A planet where Chester serves as the magistrate.

Behind a distant moon, the fleet Liam led for his incognito journey was on standby.

They were receiving supplies delivered from the Banfield family.

The one who brought them was Thomas, the purveyor merchant.

"Lord Liam's actions never cease to amaze me. But thanks to him, the safety of several routes has been secured, and the number of planets where we merchants can do business with peace of mind has increased."

It was Marie who was dealing with the beaming Thomas.

"As expected, Lord Liam is the one truly worthy of being the supreme ruler."

Thomas pretended not to hear the words 'supreme ruler'.

It was a phrase that would cause trouble if someone overheard it.

"More importantly, when will Lord Liam be returning to the main planet? It's problematic for us if he's absent for too long. On the capital planet, His Highness Calvin and his faction are making various moves."

Marie was also concerned about that.

"Didn't he lose his standing in the war with the Hegemony?"

"Even if he lost his standing, he is still the Crown Prince. If Lord Liam isn't there to keep him in check, he can move freely on the capital planet. The Clave and Newlands companies are also eagerly awaiting Lord Liam's return."

"What is His Highness Cleo doing? Even with Lord Liam absent, there shouldn't be a problem if he's there."

While it was effectively Liam's faction, the one they were rallying behind was Prince Cleo.

Cleo, while not on Liam's level, still possessed power.

Now, with Liam gone, was the perfect opportunity for him to show his presence and unite the faction with his own strength.

Marie was a little angry with Cleo for not doing so.

However, she changed her mind after hearing what Thomas had to say.

"His Highness Cleo has also been making some suspicious moves. He's gathering supporters for the Cleo faction, which isn't strange in itself, but he's only gathering nobles with no power."

"—How very kind of him."

Hearing that Cleo was generously giving out money and currying favor, Marie narrowed her eyes.

Though her words were praise, she didn't think that at all in her heart.

"It seems he enjoys giving handouts to powerless nobles using the Banfield family's budget."

"Well, yes. He's withdrawn a considerable budget from the Banfield family and is distributing it generously."

She could accept it if it were necessary for him to become Crown Prince, but the allies Cleo was making were nobles and knights without any power.

It would be fine if he were making moves for court maneuvering, but this was completely meaningless.

Normally, they would want to dispatch powerful knights to the capital planet.

However, they were entrusted with the Hegemony's border in addition to their home planet.

Knights like Tia and Klaus, who were capable of governance, were few and far between, and even if they existed, the expanding Banfield territory was constantly short-staffed.

"If he would just quietly interfere with Calvin, his future would be secure."

Frightened by the irritated Marie, Thomas decided to change the subject.

"M-more importantly, are you aware that Lady Rosetta's personal guard is active in various places?"

"I've heard. That she's assembled quite a fleet to support the places Lord Liam cannot reach. Honestly—if she had just told me, I would have prepared an even more splendid personal guard for her."

Marie held Rosetta in high regard.

Because of that, she had helped her in various ways.

This time she wasn't by her side as she was guarding Liam, but if Rosetta had asked, she would have helped her with many things.

"Lady Rosetta is also increasing her presence within the territory. Many among the populace are saying they should have a formal wedding right away."

"I'd like to call that disrespectful, but I think the same way. I thought Lord Liam and Lady Rosetta's wedding would be held as soon as his training was over."

She couldn't rest easy until Liam got married quickly and had a child.

The people of the domain also wished for it, but Liam prioritized his journey.

However, even if someone were to advise him on this, he wouldn't listen.

"No matter how much Lord Brian or Amagi try to persuade him, it's no use."

As Marie sighed, Thomas also hung his head.

"We would also like Lord Liam to marry soon. Is there no way?"

Marie thought for a moment and shook her head.

"There is none."

It was one of Liam's flaws, but in the Banfield family, Liam himself held too much power.

This was also the reason no one could stop his current journey.

It was proof of his absolute power, but at the same time, it meant that no one could stop him.

In the middle of their conversation, Marie began to compose herself.

"It's time for Lord Liam's scheduled communication. Lord Thomas, please don't interrupt. This is my important... very important! ...job."

Thomas just nodded at Marie, who was looking forward to her scheduled call with Liam.

Then, a small window appeared in mid-air, displaying Liam.

"Lord Liam, it's time for your scheduled communi—ca—t—HIIIIIIII!!"

As Marie screamed, Thomas was also startled by the image of Liam.

"Lord LIAAAAM!!"

The reason even Thomas screamed was that the Liam in the video was "washing dishes".

"'What, Thomas is here too? More importantly, I'm busy with the dishes, so I'm cutting the call.'"

Marie frantically approached the image of Liam.

"That's not it, Lord Liam! You mustn't do such a thing! Lord Liam is the—huh? Lord Liam? Lord LIAAAAM!?"

The communication was cut.

The color drained from Marie's face at the sight of Liam washing dishes.

"NOOOOOO!?!!!?"

Thomas covered his ears at Marie's scream.

◇

I was treated to dinner at my master's home.

Leaving any of the meal prepared by the master's wife was unthinkable, and so I was now cleaning up.

"I'm sorry about this, making you do the dishes."

The master's wife looked apologetic, but from my perspective, she was my master's wife.

I couldn't be rude to her.

"Please don't worry about it. I'm used to washing dishes."

I've done it several times during my training.

I also lived alone in my previous life, so this is no problem.

Looking out from the kitchen into the room, I saw Rinho and Fuuka fawning over Yasuyuki-kun.

"Yasuyuki, call me big sis!"

