I apologize for the inconvenience (_ _)

At the spaceport of Planet Augur, allied vessels were gathering one after another.

Watching this from the bridge of the mothership, I sat in my chair, irritated.

"'Your strategy was magnificent. Now, we shall smash through your front lines—Izel, Crown Prince of the Gudwar Hegemony Kingdom.' —Klaus, you seem to be quite highly regarded, don't you?"

The reason for my irritation was that Klaus was getting more attention than I was.

Having played an active role in the great war against the United Kingdom, Klaus was a named figure.

And it seems he's an especially big name in the Hegemony Kingdom.

—Why is Klaus the famous one, not me? What's more, the enemy's reaction, as if he's more valuable than Calvin, pisses me off.

Klaus was gazing off into the distance.

"You were not present for the battle with the United Kingdom, Lord Liam. I believe it would be best to spread your name in this current battle."

Last time, I didn't participate, thinking it wasn't worth my time to go all the way to the United Kingdom, but now I regret it a little.

But Klaus is right.

It's a good thing I keep him around, since he comes up with sensible opinions. If it were Tia or Marie, they'd just say, "Let's go slaughter those bastards!" without offering any real solution.

I'm glad I made Klaus my head knight.

"You have a point. Have Avid prepared for launch. And what's the status of the fleet?"

"The thirty thousand ships of the Banfield family are ready to sortie, but the major general's fleet dispatched from the Imperial Army has refused to launch, using the defense of Augur as an excuse."

With the Hegemony Kingdom's grand fleet approaching, they were preparing to flee instead of sortieing.

Well, with only three thousand ships, they must be feeling helpless.

Even I would run.

Klaus was waiting for my order.

"—Keep a record that they refused our request."

"You're not going to force them to sortie?"

"They'd just get in the way, so I don't need them. Connect me to the fleet under my command."

My words caused numerous small windows to appear around me, all displaying the general-class officers of the Banfield family.

I was about to give a speech to my subordinates, but as a rule—the speeches of important people are long and unbearable to listen to.

They try to make you laugh with a joke, but if it fails, the ones forcing a polite laugh have it worse.

But for the one giving the speech, even that is a pleasant feeling.

It's a way to feel the reality of one's own power.

What should I say? How should I say it to get my point across? None of that matters. I'll just have my subordinates in front of me work for their pay.

And they can just give me their polite, forced smiles.

"Good news for all of you whose skills have gotten rusty from just hunting pirates. The Hegemony Kingdom has been kind enough to come to us. It's a bit irritating that they're after Klaus here and not me, though."

Klaus remained expressionless, but I ignored my subordinates' reactions and continued.

I don't need to check if they're listening properly. It's their fault if they're not, and I don't plan on saying anything important anyway.

When a great man says, "Let's do our best!" only a handful of people actually succeed. Many great men don't even realize they've failed.

A famous speech is another matter, but I have no intention of giving one.

As long as I feel good, that's all that matters.

"Waiting around isn't my style. Full-scale assault!"

Seeing the military officers salute, I suddenly realized, "Ah, these guys are trying to get this over with quickly."

Don't rush me!

Since that pissed me off, I decided to ignore them and continue my speech. I'll just keep rambling on with meaningless talk!

"The enemy is the Hegemony Kingdom! They are a bunch who have invaded Imperial territory without any just cause. Give them the punishment they deserve! —Everyone, look at Planet Augur."

A scaled-down holographic image of Planet Augur politely appeared before my eyes.

I made a gesture as if supporting Planet Augur from below with my hands.

It felt as if I held the fate of an entire planet in my hands.

"This is a planet I've taken care of. In other words, this is now—my territory! Whether I'm a governor or not, it is the duty of a noble to protect their own domain!"

A lie. The nobles of the Empire are the first to flee when the tide turns against them.

"You are my subordinates. You are my sword and my shield!"

I compared the soldiers to swords and shields, implying that I would work them like tools.

"Do not defy me. Obey! Do that, and I will grant you victory. If you flee, this planet will be trampled by the enemy. That is the one thing we must prevent at all costs!"

They probably see me as a wonderful lord who wouldn't abandon his territory, even as a governor. But my true feelings are different.

I've invested in Planet Augur and spent time on it. Having it taken from me is unforgivable. It's not that I care about the residents of Augur or anything like that.

To trample a place I have ruled is a grave sin!

