There are several reasons for entrusting children to other families.

One important reason is to raise them strictly, but another is to create connections between families.

By entrusting a child to a reputable family, you can also forge relationships and begin interactions.

Sometimes children are entrusted to families with whom they already have connections, but in any case, the first stage of training is very important.

My office work was finished easily today, with Amagi's support.

Maid robots are so capable.

Administrative tasks are completed very easily.

In the Empire, governance using artificial intelligence and maid robots is not highly recommended.

This is because artificial intelligence and robots revolted in the past, and their use is limited to the minimum necessary for that reason.

Originally, subordinates and retainers would be prepared, but the Banfield family has few of either.

It's the fault of my grandparents and parents.

Even from my perspective, my grandparents and parents are simply terrible.

They live lives of luxury in the Imperial capital star, paying no attention to their territory.

However, because of such grandparents and parents, there is the wonderful benefit that my heart doesn't ache when I abandon them.

This is also a form of consideration from the guide.

That person always helps me as if watching over me.

Their commitment to after-sales service is also a principle, making them a very reliable presence.

I should be grateful today as well.

As I thought this and stretched, Amagi reported.

"Master, the training destination has been decided."

"Ah, it's decided? So, where is it?"

Sitting in my chair, I spun around while playing, my body not yet fully matured.

"...You don't seem very interested."

To Amagi, who looked somewhat disappointed, I explained that training in other families was just a formality.

"Once you know the reality, you'll lose interest. Right now, you're just accepting children from other families, letting them live luxuriously, and keeping them for a few years? When I heard about your parents from Brian, it didn't seem like a training period at all."

By the way, my father apparently spent three years of his training period just playing around.

Currently, most families are like that.

Training is just about having the record of having done it.

"Did you prefer that kind of training destination? It's problematic if you don't tell me sooner. We've already finished discussions with the families. If you cancel from here, it will stain your name, Master."

"It's all the same everywhere anyway. If I give them a lot of money, they'll gladly welcome me. Well, it might be uncomfortable in someone else's house, but I'll endure it for about three years."

Training is merely a pretense these days.

I wonder how many families are actually training seriously?

"However, we will be strict about that. Why should I, of all people, have to entertain bratty kids?"

I'll be strict with the kids I'll be accepting in the future.

"If it is Master's command, I will do so, but those we accept will be the children of minor lords. The circumstances are different from those of Baron families and above."

"I'll leave the details to you and Brian. Do as you please."

I just need to be able to act haughty, so I'll delegate everything else to Amagi and Brian.

"By the way, what kind of family is my training destination?"

"It's the Lazel Viscountcy. They are popular as training destinations and accept dozens of children every year. They possess satellites and planets rich in resources and are reputed for their excellent processing technology."

From Amagi's explanation, it sounds like a very wealthy family.

However, there seems to be a problem.

They have abundant resources, but few habitable planets.

They seem to have colonies in space, but they are surrounded by other lords and cannot colonize new planets.

"The Viscountcy possesses a strong military, but its numbers are limited. They place importance on interaction with other families, and that attitude is likely the reason for their popularity as training destinations."

"We only have one habitable planet too, don't we?"

"Our family has potential for development, but the Viscountcy has reached its limit. Furthermore, we have already secured planets that can be developed."

It seems that if I wanted to, I could prepare for colonization immediately.

But, this is troubling... the development of our main planet is not yet finished.

If I try to do something else before that, the development of our main planet will be delayed.

"Our main planet is still under development, so I'm a bit hesitant to get involved with anything else..."

"Master Liam will begin formal education in a few years and will leave the territory?"

Amagi's suggestion that I could develop other areas while I'm away made me agree.

--That's true, I thought.

"Our policy is fine with that... The Lazel Viscountcy, huh? I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of reception they'll give me."

"Before that, we need to expedite your education and rehabilitation in the capsule."

"--Again?"

In this world, there is something called an education capsule.

If you put a child in it and leave them for several months to several years, what a surprise!

Their bodies are strengthened, and knowledge is crammed into their heads.

Of course, that doesn't mean everything is over in that state.

They need rehabilitation outside and a review of the knowledge crammed into them.

Although it's often thought to be meaningless, there's a big difference between doing it and not doing it.

"Am I going to sleep for a while?"

"This time it's a short period. Please leave it to me, Amagi, while you sleep."

"I'm counting on you."

◇

The main planet of the Lazel Viscountcy.

Viscount Randolph Sera Lazel, the head of the family, was gathering his retainers in the conference room.

He was confirming the noble children who would visit next year and the year after.

The displayed data also included how much funds and resources the noble families sending their children had provided.

For Viscount Lazel, accepting children as trainees was a way to build connections, but it was also a business.

"--Hmm, there are no notable individuals for next year."

If a child is talented, it's worth forging a connection.

He would put effort into strengthening the relationship, but for others -- those without the backing of their families and without talent themselves -- he would treat them accordingly.

"Lord Randolph, regarding a future matter, the eldest son of the Exner family will be coming to our family for training. They have presented quite a few gifts. It seems the individual also has talent."

However, Randolph loses interest upon seeing the data for the Exner family.

"--Upstarts are not worth forging connections with."

"B-but, the Exner family is expected to develop in the future."

"I'll consider it when they develop. The talent of the children we accept is secondary. What's important is the connection between families."

Not worth associating with.

However, he would gratefully accept the accumulated compensation.

As they were discussing future plans in the conference room, everyone suddenly stopped moving.

It was just when they were reviewing Liam's data--.

"Fufufu, fufufufufu!"

The guide appeared from the conference room door.

