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Chapter 137: The Guide and Gudwar

On the capital planet of the Gudwar Hegemony, the power struggle to find a successor for Crown Prince Izel was already heating up.

Who was worthy of being the next Crown Prince—the next Hegemon?

It wasn't just the royalty; nobles and commoners alike were proclaiming themselves the strongest.

Skirmishes were breaking out all over.

Coming right after the war with the Empire, the scale of these conflicts wasn't large.

However, everyone within the country predicted that things would soon descend into chaos.

In an arena on the Hegemony's capital planet, reminiscent of a colosseum, Gudwar was extending its eight legs and whipping them around.

Its target was the hatted Guide.

"It hurts! It hurts, so stop!"

The Guide, being beaten, was dented, sent flying, and rolled around, getting covered in sand.

Gudwar was enraged, deaf to the Guide's words.

"Izel was finally a human worthy of being my servant! This is your fault, all your fault!"

It was furious, blaming the Guide for meddling.

Its eight legs writhed, and its head—the octopus part—was bright red.

The Guide looked up at this sight and thought.

(You've got to be kidding me. I had high hopes because you were so confident, but your prized protégé couldn't even beat Liam. 'The strongest'? What a letdown.)

Though angry, the Guide knew it couldn't defeat Gudwar in its current state.

Understanding this, the Guide took a subservient tone.

"Gudwar, I understand how you feel. But—"

"How could you possibly understand how I feel?! Do you have any idea how long I've watched over Izel to raise him?! I gave him trials he could just barely overcome, and I thrilled each time he succeeded. He even overcame challenges that seemed impossible at times!"

The existence known as Izel was born from a series of miracles.

For some reason, the Guide started to have a bad feeling.

(I've been giving Liam insurmountable challenges, so what does it mean that he overcomes them?)

Gudwar had gone to great lengths to raise Izel.

In contrast, no matter what seemingly impossible challenge Liam was given, he would overcome it with a straight face.

For the Guide, it was nothing short of terrifying.

(Maybe the right answer is not to interfere carelessly?)

Just as the Guide was about to arrive at the correct answer, one of Gudwar's octopus legs struck, denting it.

"Heah?!"

As the Guide trembled and let out a strange yelp, Gudwar issued a command.

"You're going to help me. First, to kill Liam, we'll prepare a replacement warrior. And then, the ultimate weapon!"

If Izel wasn't enough, then it would just have to prepare mass-produced Izels and give them superior weapons.

It seemed Gudwar's plan was to overwhelm with numbers.

The Guide fixed its dented hat and brushed off the sand with its small hands.

(If a plan like that could defeat Liam, I wouldn't be in this mess.)

The Guide had been planning to run far away and wait for Liam to die, but now that Gudwar had caught it, that was impossible.

"I will kill Liam!"

The Guide timidly asked a question. It was a single doubt.

"I thought you would take a liking to someone as strong as Liam, though?"

The Guide wanted nothing more than to foist Liam onto Gudwar and escape, but that wasn't an option.

"—He's not a warrior I raised, so he's in a different category."

"Oh, I see."

Apparently, it wouldn't acknowledge any warrior it hadn't raised itself.

Gudwar extended an octopus leg and lifted the Guide.

"You will cooperate. If you run—I will hunt you down and annihilate you."

"Hic!"

Now unable to escape because of its obsession with Liam, the Guide began to hold a grudge.

(Why is this happening to me?! This is all Liam's fault. Damn you—damn you, Liam!)

With renewed feelings of vengeance, the evil clutches of the Guide and Gudwar were now reaching for Liam.

Having returned to the capital planet, I finished my meeting with Prince Cleo and came back to the hotel.

Waiting for me was—Rosetta.

"Darling, welcome back!"

Rosetta jumped on me, wrapping her arms around my neck and pressing her body against mine.

Her large chest pressing against me, her pleasant scent—none of that mattered. It was just unbearably embarrassing.

Being shown affection with no ulterior motives makes me squirm.

"L-Let go."

"Darling, listen. You see!"

"I'll listen later. More importantly, I'm going to my room, so don't let anyone in."

Watching Rosetta pull away, looking dejected, stirred up some forgotten feeling of guilt.

Please go back to the stronger you from before.

"—This will be quick. I'll hear you out in thirty minutes, so go prepare some tea or something."

Rosetta's expression visibly brightened, and she gave me a smile.

"I'll get it ready right away!"

