Deep beneath the palace, there was a dungeon that resembled a VIP room. It was a place for temporarily holding nobles of particularly high rank.

It wasn't used often, but this time, the Prime Minister was sitting on a sofa placed in the room.

He had been captured by Emperor Baghrada's Imperial Guard and was imprisoned here.

Then, a visitor appeared before the Prime Minister.

It was Celina.

"Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, I have come to escort you."

Watching Celina, who had come to meet him while being monitored by the Banfield family's soldiers, the Prime Minister understood everything.

The sight of Celina performing a perfect curtsy reminded the Prime Minister of when he first met her.

They had both been young, and it was a time when they had once tried to cast everything aside.

In the end, they were both bound to the Empire until they grew old, but the Prime Minister didn't think that was a bad thing.

"I never thought you would be the one to guide me to the execution grounds. Duke Banfield is quite malicious."

If he made this decision knowing their relationship, it could only be called poor taste.

However, Celina shook her head.

"No, neither you nor I will be sent to the execution grounds. The Duke—the new Emperor—has ordered that we conduct a proper handover for the sake of the next reign."

The Prime Minister let out a deep sigh.

"To steal the country I served, what insolence. It would have been a greater mercy to have been executed quickly."

Even if they overthrew the Empire, if the subsequent rule was poor, the Banfield family would eventually be brought down.

Taking over a massive interstellar nation and starting a new reign—whether or not a proper handover could be conducted was a very significant problem.

The Prime Minister asked, his head bowed.

"Cattleya... what happened to the other children?"

When the Prime Minister inquired about the safety of his cute maids, who were his granddaughters and great-granddaughters, Celina replied.

"They are currently under the protection of the Banfield family's fleet. Your Excellency..."

Before Celina, with her troubled expression, could say anything more, the Prime Minister understood and stood up from the sofa.

With his granddaughters and great-granddaughters captured, it was the same as them being held hostage.

If the Empire still existed, he might have made the decision to abandon them.

But now that the nation was lost, the Prime Minister was resolved to offer himself for the sake of his granddaughters, great-granddaughters... his descendants.

"Very well. Call Christiana. She should be able to handle the handover without any problems."

◇

In the plaza known as the former Empire's Audience Chamber... for some reason, the civil and military officials of the Banfield family were lined up in formation.

I, who had sat down on the throne where the Emperor used to sit, was just supposed to return home after the party and the cleanup were over.

And yet, I had been summoned to this place in the form of a petition from Klaus and all my other vassals.

The reason the Audience Chamber was outdoors was because the capital planet could completely control the weather.

Only when the Audience Chamber was in use, pleasant sunlight, temperature, and wind were provided, regardless of the season.

It was the same now; the state of emergency had been lifted, and a blue sky stretched out above.

Before me, who was looking displeased, Klaus, representing the civil and military officials, knelt and bowed his head.

"Lord Liam, we offer our sincerest gratitude for overthrowing the Algrand Empire's Albreit Dynasty."

"...You, who earned the highest merit, worked hard too."

"No, the work of us vassals is all to Lord Liam's credit. This great achievement belongs to you, Lord Liam. Who would dare to complain about this fact?"

"There are complainers everywhere. In the first place, there are always protests on my home planet. They're sure to make a fuss about this too."

"On the Banfield family's home planet, a victory celebration is planned for when you return, Lord Liam. It won't be a protest, but a festival."

I tried to change the subject, but Klaus wouldn't let me.

Klaus raised his head and appealed directly.

"A great empire has fallen, and someone must lead the nation as its monarch. ...Lord Liam, please, make your decision!"

The civil and military officials repeated Klaus's words, "make your decision."

The words "Make your decision!" echoed through the plaza, and I covered my ears with both hands.

These guys are trying to prop me up as the new emperor.

"I've worked this hard so I could do whatever I want! Who in their right mind would want to become emperor?"

Become the top of a huge empire and do whatever you want?

That's not how it works.

Since ancient times, a king... has been a symbol, and at the same time, a kind of sacrifice.

If the reign goes well, they are forgiven, but if it's the opposite, they are forced to take responsibility even if they've done nothing wrong.

If the king himself has no power, he has no choice but to become a puppet of his powerful vassals.

I wouldn't show any mercy to anyone who tried to make me a puppet, but the problem is that as the symbol of authority for a massive nation, I wouldn't be able to act freely.

Klaus stood up and said.

"But if we do that, we'll be trampled by other interstellar nations! Someone must stand at the top, and there is no one other than you, Lord Liam."

But I had an answer for this.

"Actually, there is!"

I operated the bracelet-type terminal on my left arm, and Wallace, whom I had connected with beforehand, was projected into the sky of the Audience Chamber.

The murmuring officials turned pale, as if they had a very bad feeling.

"You told me to stand by, so I was waiting. Liam, do you need something from me?"

Wallace Noah Albreit... I had been looking after Wallace ever since he left the imperial family.

