, who was processing electronic documents one after another, let out a small sigh.

Then he stopped his work.

"Isn't Lord Liam, who has managed his territory well and defeated pirates as a noble, admirable? The Empire does not punish the act of keeping a doll by one's side. It's just that there's a certain trend."

"That trend is the problem, I'm saying. Prime Minister, please reconsider!"

The Prime Minister showed Cliff, who was in front of him, a smile.

Seeing this, Cliff thought his passion had gotten through and smiled.

But immediately, his expression turned pale.

"Lord Liam is fulfilling the obligation of tax payment that the Banfield family has not done until now. He is a wonderful head of household contributing to the Empire. The Empire has expectations for him. Do you understand what that means?"

"Th-that is... then, when the head of household changes, we will also pay taxes. Then there should be no problem."

The Prime Minister laughed out loud.

"You expect us to trust you when you haven't done it until now? First of all, there's a difference in caliber between that child and you all. Which one is more beneficial to the Empire -- because you don't know, you're brazenly coming to me to appeal, aren't you?"

Cliff's mouth moved, trying to retort, but the Prime Minister didn't allow it.

"Don't do anything rash. If you want to live peacefully in the Imperial Capital, that is."

Sensing from his tone that he meant "If you lay a hand on Liam, I'll eliminate you," Cliff left the office with unsteady steps.

The Prime Minister looked at his retreating back, utterly exasperated.

"It seems there are many low-caliber nobles these days. I still can't believe a gem was born from that lineage."

He developed a territory that was in ruins.

On top of that, he defeated pirates who outnumbered him.

An excellent frontier lord with both administrative skill and martial prowess was a cause for concern even for the Prime Minister.

Perhaps one day he would turn his fangs on the Empire.

He didn't think he would lose, but it was still a troublesome matter.

However, if he were obedient, that would be a different story.

The Prime Minister loved lords who paid their taxes properly and followed instructions.

"It must not be that someone with no value to exploit replaces them. As for young Liam -- I suppose I'll have him work for the Empire as much as possible."

He checked one electronic document.

It was a document regarding the reward for the pirate subjugation.

Liam had declined the reward.

More precisely, the reward was used to pay for overdue taxes.

At the same time, for other rewards, he requested permission to purchase a flagship-class super-dreadnought battleship from a factory managed by the Empire.

Neither was a burden to the Empire.

Rather, both were profitable.

They didn't have to pay the reward, and furthermore, he would purchase weapons from the Empire's factories.

For the Prime Minister, who was troubled by finances, it was a very welcome proposal.

"Even a doll devotes herself to her master this much, yet her own parents cast her out and only think of themselves -- it's a sad world."

The Prime Minister grumbled, took a short break, and resumed his work.

A suite in a luxury hotel in the Imperial Capital.

I, who was staying in an outrageously expensive room, had Amagi give me a lap pillow on the bed.

"--I'm tired. It's no good. I don't understand. What is a party?"

After participating in parties day after day, I was seriously contemplating what a party truly was.

Numerous parties with various unique themes.

I ate creatures I had never seen before and was bewildered by performances I had never witnessed.

The most surprising was not a masquerade party, but a bucket party.

It exceeded my imagination.

No, I really don't understand how such an idea could be born.

I felt the infinite possibilities of a bucket.

This lap pillow feels so good.

Then, Amagi said something.

"Master, you are also approaching the age of adulthood. I have served you for over forty years."

"That's right. It feels long, yet short --"

Compared to my previous life, it's very long.

Yet, it also feels short.

"--Master, it would be better if you no longer kept me by your side."

"Why?"

When I looked up, Amagi explained calmly.

"The Empire has a strong aversion to dolls. It will tarnish your reputation. If you are to keep someone by your side, it would be better to have a human woman."

I was angered by her sudden statement.

"What kind of joke is this?"

"It is not a joke."

"Huh?"

I remembered my wife from my previous life.

"This is for your own good, Master."

I remembered the woman who said she loved me so much, yet easily abandoned me.

The woman who mocked me with another man -- the woman I hated enough to want to kill.

"--Are you abandoning me? You too, Amagi, are you abandoning me! You're tired of being by my side, aren't you! Is that it? I'm even abandoned by a doll!"

As I stood up and blurted this out, Amagi shook her head.