She scurried off, but is she planning to prepare the tea herself? You're going to be a duchess, is that really okay?!

As Rosetta left, her attendant Ciel hurriedly chased after her.

—Damn. I was planning to tease Ciel, but she ran off after Rosetta.

Amagi, who had been watching us, spoke up.

"In that case, I will not let anyone into Master's room."

"You can come in, Amagi."

When I headed to the prepared office, there was someone waiting for me.

—It was Kukuri.

He was waiting on one knee, and beside him was Kunai, whom I had named.

Kukuri waited for me to sit in my chair before beginning his report.

"According to our investigation, Marion's information was not incorrect. The Hegemony appears to be busy with a civil war to decide the next Hegemon."

I don't take Marion's information at face value.

Naturally, I had Kukuri and the others investigate it.

"If we fought now, we could win."

"If it were limited to just the Hegemony, we would likely win."

Kukuri seemed to think there were dangers beyond the Hegemony.

"Who's making a move?"

Other interstellar nations are targeting the weakened Empire.

It seems he's gathered intelligence on that.

"The Parallel Federation is a certainty."

The Parallel Federation—a massive interstellar nation formed from the union of many independent interstellar nations, a collection of states with a common set of rules.

It's similar to the United Kingdom, but the difference is that it has a presidential system.

There are no nobles.

It's similar to the Lustour Unified Government, but the difference is that it's not as cohesive. It's more of a strong collection of interstellar nations.

"The Parallel Federation, huh. I don't have any connections there."

"It's far from the Banfield territory, so there's no worry of being drafted if a war breaks out. After all, you participated in the conflict with the Gudwar Hegemony this time."

I fought against the Gudwar Hegemony and earned military honors, so it's highly likely I'll be exempt this time.

If they tell me to participate, I plan to offer funds and resources to decline.

"With this, I can finally hole up in my territory."

My long training period is over, and now I can do as I please.

Just as I was getting fired up, thinking the real fun was about to begin, Amagi threw a wet blanket on my plans.

"That's right. Master, your wedding with Lady Rosetta awaits you back in the territory. Once that happens, our house will become a ducal house."

"—Huh?"

"Once your training is over, you are a full-fledged noble. And when you marry Lady Rosetta, you will be promoted to Duke."

"R-Right."

I'd forgotten. I have to marry Rosetta.

I want her family's peerage, but is it really okay to marry the current Rosetta?

Will I really be satisfied with this easy-to-handle Rosetta, and not the one who had a rebellious spirit like steel?

However, if I abandon Rosetta here, my reputation in high society will plummet.

There'd be no coming back from it.

Seeing my reaction, Amagi narrowed her eyes.

"You're not thinking of running away at this stage, are you? I won't allow it."

Kukuri and Kunai were silent, probably not wanting to get involved in this sensitive topic. Hey, you guys, this is when you're supposed to help your master!

But when Amagi says it, I can't defy her.

"O-Of course not! The wedding is when we get back. Yes, when we get back!"

This was supposed to be my training period—but with everything that happened, I didn't get to have any fun. I want to enjoy my bachelor days a little longer.

I feel bad for Rosetta, but I'll have her wait a few years.

I'll come up with some reason to stay on the capital planet and have some fun!

As I was formulating my future plans, there was a knock on the door.

It was Eulisia's voice.

'Lord Liam, Baron Exner and Lord Kurt are here to see you.'

The Baron and Kurt?

When I met with Baron Exner in a rented hotel reception room, Kurt was there too, now officially working as a soldier after finishing his training.

Kurt was still the same tall, refreshing, handsome guy, but his face wore a bitter expression.

And Baron Exner was prostrating himself before me on the floor.

"Lord Liam, I am truly sorry!"

Beside Baron Exner, who was repeatedly banging his head on the floor in apology, was Ciel, being glared at by Kurt.

She was looking down, her eyes filled with tears.

I was bewildered by Baron Exner's prostration.

"What's wrong, Baron? In any case, please have a seat on the sofa."

"I cannot do that!"

Since Baron Exner was apologizing with such genuine panic, I turned my gaze to Kurt, who was glaring at Ciel, and asked for an explanation.

Kurt also looked apologetic when I looked at him.

"I'm sorry, Liam."

"So, what happened?"

"—Ciel was meddling with Rosetta's honor guard behind your back."

"Oh, okay."

Perhaps she was scolded by Kurt, as Ciel was looking down with teary eyes.