He's a man whose skills are completely useless for anything other than event planning, but this time, I'll have him become His Majesty the Emperor in my place.

"Rejoice, Wallace! You are the new emperor!"

"...Liam, I was and still am one of your vassals. That will never, ever waver."

When the usually flippant Wallace said that with a straight face, the officials breathed a sigh of relief.

I pointed a trembling finger at the sky and shouted.

"You can't follow my orders?!"

"Anyone other than you becoming the new emperor in this situation would be a punishment game! The Hegemony Kingdom seems to have already heard the victory report and assumes you're the next leader. I don't want any trouble! ...Ah, sorry. Edward-kun is calling me, so maybe next time. You see, I'm his advisor right now."

The image vanished with a bzzzt.

"Wallace, you bastard! At this rate, any royal will do... That's right, Cedric! He'd be a fitting next emperor!"

Cedric, despite being a royal, had a strong independent streak and had chosen the path of a soldier.

He helped us this time too, so I called him, thinking no one would object.

Cedric's face appeared in the sky.

"Cedric, congra—"

"Long live His Majesty, the New Emperor Liam! I, Cedric, pledge my further loyalty to you! Oh, excuse me. It seems difficult to maintain the connection due to the post-processing."

Cedric said only that and cut the transmission.

As I stood there speechless, Klaus spoke.

"...Lord Liam, perhaps it would be best to give up now."

Not yet. It's not over yet!

With a trembling finger, I called another man.

It was Calvin... Calvin Noah Albreit! The man who was Crown Prince before Cleo, the one who was closest to becoming emperor.

"I won't give up. I still have an ace up my sleeve. I've been keeping a man on ice for just such an occasion."

The dignified figure of the former Crown Prince projected in the sky... was nowhere to be seen.

Having lost his position as Crown Prince, Calvin had now become a pot-bellied old man you could find anywhere.

And yet, perhaps due to his work, his arms were thick.

He was wearing a T-shirt and shorts, clutching a large popcorn and a big cup of juice.

"Who is it at such an important time? ...Oh, if it isn't Lord Liam. It's been a while."

"...C-Calvin?"

"Ah, my appearance has changed quite a bit, but it's me, Calvin. Man, freedom is great, isn't it? I'm here watching a Doddsball game with my family today, too."

Calvin seemed to be at a stadium where a sports game was being held, and the voices of fans cheering for their team could be heard.

Wait, what's Doddsball?

On either side of Calvin were his beautiful wife and children.

His grown children pointed at the game.

"Dad, our side is on the offense!"

"What! There, goooo!"

Doddsball was projected in the sky... not Dodgeball? Using the inside of a floating spherical object as the ground, players in protectors were running around, scrambling for a ball.

They ran and jumped as if unaffected by gravity, sometimes throwing the ball.

Is it a space version of American football?

As I stood there stunned, the team Calvin was cheering for apparently scored a point.

Calvin was flinging his popcorn around.

"Yessss! Lord Liam, our Pewtears are the strongest! They're in top form for the upcoming Banfield Unification Cup, and victory is all but certain, so I'd like to request temporary permission to travel off-planet to cheer them on—"

I cut the communication myself.

An indescribable atmosphere hung over the Audience Chamber.

"...That bastard, his own country has been destroyed, and he's engrossed in watching sports."

Then, Marie, who had been quiet until now, chimed in.

"Lord Liam, please rest assured."

"Do you have a good idea, Marie?!"

I looked at Marie with expectation, and she answered with her chest puffed out.

"When it comes to Doddsball, the Hydrars, based on the Banfield family's home planet, are the top contenders. There is no doubt that the Hydrars will win the Banfield Cup."

"I have no interest in some ball game called Doddsball that sounds like a ripoff of dodgeball!"

The moment I shouted that I wasn't interested, the officials started to get a little noisy.

"What, Lord Liam isn't interested, apparently."
"And this is an important year, with the Banfield Cup held once every four years."
"The Hydrars, that money-grubbing team, are the top contenders? Are you dreaming?"

...It's no use.

My people seem to be contaminated by this ball game called Doddsball.

As I sank weakly onto the throne, Klaus pressed his advantage.

"Surely you understand now? There are no other candidates besides you, Lord Liam."

"Not yet! Brian! Call Brian!"

At this point, ready to use any means necessary, I called for Brian.

The reason I could call him from a distant planet with a single terminal was because it was connected to the capital planet's communication facilities.

When Brian appeared, he seemed to be in the middle of tending to his bonsai.

"What is it, Lord Liam? I just offered my congratulations on your victory a moment ago."

"Brian, I don't want to be emperor. Is there any way out of this?"

In response to my resistance to the very end,

"Even if you ask me that, I have no answer. In fact, I was under the impression that you were aiming to be the next emperor."

"...I see. Never mind then."

As I was about to end the call, Brian started to say one last thing.