"No, the time I spent with you, Master, was wonderful for me as well. That is precisely why I must leave. Furthermore, I now have a successor who has been created. In terms of capabilities, from now on --"

What does that matter?

Are you leaving me for that reason?

"Don't be ridiculous! You just need to obey my orders! That's right, I order you: stay by my side forever. Don't defy me, you doll!"

At my words, Amagi looked down.

"--If that is your order, I will obey."

"You should have said that from the beginning. You -- don't abandon me too, okay?"

As I pleaded, Amagi stroked my head.

"You're such a helpless Master."

Thinking about it, we've been together for nearly half a century.

You've become more than my wife from my previous life.

"We've been together all this time, haven't we?"

"--Lord Brian was also with you the whole time, wasn't he?"

No -- that's true, but don't bring up Brian's name here.

Brian is in a separate category.

He's like a grandfather or a butler.

Come to think of it, I've known Brian longer.

Amagi smiled.

"Then, I will serve you by your side for as long as possible."

"That's right. That's how it should be."

--You should have said that from the beginning.

But why did Amagi's smile look a little sad?

The Banfield family's territory.

The newly established hospital was a place equipped with both facilities and personnel.

In such a hospital, Tia awoke with a strange sensation in her bed.

"--Where is this?"

Unlike usual, she could see her surroundings.

The sensation in her body was also strange.

No, it was a familiar sensation.

The feeling in her limbs returned, and it felt like a dream.

After a while, she heard the sound of a door opening and, for a moment, became wary, but a male doctor in a white coat entered.

--Not a caretaker.

"You've woken up?"

The male doctor's gaze at Tia showed no displeasure.

"Um, where is this? I am --"

Her voice sounded different than usual.

It felt like her lost voice had returned.

Her voice sounded a little childish.

A nurse behind the male doctor moved to allow Tia to see her reflection.

The ceiling became a mirror, and she saw her own reflection.

She tried to look away, not wanting to see, but what was reflected was her own familiar appearance. In terms of age, she looked like she was a little past adulthood.

Long, silky, flaxen hair.

Her white skin and pink lips were moist.

Green eyes -- her own familiar face.

"Huh? Um -- what is this?"

As she looked at her reflection with a confused mind, tears welled up.

Her facial muscles didn't move well.

Her limbs also didn't move well.

The doctor showed a relieved expression.

"We rebuilt your body from scratch with regenerative treatment. It took quite some time."

Tia's tears flowed as she listened.

"My body -- it's back?"

The doctor looked a little troubled.

"We used Elixir, you see. However, while it has been restored to its original state, you will need rigorous rehabilitation to move as you did before."

"Elixir? You used such a precious thing on me?"

"We used it diluted, of course. But as I said earlier, rehabilitation is tough. It's like rebuilding your entire body."

Is this not a dream? Tia thought so, but she thought it was fine even if it were a dream.

She felt fortunate to be able to see such a dream before her end.

"I'll do it. I'll do anything! It truly feels like a dream."

As Tia said this, the doctor also smiled.

"It is not a dream. It is reality. Yes, this is reality."

However, there was something that bothered her.

Tia knew that regenerative treatment existed, but it was not a treatment that could be easily undergone.

Unlike regenerating a part, regenerating Tia's entire body -- required considerable facilities and excellent specialists.

While treatment was possible, it was more accurate to say that it was not normally done to that extent.

After all, only nobles and the extremely wealthy could practically use Elixir.

That's how precious Elixir was.

"Um, who exactly paid for my treatment?"

The doctor replied while operating a tablet device.

He seemed to be writing various things in the medical chart.

"Count Banfield paid for the treatment. To be more precise, he built this hospital and gathered the staff."

Tia couldn't believe the story that he had prepared a hospital instead of just placing her in a place with treatment facilities.

The doctor conveyed Liam's words.

"He said you must repay the favor. For now, please focus on your treatment. You will likely need psychological care as well."

Remember the boy who said, "You must repay the favor" --.

"Could it be, the child from that time?"

"I conveyed it."

As the doctor said so, they began discussing future plans.

A year had passed since we departed for the capital planet.

Finally returning to my territory, I was receiving various reports from Brian in the mansion's study.

Brian was smiling.

"Lord Liam, the hospital reported that the treatment is progressing smoothly."

"The ones captured by Goaz?"

"Yes. Those who require treatment are expected to finish within a few more years. Those who do not require treatment are also living new lives within the territory."