—Sorry, I already knew about that. The atmosphere wasn't one where I could say that. In the first place, whatever Ciel did, the information always reached me.

The useless Ciel, who possessed the rebellious spirit that Rosetta lacked, was a source of comfort for me.

So why did Baron Exner and Kurt know about Ciel's actions?

No, more importantly, the problem is—

"I understand that an apology is not enough. I will take responsibility! P-Please, allow Kurt to succeed me. I will ensure the reparations are paid, even if it takes until Kurt's generation."

I wouldn't care if he was just stepping down as head of the house to take responsibility, but from his tone and the atmosphere, I got the feeling his own life was included in the reparations.

That's a problem! He's a precious fellow evil lord!

Kurt was glaring at Ciel.

"To behave so selfishly in the house that has taken you in is unacceptable. Liam, let me apologize as well. I'm truly sorry. —Ciel, you apologize too."

Ciel bowed her head, her eyes swollen from crying, but she still held a rebellious feeling towards me.

Good, that's how you should be! But Kurt seemed to have already decided how to deal with Ciel.

"If you can forgive her, Liam, I'm thinking of disowning my sister and sending her to the frontier. If you can't forgive her—then I'll accept your judgment."

Does that mean he's taking her away?! Among the women I have with me right now, no one fills the 'comfort' role like Ciel! Chino is in a separate category, and Ellen is in the 'disciple' category—n-no, this is bad.

There's no one better than Ciel.

Beside me, in my confusion, Rosetta, who had been listening, made a plea.

"Darling, I beg of you as well. Please, just spare Ciel's life. I was also involved in her guidance. So, please, I'm asking you."

Rosetta is pleading for Ciel's life, but that was already decided from the start!

The only important thing now is to keep Ciel with me.

I approached Baron Exner and spoke to him.

"Baron—how much?"

"For the reparations? In that case, I was hoping to discuss it with you, Lord Liam—"

"No, that's not it. For how much will you forgive Ciel?"

"Huh?"

Baron Exner probably didn't understand what I'd said. I carefully explained it to him.

"I forgive Ciel. And I would like to continue her education properly in my house. To cast her out like this would affect my reputation. —So, for what price will you be satisfied, Baron? Five thousand? Ten thousand?"

By the way, the five thousand I'm talking about here is a number with many digits omitted.

"Eh? No, why would our house be the one receiving money? Normally, it's the other way around—"

Just accept it!

"Then how about twenty thousand? That's right. I have many acquaintances in the military, so I'll put in a good word for Kurt."

Baron Exner shook his head.

"No, no, no, I can't accept that. Please let us take Ciel back and have her formally apologize."

"Please, somehow! We'll keep her here! —I understand. I'll pay fifty thousand. I'll also ask the military to look after Kurt. Yes, I'll apply whatever pressure is necessary! I'll guarantee a two-rank promotion!"

Kurt was saying things like, 'That's bad luck, so stop it!', but this was to keep Ciel with me.

Ciel was also bewildered, but Rosetta was reasoning with her at her side.

"—Listen, Ciel. Darling is forgiving you this time because he is kind. Normally, you would be cast out. You must properly realize that you did something that warranted it."

"Y-Yes."

Ciel wasn't convinced, but she had no choice but to obey when Rosetta told her. However, if she'd had a change of heart right then and there, I would have kicked her out.

I just hope she doesn't lose that rebellious spirit towards me.

"Baron, is that acceptable?"

"—If that is what you wish, Lord Liam."

With a look of incomprehension, Baron Exner finally accepted my proposal.

I'm relieved, but I wonder how the matter with Ciel leaked to outsiders.

Wakagi-chan (;´Д`): "E-Even if I fall here—a second and third me will surely carry on the promotion. As long as there are promotions, I am immortal—Guh! The manga version of [Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs, Volume 4] goes on sale tomorrow—and chapter 23 of the manga is also scheduled for release tomorrow—!"

Yumeria (ノ・∀・)ノ: "Be a good girl~ Be a good girl~"

Wakagi-chan (((( ;゜д゜)))): "Nooooooaaaaah?!?!?!???"

Wakagi-chan ( ゜д゜): "..."

Wakagi-chan ヽ(°▽、°)ノ: "The 'Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs' series is on sale now! 'I'm the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire!' is also on sale now! Volume 4 of the manga version is out [Tomorrow]! Everyone~, please support both series!"

Yumeria (´∇`): "She's a good girl now!"

Brian (´;ω;`): "This is all so awful, it's painful."

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