And it is impossible for me to lose.

With the Guide's protection, it's absolutely impossible for me to lose.

Furthermore, the One-Flash style must not lose.

I must make it known that it is the strongest.

"Make the Hegemony Kingdom know my name. Teach those bastards who is the strongest!"

The military officers didn't move a muscle. —Well, I guess this is it.

They're probably thinking things like, "I wish this would end soon," or "Couldn't this have been a message?"

If I were in their position, I'd agree.

We're running out of time, so I guess I'll end it here for today.

"—All forces, sortie. Crush the Hegemony Kingdom's fleet."

At my words, the fleet began to move.

◇

The Hegemony Kingdom's fleet was heading for Planet Augur.

The fleet in its path couldn't move, as they had no orders from headquarters—from Calvin.

The commander shouted.

"What is the General Command doing?! The enemy is right on top of us!"

They weren't actually within visual range, but based on the information gathered, they were approaching engagement distance.

Somehow, they had scraped together a force of six hundred thousand ships.

Since they were in a standoff with the Imperial Army elsewhere, it seemed a full-scale assault was impossible.

However, the Hegemony Kingdom had invaded a sector with less than one hundred thousand ships with a force of six hundred thousand.

Neither the Supreme Commander Calvin nor any important bases were located here.

Planet Augur was still in its preparatory stages.

The Imperial Army hadn't thought they would seriously target such a place.

"So the Hegemony Kingdom is after Lord Klaus's head, not His Highness Calvin's."

Klaus, Liam's right-hand man who had won a brilliant victory against the United Kingdom, was famous even in the Imperial Army. His skills were considered something to be learned from, and his name was spreading throughout the Imperial forces.

Having assembled a fleet of less than one hundred thousand, the commander pondered his next move.

"What's the status of our request for reinforcements?"

In response to the commander's words, the operator had a face on the verge of tears.

"We've been trying to call, but the static is too severe, and we can't get through."

Why couldn't they connect? Could it be that the enemy was jamming them?

If so, the Hegemony Kingdom was moving too fast.

There was a possibility that their allies were surrounded. If they tried to escape recklessly, they could be targeted and annihilated.

"Keep calling for reinforcements! Headquarters must have grasped their movements by now!"

When a large fleet moves, it's impossible not to notice.

Normally, headquarters should have quickly sent reinforcements or ordered a retreat.

The commander couldn't understand why this was happening. However, knowing the ways of the nobility, he had a bad feeling.

(If they break through us, they'll reach Planet Augur in no time. Could it be that the nobles are using us as sacrificial pawns?)

The soldiers were also aware of the conflict between Calvin and Liam, and they realized they had been caught up in a political struggle.

An operator shouted at the commander.

"Enemy fleet warping out! Th-their numbers are greater than anticipated!"

The commander slammed his fist on the armrest.

"All forces—"

Just as he was about to order a strategy to buy as much time as possible, another operator cried out. His voice was a little brighter.

"Allies warping out! N-numbers—thirty thousand! Th-this crest is?!"

From their rear, allied ships warped out one after another, continuing to advance.

They passed through the Imperial Army's formation, arranging themselves as they moved.

The commander could tell the high level of their training from the fleet's movements.

Few private noble fleets, not part of the Imperial Army, possessed such a high level of proficiency. Even among Calvin's faction, there weren't many. He then remembered who was stationed behind them.

"The Banfield family!"

Immediately, a static-filled communication channel showed Liam's face.

However, the background behind Liam was strange.

"The cockpit of a mobile knight?!"

As the commander muttered in surprise, Liam's lips curled into a smile.

"So you're still in one piece. Perfect—you will follow my lead. Klaus will issue all commands."

With only that, the communication was cut.

No matter if he was a noble, ordering the Imperial Army required proper procedures.

The bridge crew's gazes gathered on the commander. He made a bitter face but ordered a connection to the Banfield family's flagship.

This was a decision born from the judgment that he would only lead his allies to annihilation on his own.

"This fleet can't fight properly anyway."

From the Imperial Army's perspective, this was a low-priority area, so they had gathered a fleet with low proficiency and poor-quality weapons. It was a fleet just for show.

The commander thought.

(Were we placed here from the beginning to be used as sacrificial pawns?)

◇

On the bridge of the Banfield family's flagship.

Klaus was issuing one order after another from the bridge.

"Request support from the Imperial fleet!"