Many had lost their homes, so I had them relocate to my territory.

There were many handsome and beautiful people, including artists and those with special skills.

If their children were to be beautiful in the future, it would bring me one step closer to my dream of debauchery.

"That's wonderful."

"Yes. Many people are grateful to you, Lord Liam."

I had intended it as an investment for the future, but it seems like good results can be expected.

Speaking of which, I was holding a golden box and gazing at it.

It was treasure I took from Goaz, which I didn't bring to the capital. I had kept it in my desk drawer, so I took it out to look at it.

Brian looked exasperated at me, but

"Lord Liam really loves gold, doesn't he?"

"Extremely."

"Oh? Still, that box looks familiar --"

Brian clapped his hands.

"I remember it!"

"What? Is it a great treasure?"

"No, I don't think so."

"Don't get my hopes up. So, what did you remember?"

"This Brian, I used to aim to be an adventurer."

Adventurers are those who explore the vast universe.

Sometimes they discover ruins and investigate ancient civilizations; they are a romantic group.

"Brian, an adventurer?"

"Yes. At that time, I saw it in data. Although it's a replica, that box is precisely the 'Alchemy Box' from a magically advanced nation that perished in ancient times."

"Alchemy Box?"

"It sounds like a dream, but I heard it's a tool that can create gold from any trash. It was written that anything other than living beings can be converted into anything. That is, a random stone could become mithril, orichalcum, or adamantite."

"So I can get gold too!"

"Huh? Ah, yes."

What a wonderful tool exists in this world.

"I wish this were the real thing."

"That's a dream-like story. If we could obtain it, our family's financial situation would improve dramatically."

"Shall I try to find the real one?"

"Lord Liam is the head of the Banfield family, a Count. Please refrain from playing adventurer."

I was scolded by Brian.

Night.

I was gazing at the golden box in my room.

"I wish this were the real thing."

I showed it to Brian, who showed me the data, and it also included instructions on how to use it.

It was a precious tool created by a magic nation that had perished in the past, and its manufacturing technology was already lost, making it impossible to create again -- I want it.

If I had it, I wouldn't have to worry about debts.

"Let's see, open the lid and concentrate, it says."

As a test, I opened the lid and focused my consciousness on the wooden sword I picked up.

"Just kidding."

I thought it was a replica anyway, but the box reacted, and screens were projected around me one after another.

"Huh?"

I read the text written in ancient characters.

Since I had studied with the education capsule, I was able to read it somehow.

"Conversion? Uhm -- is it this?"

When I selected what substance to convert it to, the wooden sword was enveloped in golden particles and changed color.

When I picked it up, it wasn't the weight of a wooden sword.

It was the weight of metal -- of gold.

"No way! This was the real thing!?"

Thinking back, Goaz, despite being a pirate, was wealthy and possessed rare metals in abundance.

This was the source of his financial power.

"The guide said something, didn't he? That he had treasure or something. Was this what he meant?"

I opened the window of my room and laughed heartily.

"This is wonderful! To provide such service, what a good guy he is. I can't thank him enough. With this, I can -- act as a corrupt lord to my heart's content!"

I can say "thank you" from the bottom of my heart.

Right now, I am filled with gratitude towards that guy!

"Guide, I'm sorry for thinking you were shady. Thanks to you, I'm happy. I don't know what else to say, and no amount of thanks is enough. But, let me say it -- thank you so much!"

Meanwhile --.

The guide's chest burned with the intense gratitude transmitted from Liam.

It was truly hot.

With a pain like having a red-hot iron pressed against his chest, the guide screamed.

"Stop ittttttttt!!"

Clutching his chest with both hands, the guide writhed in agony.

He kicked his legs and rolled on the ground, crying out.

He threw away his travel bag, and his head felt like it would split from the gratitude.

"To be robbed -- my power is being lost!"

His remaining strength was not recovering, but being taken away.

Therefore, he couldn't kill Liam without regard for appearances.

After a while, he crouched down, clutching his chest, and gritted his teeth.

"I won't forgive you -- I will never forgive you, Liam. I will send you to hell by any means necessary and watch you suffer eternally. I will laugh at you as you hate, resent, fear, and curse me in an endless hell."

Slowly, the guide stood up.

In the moonlit grassland, the guide vowed revenge on Liam.

"I will definitely! I will definitely --"

A dog was hiding in the grassland, watching such a guide.

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