This is the last update of 2018.

Well then, everyone, Happy New Year!

The guide was overjoyed.

"Peter-kun is wonderful, isn't he?"

It wasn't Peter himself, but his family, the Pietack family, that was wonderful.

Even though nothing had been done, everything was proceeding smoothly to trap Liam.

"Pirates, the Pietack Count family, and the Razel Viscount family – they are all joining forces to defeat Liam. This is truly magnificent!"

After observing the situation, the guide decided to use their power as well.

The space before them warped, and the guide reached into it.

Then, the guide's power interfered.

"This time, I will make Liam unhappy."

However, the guide's power had already weakened, and they couldn't interfere significantly.

At best, they could only play a prank.

Still, the thought of being able to hinder Liam was enough to make them try.

"Eventually, I will regain my power and this time Liam – Fuhahaha!"

The white light that had been watching the guide moved away from its side once more.

◇

Now, the training period was coming to an end.

Although it was called training, it was simply staying at someone else's house.

There was no special treatment, but it was enjoyable enough.

Still, the terrible venereal diseases and the overly serious policies of the Razel family were tiresome.

There were too few places to have fun here.

When I return to my territory, I'll invest in some entertainment.

"Hurry up! We have many important guests coming to this party!"

As I was setting up the party venue, I spoke with Kurt while working.

"You seem quite enthusiastic."

"It seems there are many guests this time. With Peter from the Pietack family here, there will be soldiers from weapons factories and various others, not just merchants."

When I held my own coming-of-age ceremony party, many people gathered.

But for true nobles – those with connections and even more so with influence – even more would gather.

It's truly enviable.

Someday, I too want to hold parties every day and enjoy a life of luxury and indulgence.

"Speaking of which, setting up the party venue – isn't this almost a renovation?"

"That's proof of how much effort is being put in."

They were tearing up the floor of the venue and preparing a fountain in the center.

Since Peter and Lady Katerina's engagement announcement would also be made at the party, the preparations involved almost a complete interior overhaul.

There were craftsmen, but we were also mobilized to help with the preparations.

In the first place, the venue is incredibly spacious.

I wonder how many people will come?

As I was thinking that, a ring was being prepared in the venue.

"Are we going to fight there?"

"I think so. Liam isn't participating, is he?"

"Ah, even if it's fixed, it's no good for me, a fully qualified master of the Issen-ryu, to lose."

It was a sort of event to showcase the results of my training.

Kurt will participate in the match and lose at an appropriate point.

This guy has it tough too.

"Life here is almost over, isn't it?"

Kurt looked sad.

"Don't be discouraged. We'll be going to the academy soon anyway. We'll be busy from now on."

"That's right."

A knight, who was the supervisor and directing the work, approached Kurt, who was giving a wry smile.

"Kurt, you have a call from home."

"Yes, I'm coming now!"

Kurt left the venue.

As I was working alone, I saw the shape of an animal among the tables and chairs.

--A tail.

"Did it wander in? Should I chase it out?"

As I searched to drive it out, the dog-like animal fled further inside.

Before I knew it, I had reached the passage leading out of the venue.

"Huh? Where did it go? Maybe I should have just left it alone?"

If it went out of the venue, it's fine.

As I was about to go back, I heard Kurt's voice.

"--Pirates have appeared, so I can't come over? Yes, I understand. --It's okay."

The person he was talking to seemed to be a relative from his family.

Listening closely, it seemed pirates had invaded the territory, so they couldn't send someone to pick him up for a while.

Kurt also looked worried.

When the communication ended, he looked at me with a troubled expression, as if he had just noticed me.

"Were you listening?"

"Sorry. I was chasing a dog and heard it."

"Oh, I see. --My family is in trouble. I can't go home for a while, so I think I'll ask the Viscount to let me stay."

He seemed concerned about his family's situation.

I should do him a favor as a future fellow corrupt lord.

"If you're that concerned, I'll give you a ride when I go back."

"Really? No, but, right now it's impossible. The pirates are--"

"Kurt, let me tell you. --Pirates are my wallet."

"Eh?"

"I'll help clean them up while I'm at it. I'll take seven parts, and your family will get three."

"N-no, is it okay to decide that so easily!? Normally, you'd consult with your vassals and do various things--"

"It's fine. Everything in the territory belongs to me. If I give an order, it's absolute. Remember this – being a lord is fun. If I say black, it becomes white. If I order a fight, it cannot be refused."

Kurt looked at me, dumbfounded.

You're still too naive.

Now, I should contact Amagi as well.

◇

Banfield Count family.

In the mansion's study, Amagi was talking with Liam.

Liam, floating in the air, looked very pleased.

"--Dispatch a fleet? That's fine, but I don't think the Viscount's family can accommodate our fleet, do you?"

"I'm going back and will visit a friend's family. We'll hunt pirates there."

"Ah, I see. You're lending a hand to your friend, aren't you?"

"He's a fellow corrupt lord. I'll cherish this connection."

"That's wonderful."

Amagi, with a benevolent expression, thought that Liam was misunderstanding again today.

"So, what scale are you requesting?"

"How much can you afford?"

The Banfield family had previously suffered from the Goz Pirates.

Therefore, they had been strengthening their fleet.

"I can prepare twelve thousand ships."

"Then, that's fine. Oh, and bring my Avido too."

Avido is Liam's mobile knight.

It's larger than a regular mobile knight and is a tricky unit that few knights can handle.

"Won't you calm down already? Isn't your personal military record sufficient?"

"Fighting in a robot is a boy's dream. Don't worry – I'll earn again this time."

"--Then, I will handle the meeting with Baron Exner's family."

"I'll leave it to you."

After Liam cut off the communication, Amagi immediately contacted the relevant parties.

"--The timing is good, so let's have them work as well."

