As if I knew it, December is already ending.

While Liam was training, there were also developments at the Banfield family's mansion.

"Brian, you've gotten quite old since I last saw you."

"The same can be said for you."

Brian had invited a woman knowledgeable in etiquette and manners.

She was someone he had met in the past, during the Banfield family's prosperous era, and she had worked at the Empire's palace.

As she held a position in instructing the maids, she was quite an elite.

Although she had retired, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren held similar positions.

Despite her old age, her back was straight, and she was a person who had watched over the Empire for a long time.

The reason Brian had invited her was to establish the dignified Imperial etiquette within Liam's mansion.

It was a universally applicable etiquette, and more importantly, it would be necessary in the future.

After all, to restore relationships with other families, they would be accepting the children of nobles as trainees.

Etiquette had to be taught strictly.

"Your masters, except for Alistair, were all foolish."

"You're quite blunt."

Alistair was Liam's great-grandfather.

The Banfield family's past power was thanks to this person.

"However, looking at the mansion, I can see that this young lad, Liam, doesn't seem foolish. I might even raise my evaluation of him to 'mediocre'."

"You're still as strict as ever. However, Lord Liam is not mediocre."

"That is for me to decide. No matter how much you boast of your martial prowess from defeating pirates, that alone is not enough."

Brian asked the woman.

"So, what do you think? Will you accept the position?"

The woman smiled.

"I came to see your face, thinking it would be a disappointment anyway, but... I've changed my mind. Call all the maids. I will train them myself."

Brian smiled as he looked at the woman, whose expression had changed – the new head maid.

"I'm counting on you. It's reassuring to have you here."

"Within ten years, I will make it so that you can accept the children of other families. Leave the mansion to me. I cannot help with anything else."

Liam's job was to prepare the necessary facilities and other preparations for accepting trainees.

Amagi would handle those arrangements.

"That is more than enough."

Brian's reply piqued the head maid's interest.

"It seems Liam is competent enough for you to have such a pleased expression and high expectations. It's a shame I can't meet him while he's away for training."

"It's been a year, but there are still two years until he returns."

"Where did you send him?"

"To Viscount Reizel."

Upon hearing that, the head maid showed displeasure.

"Wh-what's wrong?"

"Reizel, of all places? That's a family that treats accepting trainees like a business. I've heard they are popular, but they are not a good family. Didn't you have any other connections?"

"Unfortunately, due to our past circumstances, we don't have any decent connections at the moment."

The head maid said.

"They are a family that changes their treatment based on the other party. If they see profit in it, they will flatter you without much real training. In some cases, it might be better to send them to another family before they even enter elementary school."

There were instances where children who were serious became worse after going through such hospitality.

Since the head maid had connections in the Imperial Capital, she possessed various information.

"Are they that bad? From what I've investigated, their reputation wasn't bad?"

"That's likely from the perspective of those sending and receiving trainees. However, their reputation in the Imperial Capital is poor. If I had known sooner, I could have introduced you to someone..."

The head maid seemed regretful.

Brian, with a pale face, ran to contact Liam.

"Lord Liam, how is your life there?"

"My life? -- Normal? It's easy because there's no paperwork, I guess?"

"E-easy!? -- Ah, no. Is there anything else you're doing besides that?"

"What do you mean by 'anything else'? More importantly, I'm about to start work. If you have no business, I'm hanging up."

"W-wait, wait! What kind of work is it!?"

"Mining with heavy machinery on a resource satellite. I'm currently on a resource satellite to learn about labor."

Brian had a pale face.

Is there something so strange about it?

Kurt, clad in a spacesuit, called out to me.

"Liam, it's almost time for assembly."

"I'm coming. Brian, don't worry -- my skills with heavy machinery have been praised."

Brian was saying something, but I ended the communication as it was time for assembly.

"Lord Liam! That's wrong, that's incorrect! Mining work on a resource satellite is not the job for the head of a Count's family!"

Brian, who was about to collapse from regret after the communication was cut off, was supported by the head maid.

"Pull yourself together!"

"B-but, to be treated like this after preparing so much funding and resources is too cruel. I protest. We must quickly protest and have the Viscountcy improve the situation."

However, the head maid stopped him.

"That won't do."

"Why? We cannot accept such treatment."

"No, isn't it rather fortunate? I'll hear the details later, but it's good to know how the common people live. Moreover, I like the fact that he's training without sulking. I'll raise his evaluation from 'mediocre' to 'average'."

Brian wiped away his tears.

"To treat our important Lord Liam in such a manner -- I cannot forgive the Viscountcy."

"I agree. However, learning something at the training site also depends on the individual's disposition. It might have been a good environment for him."

Seeing Liam's very cheerful appearance, Brian thought that was the only solace.

However, that's that.

It doesn't mean he feels nothing towards Viscount Reizel.

The head maid was smiling.

"An interesting head of family. I like him -- I suppose I should get serious too."

Work in space.

I was irritated by working in a large, restrictive spacesuit while operating heavy machinery.

"This smells. And it's too old-fashioned."

As I complained, Kurt, who was working similarly, replied.

"That's right. The common people are working in poor conditions."

I didn't have any particular feelings about that.

I was in even worse conditions in my previous life.

I don't feel sympathy.

"But it smells."

"I agree with that."

I scraped rocks with heavy machinery that was far from humanoid.

I carried it, put it into the machine, and recovered the resources.

I had been living like this for three months.

"Damn, the people on the ground are probably having parties right now."

There were few parties we could participate in.

Although there were parties held about once a month to learn etiquette, the drinks and food were skimped on.

On the other hand, those who were favored and remained on the ground could enjoy real parties.

"I actually prefer it here. I'm not good at parties."