Instead of opening the door, he appeared as if his body had grown from the door, and he was reviewing Liam's data.

"The time for revenge has finally come. Now, Liam's data--!?"

The guide was surprised by the data.

The funds and resources prepared were an enormous amount.

Amagi and Brian went to great lengths to prepare them because they wanted them to be treated with great care.

Furthermore, his personal aptitude also received high marks.

It seems the reason was his recognized success in dealing with pirates in the Imperial capital star.

"Damn it! How infuriating! But, like this--"

The guide altered the data.

However, as a guide without his former power, he couldn't alter it as he pleased.

"--This is all Liam's fault. That I can only exact petty revenge like this."

He found the name "Peter Sera Pitak" in some materials he stumbled upon.

"--Oh?"

Upon investigation, he was from the same Count family as Liam.

However, his evaluation was low in all aspects.

"Alright, let's swap his data with this guy's."

As a result, Liam's investigation results became terrible.

The guide slowed down time -- or rather, slowed down his thought process.

He wasn't stopping time.

Randolph and the others, who had started moving, couldn't see the guide.

"Next-- this is terrible."

Randolph rubbed his eyes with his fingers.

"Every year, there's always one. A hyena trying to forge a connection with our family. Lord Randolph, will you refuse the training?"

"We've already responded that we will accept him. If we refuse now, it will tarnish our family's name. We will accept him, but -- his treatment can be the same as that of upstarts or knights' children."

Although Liam received a medal in the capital star, the Empire was so vast that information often didn't spread.

Many people received medals in the capital star, and it was impossible to remember each and every one of them.

The guide clutched his stomach and started laughing.

"It's training, after all. We have to make sure he enjoys it! Oh, I need to make further arrangements. I'll have to conserve my strength for a while."

After the guide slipped through the conference room wall and disappeared, Randolph and the others also lost interest in Liam and looked at the data of other children.

◇

--At the National University in the Imperial capital star.

Attending there was Christiana Leta Rosebreia.

She was attending university to obtain an Imperial Knight qualification.

To obtain a knight's qualification, it takes at least twenty-four years.

Twelve years for the Officer Academy and subsequent military service.

Twelve years for university and subsequent practical experience -- working as a civil servant.

After that, one can finally obtain a knight's qualification.

Nobles born into nobility spend an additional six years in the junior academy.

Christiana, being from a foreign country -- Tia -- did not need to attend the junior academy.

She had long, flaxen hair. Her bangs were neatly trimmed, giving her the air of a young lady.

She was indeed the princess of a fallen country and possessed knight qualifications there.

She had a good figure and emerald green eyes like jewels.

Her lips were plump and a pale pink.

As she walked through the university campus, Tia attracted many gazes.

Without paying attention to such gazes, Tia picked up her communication terminal.

"A message from the main planet?"

Tia was Liam's knight, but officially, she had only received a provisional offer.

She didn't have much authority and was currently in the position of an exchange student.

Regular contact was sent from the home country for such exchange students.

Entering the classroom and taking her seat, Tia checked the contents.

"Master Liam's training destination has been decided -- the Lazel Viscountcy, huh? I don't think it's bad, but it's too safe."

Tia was slightly dissatisfied.

"Ideally, a more prestigious family would be more suitable. Otherwise, it won't match Master Liam's status."

Her loyalty as a knight was exceptional, and she harbored feelings for Liam that were close to worship.

The reason was -- Liam had saved Tia from hell.

She had been captured by pirates and turned into a hideous mass of flesh.

Just as she had given up on her life as a human, Liam saved her and gave her a second life.

She could die for Liam.

It wasn't just Tia who had such resolve.

Many young people who were saved by Liam and came to the Imperial capital star to become knights were like that.

Many proceeded to the Officer Academy first, but Tia alone went to university.

The reason was that Liam wanted to strengthen his influence in the military when he entered the Officer Academy.

To achieve that, she wanted to graduate from university first.

After finishing reading the contents, the terminal screen changed to her wallpaper -- it displayed Liam at his coming-of-age ceremony.

Tia, with a blush on her cheeks --.

"Ah, Master Liam -- Tia will do her best today too."

--She possessed extreme loyalty.

◇

Thomas Henfrey, a merchant, is the head of the Henfrey Trading Company.

He is a merchant patron of the Banfield family.

Therefore, upon hearing the news that Liam's training destination had been decided, he busied himself with preparations.

He gave instructions to his subordinates.

"Have the gifts for Viscount Lazel been prepared?"

His subordinate replied with a smile.

"Yes. We have prepared items that the Viscount prefers."

"I see. I will personally offer my greetings to Master Liam, so please try to get along with the Lazel Viscountcy. It might be a long-term relationship."

"Are you planning to become the Lazel Viscountcy's patron merchant?"

"Not quite. The Lazel Viscountcy has several patron merchants, so I'm thinking if we can do business with them."

The Henfrey Trading Company had grown along with the development of the Banfield family.

With Liam, who excels at hunting pirates, as their backer, even small pirate groups would flee upon realizing it was a Henfrey Trading Company ship.

Because of that, business was going well.

"Still, the Lazel Viscountcy, huh? They have a good reputation, so it's perfect for Master Liam."

The Lazel Viscountcy is not a martial faction.

Rather, they focus more on business than military strength.

For Thomas, that was more important.

His subordinate reported.

"It seems the Viscountcy has a daughter of marriageable age, so perhaps marriage talks might arise."

Hearing that, Thomas also smiled.

"It would be mutually beneficial, so I hope the talks go well."

--The Lazel Viscountcy had a daughter around Liam's age.

Brian (´；ω；｀) "--It's tough. It's tough because there's no material."