◇

Third Weapon Factory.

Before the mobile knights lined up there – humanoid weapons – were Tiar and the others.

They were before their university graduation.

They had already earned the necessary credits for graduation and only needed to graduate.

What awaited them next was training to become officials, but before that, Liam would return to his territory.

They, as knight candidates, were also to participate in welcoming Liam at this time.

--And, they would participate in the pirate hunt.

Elysia, who works at the Third Weapon Factory, was explaining the latest model of mobile knight.

"This is a model used by special forces in the regular army."

Although the design was like a knight's armor that had become gigantic, the units before Tiar and the others had more decorations.

They were slender, and the appearance was prioritized.

"The catalog specs aren't bad."

Elysia replied to Tiar's comment with a smile.

"We are confident in the internal components as well. Still, the Count is very generous. Few nobles buy so many mobile knights."

Hundreds of new models--.

Tiar, who received them, made a request to Elysia.

"I am permitted to have a personal color. Please color it in white and purple."

"Personal colors for a knight candidate? You must be trusted."

Tiar smiled.

"No. I will win them from now on."

The knights of the Banfield family and the knight candidates who boarded the machines simultaneously activated their machines, and the twin eyes of the mobile knights lit up.

Tiar called out to everyone.

"Everyone rejoice. Lord Liam has given us the best opportunity. --It's time for the pirate hunt."

◇

The days of training were coming to an end.

The day before departing from the Razel Viscount family – as an extra, a martial arts match was held by the entrusted sons.

The ones who had received special treatment were winning one after another, and the venue was in an uproar.

Now, Kurt and Peter were fighting.

"Kuh!"

"Hmm? What's wrong? As a fellow practitioner of the Aren-ryu swordsmanship, it's troubling if you're incompetent~."

Peter was advancing the match favorably, but Kurt was struggling.

He was bewildered by the sheer awfulness.

It was necessary to have a match that wouldn't be obviously rigged to those around.

However, Peter was so bad that it looked like rigging no matter what.

It's no wonder Kurt was bewildered.

"That's terrible."

Kurt, who had a serious side, gave up and deliberately dropped his sword.

In the first place, they had completely different stances despite being of the same school.

No, the stance was all over the place – is this guy really the heir to a benevolent lord?

Is it like this? When the parents are amazing, the children become useless?

As I watched, Kurt, who had dropped his sword, fell to his knees.

"--I surrender."

The atmosphere of the venue was subtle, but it was still exciting.

Peter, perhaps excited by the commotion, stepped on Kurt.

"Did you understand my strength?"

"--Yes."

Seeing Kurt enduring it, I felt sorry for him.

Still, Peter also looks like he'll become a good corrupt lord.

Then, Peter pointed a practice sword at me.

"It's boring if this is the end, so I'll fight you next time. Hurry up and get in the ring, you poor person of a minor sword style."

As Peter said that, the Viscount, who was watching, gave me instructions to get into the ring, albeit with a look of exasperation.

The supervising knight looked apologetic towards me.

"I'm sorry. He's an important person to our family. It would be helpful if you could participate."

"You have the nerve to call it a minor sword style. Hey, old man – is it okay to go all out?"

The supervising knight was about to say something but turned a smile towards me.

"You're going to do it anyway, even if I stop you, right? I didn't like this charade either. Go ahead and make it spectacular. --Just, don't kill him."

The part about not killing him was said with a surprisingly serious expression.

Of course, I won't kill him.

"Leave it to me. I couldn't practice holding back, but Kurt and I found a solution."

"Really?"

To the suspicious knight, I prepared a foldable toy hammer.

It's a hammer that makes a squeaky sound, which exists in the future – or rather, in this other world too.

It doesn't hurt much even if you hit someone with it.

"Oh, hey, isn't that too disrespectful?"

"If it's anything else, the opponent might die. This is just right."

When I stepped into the ring with the toy hammer, Peter laughed at my appearance.

Viscount Razel frowned as he looked at me.

Peter provoked me.

"Puhahaha! It seems the poor can't even afford a sword. Shall I buy you a practice sword for the match?"

While listening to his taunts, I waited for the signal to start.

The referee kept glancing at Viscount Razel, but after receiving instructions to proceed, he announced the start.

"Begin!"

It was immediately after that.

The hammer I swung down at Peter's head made a "Dogon!" sound, not a "Pico!"

Closing the distance as soon as the match began, and just swinging it down – Peter was sprawled on the floor.

His eyes were rolled back.

"--Not much to it."

I swung the hammer to check its condition, and it wasn't broken.

It's surprisingly durable for a toy.

As I stood in the ring, the children who had received special treatment started complaining.

"T-that's cheating!"

"If you have a complaint, come up here."

I will teach the earnest and good-natured people the harshness of this world.

In this world, it's not the righteous who are strong.

The strong are righteous.

To you who will become benevolent lords in the future – I will teach you reality!

"It's troublesome, so all of you come up. I'll entertain you."

"You minor sword style, don't get cocky -- Aboff!"

As soon as he stepped into the ring, I blew away the guy who insulted the Issen-ryu outside the ring.

"It's not a minor sword style. It's Issen-ryu. So you don't forget, I'll engrave it onto your body along with the memory of defeat. Come at me!"

The people who were acting smug after winning rushed into the ring and swarmed me.

I blew them all out of the ring with my toy hammer and laughed.

Standing in the center of the ring, I taught them the truth to the stunned audience.

"Don't get carried away just because you won through rigging, you weaklings!"

Not only the assembled guests but also Viscount Razel turned red with anger.

I think I might have gone too far – but I won't be involved with them anymore.

I feel refreshed.

Brian: ( ´・ω・｀) "Lord Liam is amazing."

Tia: ( ゜∀゜) "As expected, Lord Liam!"