It was completed, but the serialization has resumed.

It's nice to have a work that you can write without thinking too much.

“The world is wrong” – a common saying.

But, if you ask me, Liam Sera Banfield, it’s not the world that’s wrong, it’s the person themselves.

In the past – in my previous life, I was probably a kind and diligent person by common standards.

However, I only realized that it had no value after my wife deceived me, I was cornered by debt collectors, and my body broke down.

As I was dying, I realized it.

It wasn't the world that was wrong, but myself.

Therefore, I decided to live my second life for myself – and to satisfy my desires endlessly.

The guide – the benefactor who gave me a second life – reincarnated me not into a fantasy world of swords and magic, but into a slightly strange world.

There is magic, but there is also science.

People have ventured into space, and it is a world where space battleships and humanoid weapons exist.

There, I am living as the head of the Banfield Count family.

A Count family belonging to a nation called the Algrand Empire, with a planet as its territory – a winner.

Born as an overwhelming winner, I am living my second life correctly.

The world is not wrong.

It was myself who was wrong.

And now, I am the ruler of a planet.

I am a wicked lord who realized that kindness is meaningless.

I live for myself.

My goal for my second life is to enjoy this world and live correctly as a wicked lord.

◇

The coming-of-age ceremony has ended.

Finally, it's over.

It lasted for a month – we’ve been constantly holding ceremonies and parties related to the coming-of-age ceremony.

I think it was a waste of time, but people live long lives in this world.

I, who look like I'm around thirteen years old, am actually fifty years old.

It’s a crazy world where you come of age at fifty, and you’re not properly considered an adult until you’re a hundred.

However, it’s a happy thing if it means you can enjoy life for a longer time.

“What’s the schedule after this?”

As I muttered in my office, my loyal retainers answered me.

First, there’s the maid robot, Amagi.

With her beautiful black hair tied back and dressed in a classical maid outfit, she is a very capable maid.

She has a body that is almost like a living person and information processing capabilities that surpass humans.

She’s a super maid who handles everything from my care to the management of the territory.

And above all!

—It’s good that she’s not a living woman.

Ever since I was betrayed by my ex-wife in my previous life, I somehow couldn’t trust living women.

“Before entering the Imperial Junior School, you will be sent to another house for training.”

“Junior school… how troublesome.”

Imperial nobles have obligations.

One of them is training.

First, noble children are entrusted to other families for training.

They are raised strictly there, but the duration is not fixed.

The current trend is to receive education in another family before entering junior school.

Butler Brian Beaumont adds,

“Your admission to the Imperial Junior School will be when you are sixty years old, Liam-sama. It is customary to train in another house before then.”

He is an old man with neatly styled gray hair and a beard.

His back is straight, and he’s in a sharp suit.

“Are there any nobles who will accept me?”

The Banfield Count family was quite a mess until I became the head.

Thanks to that, I don’t have relationships with proper nobles.

I had a simple question: would there be any families willing to accept me?

To my question, Brian answered in a gentle tone, perhaps to reassure me.

“Please rest assured. Amagi-dono and I have already selected several houses for your training. Although it will require some funds and supplies, they are all popular choices for training.”

It seems they accept children of nobles like me who have come of age and demand large sums of money or resources in return.

—Is it business?

“You must be making a lot of money. I want to try that too.”

Then Amagi, being a maid robot, replied without flattery.

“Given our family’s credit, track record, and reputation, I believe it would be difficult.”

Brian was flustered.

“B-but, we have received offers from surrounding minor lords who would very much like to take in their children!”

Amagi didn’t seem interested in such a follow-up.

She stated only the facts plainly.

“There is no point in comparing minor lords of Knightly or Baronet families with nobles of Baron rank or higher. If I interpret your words, you mean to make a profit by accepting children from Baron families or higher, don’t you?”

—If it were anyone other than Amagi, I think I would have been unforgiving.

I love flattery.

I favor those who praise me.

Loyal advice? I’m aiming to be a wicked lord, so I’ll have to ignore it, I’m afraid.

“In other words, the Banfield family lacks the credibility to entrust their precious children?”

“Yes.”

“—That’s an infuriating story. I have money, so put some effort into that area as well.”

Due to various circumstances, I am not short of money.

Then, I should spend money to maintain appearances.

It’s wonderful that I can use tax money for my personal vanity!

“If that’s the case, I know an excellent maid. She was previously a maid in the Empire and rose to a considerable position. How about hiring her as an educator?”

“Hired.”

Brian introduced an acquaintance.

There’s no problem with that.

As for Amagi,

“If we are to accept them, we should prepare the necessary facilities for education. Not only facilities, but we also need to gather personnel. Furthermore, investment in cultural aspects will be necessary.”

When I checked the estimated budget required by Amagi, my eyes widened.

It was an enormous sum, so I immediately checked my own allowance.

My allowance? It’s the tax revenue from my territory.

“There are so many zeros, I can’t tell. Is it enough?”

“It is enough. In fact, we have plenty.”

Relieved by the immediate answer, I decided to prepare the budget.

In the future, children of nobles will come to my mansion for training.

It feels good to think I can lord it over them!

“Execute it immediately.”

Brian was wiping away tears.

“Our family is finally putting effort into that area too—Liam-sama, I am truly happy about this.”

—This guy always misunderstands me.

It’s amusing, so I’ll leave it be.

“You can praise me more. Well, more importantly, what about my training destination? If possible, I’d prefer a house where I can relax. Choose carefully.”

Amagi nodded.

“Yes. Since it’s an important training destination, I will conduct thorough research.”

With that, the issue of my training destination is resolved.

◇

There was a man Liam called the “Guide.”

Wearing a top hat and tails to hide his eyes, and carrying a travel bag, this man possessed supernatural powers.