(No, no, no! A fleet of that quality will just melt against the Hegemony Kingdom's forces!!)

Knowing the true strength of the Imperial forces, he hurriedly diverted them to a support role.

He thought they could at least serve as a diversion for the enemy.

"All mobile knights launch simultaneously with the charge on the enemy fleet! Do not, under any circumstances, let Lord Liam launch. If he must, it will be later! Honor guard, you absolutely must not let Lord Liam sortie!"

(Why is the supreme commander getting into a mobile knight?! A charge against the Hegemony Kingdom... I can't believe this!!)

Even as he gave orders, Klaus was in a state of confusion.

After all, Liam's order had been terribly simple.

In other words, it was the "charge" that was becoming the Banfield family's specialty.

Liam's plan was to charge with the entire army, aiming for the enemy's general.

(That's impossible! We'd lose even in a normal fight, but against the Hegemony Kingdom, it's just impossible!)

The Hegemony Kingdom had a reputation for its military being the real deal.

No matter how incomprehensible a nation it was, the strength of its army was genuine.

And Liam was planning to charge head-on against such an opponent.

But then, a communication from the honor guard arrived.

"Lord Klaus, my deepest apologies."

"Hm?"

"Lord Liam declared, 'The first spear is mine!' and pushed past the honor guard to launch."

"Eh?"

Looking ahead, he could see a single mobile knight emerging at the forefront of the Banfield fleet.

With large shields mounted on both shoulders, there was no mistaking that it was Avid.

Klaus's cheek twitched.

(What are you doing, Lord Liam?! —This is it, we're done for.)

—Klaus was glad he had written his will.

◇

The cockpit of Avid felt nostalgic.

"I haven't had many chances to pilot you lately, have I?"

As I spoke to it, Avid's engine roared as if in reply.

Against pirates, it couldn't unleash its full performance, so it hadn't seen much action recently.

Even when it did, the battles ended so quickly that Avid must have been left unsatisfied.

I gripped the control stick.

Displayed on the monitor were the enemy fleet and the mobile knights they were launching.

The Banfield fleet was attempting to charge the enemy fleet.

And they were concentrating their fire on Avid, which stood at the very front.

Beams of light and physical projectiles were fired from battleships and mobile knights.

They either dissipated before reaching Avid or exploded and vanished.

Avid advanced through it all as if nothing was happening.

"Your performance has improved again. Rejoice, Avid—against the Hegemony Kingdom, you might finally be able to go all out."

Avid's twin eyes flashed, and it gripped a laser blade in its hand.

It swung the blade of light down at an enemy battleship several kilometers away.

In space, that was practically close range.

But it wasn't within the reach of a laser blade. —Normally, that is.

"Avid, let's teach the Hegemony Kingdom our names. Beat it into their skulls who is the strongest in the Empire!"

When Avid swung its laser blade, the output was so immense that the blade of light expanded behind the slash like an unfolding fan.

Along with bisecting the enemy battleship, three mobile knights were caught in the blast and exploded.

The explosion of the enemy ship created a large amount of debris that scattered about.

It sparkled as it hit Avid's energy field.

After Avid cut down a battleship, the gazes of the Hegemony Kingdom were fixated on it.

"I am Liam Sera Banfield. I'll be your opponent, so come at me."

When Avid beckoned with its left hand, the enraged enemy mobile knights swarmed it.

Their basic proficiency was higher than the Imperial Army's, but they were too hot-headed.

They gathered together in an amusing fashion, and Avid sliced through them all with its laser blade.

Dozens of units exploded, and from behind Avid, allied attacks rained down on the Hegemony Kingdom's fleet.

"Gentlemen of the Hegemony Kingdom. Entertain me."

Behind Avid, numerous magic circles appeared, and from them, weapons materialized.

When they all fired at once, all surrounding enemies were blown away.

—I'll make sure you people can never forget my name.

Sapling-chan ( ゜言゜): "—Because 'The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs' is popular! The series has sold over 300,000 copies! The limited edition is even in short supply!"

Brian (´・ω・｀): "Ah, yes."

Sapling-chan ( ゜言゜): "And this month, Shiosato-sensei's 'Chapter 23 of the manga adaptation' will be updated, so I can make a comeback anytime. What's so great about Liam? I'm more popular!"

Brian (； ・`ω・´): (This is painful. It's painful that a plant is so competitive with Lord Liam.)