"By the way, on the capital planet—"

I was curious what he was about to say, but right now, avoiding becoming emperor was the priority.

Seeing all the civil and military officials gathered here to petition me, it was clear they were serious.

As I was wondering if there was any way to avoid this... a group in maid uniforms entered the Audience Chamber.

Walking through the ranks of the lined-up officials were Amagi and the other maid-roids.

"We heard that you were victorious in the battle against the Empire, Master, and have rushed to your side. We all pay our respects to this result, born from all of your efforts."

The maid-roids curtsied before me... all of them were present, and my eyes widened.

I'm happy they all came. I'm happy, but I can't shake the feeling that this development is bad news.

The feeling of being cornered was apparently not just my imagination.

Amagi raised her head and looked up at the high throne to speak.

"We all have high expectations for the birth of a new interstellar nation ruled by you, Master. We humbly request that you rule over the people of the former Empire just as you have done until now."

As Amagi bowed her head, the mass-produced maid-roids also bowed their heads.

"We humbly request it."

Their voices were perfectly synchronized... Bowed to by the maid-roids, I spoke with a trembling voice.

"A-about that matter, just give me a little time."

Amagi looked up at me with pleading eyes.

"Is that... not acceptable?"

"It's not unacceptable! It's not, but if I had a little more time to prepare myself, or something like that, maybe I could come up with a better idea..."

Amagi looked a little disappointed.

"I see. In that case, we shall wait until you have an answer, Master."

"Y-yeah."

The decision I made was to postpone.

I could hear the voices of the officials in the distance.

"Even Lady Amagi couldn't do it?"
"But if we keep pushing, we might get him, don't you think?"
"He held out this time, but he looks like he'll break next time."

...You guys, don't think you can get whatever you want just because I have a soft spot for Amagi!

◇

The interstellar nation, the Algrand Empire, is defeated.

This news spread to other interstellar nations in the blink of an eye.

The Guide, who had been blown away by Graham, was drifting unsteadily through space.

He managed to grab onto a trade ship heading for another interstellar nation.

On a large transport ship owned by a merchant house, the crew members were gossiping.

"It's amazing that the Empire was destroyed by a single noble."
"Things are going to be noisy for a while, aren't they? The countries bordering it will be desperate to expand their territory at this opportunity."
"With the birth of a new interstellar nation recently, it really feels like the times are changing."
"Ah, that's right, a powerful interstellar nation was just born a little while ago. I think it was called... what was its name again?"

The Guide, who was eavesdropping on this conversation, seemed to have come up with an idea, despite being just a hat.

"I failed with the Empire, but if I involve other interstellar nations, I can create as many sparks as I want. Besides, as long as humans exist, negative emotions will never run out! Liam... enjoy your moment of peace for now. But the next time you face me will be your end! I will not fail again. This time, I will prepare meticulously and surely plunge you into the depths of misfortune."

And so, the trade ship arrived at a certain interstellar nation.

It was an interstellar nation that had been founded less than a hundred years ago, considered a young country that had just begun in this world, and its recognition was not high.

The trade ship's crew thought of it as nothing more than a relay point for a long-distance gate.

"This country's inspection is about to begin. Everyone, don't do anything strange and anger them."

Since the Guide was invisible to humans, he sat on top of a container in his hat form.

"Now then, first I must gather negative emotions and regain my strength..."

Just then, a knight appeared in the trade ship's cargo hold, leading a group of soldiers.

The knight and military uniforms, based in white and blue, seemed to indicate their nation's colors.

"We have been dispatched from the Holy Knight Nation of Euryalus. We will now begin the inspection!"

At the earnest, handsome young man's words, the soldiers began to move, checking for any suspicious cargo.

The Guide felt a sense of unease at this scene.

(Oh? The aura they're emitting seems strange... this pungent smell, I feel like I recognize it from somewhere...)

As he watched the handsome young knight, the other party turned his gaze towards him.

He shouldn't have been able to see him... but their eyes met.

Then, he drew the sword from his waist and threw it.

The Guide tried to dodge, but he wasn't fast enough and was pierced by the sword, pinned to the wall.

"Gugh!? Th-this is a sword with a slight blessing on it!?"

Because it was a thin rapier, the Guide managed to avoid death.

The surroundings were in an uproar seeing the knight throw his sword.

The knight smiled, then jumped to where the Guide was.

While saying something to reassure the onlookers, he grabbed the Guide.

"My apologies. I thought I felt a strange presence, but it seems I was mistaken. Everyone, please continue with your work."

As the others returned to their work with relieved expressions, the Guide struggled to escape from the knight's grasp.

However, having just been pierced through the body, he had no strength.

The knight spoke to the struggling Guide.

"...I've found you, enemy of the world."

(H-he's aware of my existence!? W-who is he!?)

The Guide had just sworn to make meticulous preparations to defeat Liam, but his plan had stumbled right from the start.