But now – he was weakened to the point where he could not exert his former strength, tormented by Liam’s gratitude.

Liam was listening to their conversation by pressing his ear to the wall in the room next to the office.

“—I heard. This is an opportunity.”

This man, whom Liam considers his benefactor, is actually someone who enjoys the misfortune of others.

He reincarnated Liam into this world, expecting negative emotions.

However, somewhere along the line – Liam has continued to succeed and has continued to be grateful to the Guide.

Because of that, he feels unwell.

His powers have also weakened considerably, making it impossible for him to travel between worlds.

Therefore, to regain his power – and to take revenge on Liam, he was acting recklessly.

The Guide’s revenge will not end until he makes Liam unhappy and feeds on his negative emotions.

However—.

“I understand that an opportunity has come, but I cannot overexert myself in my current state. Damn it—Liam, why do I have to suffer such a miserable fate because of you?”

—His powers have weakened, and he can’t do much.

Still, the Guide does not give up.

“There must be a way. I will definitely get my revenge—Liam!”

Fueled by revenge, the Guide was listening to Liam’s conversation by pressing his ear to the wall.

Watching the Guide from the shadows is—a small white light.

That light floated gently, keeping watch over the Guide.

◇

—A troublesome guest has arrived.

No, rather than a guest, it’s someone from the Imperial Arms Factory that I’m also dealing with.

There are several arms factories in the Empire.

Each one is large in scale, and this person belonged to the Seventh Arms Factory.

Imperial arms factories have strong characteristics for each factory.

The Seventh Arms Factory is one of those with particularly distinct characteristics.

It tends to prioritize performance over appearance, making it unpopular with nobles.

However, the performance is good.

“Liam-sama, Nias Carlin will introduce you to our recommended products!”

A beautiful woman with black hair and an intellectual look prepared a holographic projection in front of me and explained the products.

From the Imperial Chancellor, I received permission to purchase a super-dreadnought battleship – a flagship-class battleship, so she must have come to sell it to me immediately.

While looking at the holographic projection, I thought.

“The performance is good, but the design is disappointing.”

“We put effort into the design too!”

“It’s terrible that this is the result of your effort. Redo it.”

Nias, desperate to sell, loosened the top of her jacket.

She tried to seduce me with her looks—and the underwear visible from her shirt was flashy.

“Count-sama, I really want you to buy a battleship~”

Her earnest effort is a high point for a wicked lord.

But this girl is as disappointing as ever.

I don’t like flashy underwear, you see.

Memories of my ex-wife surfaced, and flashy underwear I didn’t recognize had increased before our divorce.

Even remembering it now makes me sick.

“You’re as disappointing as ever.”

“Even after I did all this!”

Nias started to cry.

“Please buy it. I told my boss that I would definitely sell it. I’ll get yelled at by my superiors. It will affect my performance review!”

Affecting her performance review—these words would have pierced my heart in my previous life.

“Alright. I’ll buy the battleship, so go home for today.”

“That’s cruel! You’re tired of me, aren’t you?”

“Stop making baseless accusations!”

It’s one thing to be blamed for doing something wrong, but there’s no reason to be blamed for something I haven’t done.

“I’ll be in trouble if you don’t buy a super-dreadnought!”

“No, because—”

As I hesitated, another military officer entered the room.

Her rank was low, Technical Lieutenant, but she was a young and capable officer.

Her yellow hair was lightly waved.

It was long enough to reach her back, and she had gentle, drooping eyes and green pupils.

Her name was Yulissia Morissil.

She belonged to the Third Arms Factory and was the person who came to sell me a flagship.

“How about you stop there, Captain?”

Nias, who had been promoted to Technical Captain, glared at Yulissia.

Then, she froze as she looked at the insignia and patches on Yulissia’s uniform.

“Third Arms Factory? Count, what is the meaning of this!”

“No, why are you surprised? I bought a super-dreadnought from the Third Arms Factory.”

It was understandable that it was popular due to the good balance of performance, design, and other factors.

I bought several other things as well.

Nias became terribly dejected.

“That’s so unfair.”

“—You really are a disappointing woman.”

Yulissia tucked her hair behind her ear with her finger and said,

“Thank you for your purchase this time, Count. I hope we can maintain a good relationship in the future.”

I almost drooled at Yulissia, who was exuding allure.

Yes, this is it.

It’s good that she’s not disappointing.

“I’ll buy from you again, so you be in charge from now on.”

“Exclusively? I am delighted.”

As we continued the conversation with smiles, Nias was looking at me resentfully.

“—Honestly. Alright, don’t cry. I’ll buy one ship for you.”

“Then, while you’re at it, please give me three battleships as well.”

This woman—she’s quite pushy.

Even Yulissia looks dumbfounded.

As I signed the contract, Nias’s expression brightened.

Yulissia seemed speechless at her sudden change in demeanor.

—Is the Seventh Arms Factory going to be alright?

◇

—I made a mistake.

Thinking about it carefully, I will be entering a training period from now on.

No matter how hard I try, I won’t be able to return to my territory for a while.

Even if I do return, it will only be for a short vacation.

Even if I buy a flagship-class battleship, I’ll have it sitting idle for decades.

That’s just a waste.

I ended up buying it because I fell for the seduction.

“Besides, I didn’t need three.”

One would have been enough.

As I was pondering, Amagi made a suggestion.

“By the time you use these weapons, they may be from a previous generation. Or, it’s highly likely that even more high-performance models will have been released.”

“I should have bought them then.”

“Yes. Please be careful next time. However, if you have purchased them, you should use them. Let’s use them for our private army.”

“It would be a waste not to use them, so that’s fine then.”

Ah, I made a wasteful purchase.

Brian (´；ω；｀): “It’s painful. It’s painful that Liam-sama falls for seduction so easily.”