Unlike me, Kurt is a reclusive, wicked lord.

I also want to be a recluse, but I love parties.

After all, the luxurious meals and drinks I eat with taxes are delicious.

"Is that okay for you as a noble? Enjoy the parties. If you're like this now, you'll be in trouble if you attend a bucket party."

"I don't think a bucket party is something I'd have connections to with my family's status."

A bucket party has its own etiquette.

That is truly difficult.

It requires considerable skill not only from the participants but also from the organizers.

I also want to host a bucket party someday.

As we were talking -- the end of work time arrived.

When I finished and was about to head back, the instructor who was escorting us in a mobile knight called out to me.

"Liam, you're really good at handling heavy machinery. If you're ever in trouble, you can come work for us."

He made a joke, so I replied.

"I'll ask for that then. As a former Count, promise me good treatment. Three meals and naps are a must."

"Alright. I'll consider it. But be prepared for low wages."

"I don't like that."

While saying such jokes, we returned to the ship.

--This is strange.

On the roof of the Viscountcy's mansion.

The guide who was confirming Liam's situation had doubts about the current situation.

"Why does he look so happy? He should be dissatisfied with this treatment."

The money and resources Liam had accumulated were being credited to others.

Liam looked happy despite receiving worse treatment than he should have.

The guide couldn't stand it.

"Liam being happy means I'm not happy."

Moreover, my chest felt tight.

My limbs started to go numb.

"This won't do. I have to somehow push Liam into the depths of despair. Damn -- what should I do?"

The situation wasn't improving at all.

The guide thought of his next move, but -- having lost much of his power, there was little he could do.

"Isn't there anything I can do? Anything --"

Then, Peter came into view.

Even though it was the Viscountcy's mansion, he was acting as if it were his own.

"Alright, I'll use him to get Liam -- No. He can't beat Liam."

The guide immediately gave up after seeing Peter.

"What should I do? How can I make Liam unhappy!"

The guide shed tears of frustration.

-- The next day, I was still doing excavation work.

It was then.

"What is it? The white light is flickering."

I saw white light on the monitor.

There were no reactions from the instruments, was I mistaken?

As I thought that -- something hit the machine.

Curious, I went outside to check, and there was a pendant.

"What is this?"

It must have been debris.

I felt lucky to have picked up such a beautiful pendant.

"Mining isn't so bad either."

The fact that it was made of gold was also a plus.

I put it in my pocket and returned to work.

University on the Imperial Capital Star.

In Tia's room, a party of fellow students who would be spending their university lives together was gathered.

University students studying abroad from the Banfield family's territory had gathered and were enjoying a home party.

Tia, holding her terminal, read a regular communication and sighed.

"What's wrong, Tia?"

Her friend called out to her.

She was a friend who had survived hell together.

"It seems the Banfield family's fleet was active in hunting pirates."

Liam's fleet, which openly declared itself as a pirate's wallet, regularly hunted pirates.

Sometimes they were requested by surrounding lords and would sortie.

This was a report of their success.

"Which fleet?"

"The First Fleet. They're all fired up because Lord Liam gave them a super-dreadnought battleship."

The admiral who obtained a high-performance battleship was enthusiastic.

I understood that feeling, so I had no complaints.

The reason for my sigh was --.

"I want to become a knight soon -- and destroy the pirates."

Everyone participating in this party was someone who had experienced those hellish days.

There were also people who had been captured by other pirates, but everyone felt the same.

Her friend said with a smile.

"I understand, I understand, Tia! But for now, let's focus on getting our knight qualifications. We need to prepare various things before Lord Liam comes here."

"That's right. I know, but -- I want to destroy those pirates with my own hands."

The new body I obtained -- a new life.

Everything exists for Liam.

That was the common understanding of everyone.

In the room, images of Liam were projected on the walls and in the air.

It was a home party held with several holographic projections prepared.

Viscount Reizel's Mansion.

"Fanatics?"

"Yeah. My father gained fame among mobile knight riders because he achieved success with his mobile knight exploits."

While listening to Kurt's story in the room, we talked about fanatics.

It seems that admirers of a successful knight come to serve under them.

Conversely, I'm having trouble gathering people.

Considering the scale of the Count's family, we still lack personnel.

"There's no problem with that, is there?"

"It's a huge problem!"

Kurt was excitedly telling me about it.

"My father certainly doesn't look bad, but he's not an idol."

If I looked at the photos, he had a mature appearance, a man in his thirties.

Indeed, he wasn't an idol.

"Despite that, a photo book was released without me knowing."

"Eh?"

"My father's signature was on the documents, so I think I mistakenly signed it. I was often bothered by paperwork, so I would just sign without looking at the contents."

It seems he signed without looking at the contents of documents that were not important.

There were no expenses involved, and his subordinates said there were no problems, so he signed, and then his own photo book was released.

His daily life was also recorded, and edited videos circulated -- and his subordinates bought them.

They also sold well within the territory.

It seems the Baron, unable to back down after making a profit that couldn't be ignored, continued to sell such merchandise one after another.

Kurt said earnestly, crying as he sold them.

"-- I'm also getting those kinds of offers."

Kurt suddenly started to get depressed.

"Oh, oh."

I thought, 'You're handsome, so you'll sell well, won't you?' but I decided to stay silent, as he might get angry again.

Besides, I can't understand the minds of people who buy old men in swim trunks.

-- Fanatics are scary.

Brian (´；ω；｀): "It's painful. -- It's painful that I have to tell Lord Liam that it's already too late."

Tia ( ゜∀゜): "With Lord Liam's words, I can eat three more meals! If I could get 'P', it would be 'P!' for 'P!!!!!!!!!'"

Brian (´；ω；｀): "-- It's painful."