"Is there anyone you hate, Yasuyuki? Your big sis can go cut them down for you."

Yasuyuki-kun was overwhelmed by the two of them.

Hearing he was the master's son, he must have seemed like a little brother to them.

They were the type to dote on Ellen, who was like a niece to them.

A little brother would be even more so.

Ellen, for her part, was watching the three of them with a look of dissatisfaction.

"You two, have you forgotten that we're storming the magistrate's mansion tomorrow?"

Rinho, who was lying down, rolled over to face Ellen.

With a 'so what?' smile, she spoke about tomorrow.

"All that's decided is that we're storming it. What we have to do doesn't change."

"Our opponents are from the same school."

"Wrong. They're a bunch of degenerates. They're not worthy of calling themselves the One-Flash School."

Fuuka joined in on Rinho's conversation.

She was giving Yasuyuki-kun a piggyback ride.

"That's right. —Even if we lose, it just means we were weak."

The weak can't even stand by their own justice.

To prove that we are right, we intend to storm the enemy's territory.

And cut them all down.

Having finished the dishes, I dried my hands and joined the four's conversation.

"I'll contact Marie later. We'll protect the master's family and storm the place first thing in the morning. You all get ready, too."

Rinho's and Fuuka's gazes sharpened, and both of them smiled faintly.

Their blood must be boiling with excitement.

We hadn't encountered such strong enemies until now, and even if they've fallen from grace, our opponents this time are from the same school.

My own heart is dancing with excitement.

"Those bastards laid a hand on our master. I'm sure the master is fine, but—we're going to make them pay for it. Don't play around too much."

At the same time my heart danced, anger at them for taking my master welled up inside me.

I want to enjoy this, but I'm going to teach those guys their place in the hierarchy.

Seeing the three of them nod, I was satisfied.

—The price for this lesson will be the lives of the so-called 'Original' One-Flash School.

◇

The Guide and Gudwar were clinking wine glasses atop a tall building.

What filled their glasses was the blood of the domain's people.

To be more specific, it was the blood of the people Chester had tormented.

Absorbing the negative energy, the two of them awaited the greatest show.

"Mmm, I prefer a more aged negative emotion, but this youthfulness is also quite nice. This man, Chester, has potential."

A true villain.

Undoubtedly an evil magistrate.

That was the man named Chester.

He didn't see the people as human and tormented them with heavy taxes.

He killed those who defied him, and he killed on a whim.

And to such a man, the Guide and Gudwar had bestowed the One-Flash School.

Gudwar was also overjoyed.

"Once Chester's knights are trained, I'll send them to my country and use them as fodder. I'm going to raise warriors who surpass the One-Flash School."

Neither of them acknowledged the swordsmanship style known as the One-Flash School, which had been born by chance.

To put it bluntly, it was an 'outrageous swordsmanship' that had appeared out of nowhere.

It had no accumulated history whatsoever.

It wasn't to Gudwar's liking, and from the Guide's perspective, it was the very swordsmanship that had tormented him.

He could never forgive it; in fact, he wanted to eradicate it completely.

"I don't mind. As long as we can kill Liam, I have no complaints. In any case, this place is good. It's swirling with negative emotions."

The Guide let out a sigh of relief.

Relief, bliss, and various other emotions were mixed within him.

Gudwar looked at his glass.

"Chester's clan are a pretty bad bunch themselves."

"Once Liam is dead, it might be a good idea for me to support them. I'll rot the Empire from the inside out."

The Guide wanted Chester to take everything from Liam.

He would have him steal everything Liam had built, and with that power, bring a dark age upon the Empire.

Imagining the swirling negative emotions, a smile crept onto the Guide's face.

"To Liam's death, a toast!"

"—Why are you taking the lead? I'm the one who gathered the villains and had them learn the One-Flash School, right?"

"Huh? Ah, yes."

In his currently weakened state, the Guide couldn't act tough with Gudwar.

He could only reluctantly obey while trying to guide Gudwar.

While gauging Gudwar's mood, the Guide was seething with rage internally.

(This is all Liam's fault! Originally, I was a being greater than Gudwar, but now I have no choice but to kowtow to this guy to defeat Liam.)

The Guide's pride was in tatters, but he endured it for the sake of defeating Liam.

(I will kill you without fail, Liam!)

Burning with vengeance, the Guide couldn't wait for tomorrow.

◇

Meanwhile.

Chester was contacting his father, the head of the count's family.

"'Liam is still at your post, isn't he?'"

"Yes, Father."

Plastering a smile on his face, Chester acted deferentially, trying to gauge his father's mood.

Everything was for the sake of rising up.

For now, he even bowed his head to his father.

"'The army's preparations are complete. To jump into the enemy's heart with a mere thousand ships... I can only think he's grown arrogant from winning too much.'"

"How much military strength has been gathered?"

"'Including the surrounding lords, we've gathered sixty thousand. Our house will dispatch thirty thousand.'"

"—Thirty thousand? That is wonderful."

Inwardly, however, Chester clicked his tongue.

(Even if there wasn't much time, you should have gathered more, you damn old man. But, for him, I guess he did his best. Our fleet is just for show, after all.)

The surrounding lords were much the same.

But, there was a sixty-to-one difference in military strength.

No matter how many times Liam had overturned numerical disadvantages, a gap this large was insurmountable.

In the war with the Hegemony, it seems he ended it by targeting the enemy general, but this time, the general—the count—would not be on the front lines.

(I would have liked to gather more forces if possible, but this is within an acceptable range.)

Liam already had nowhere to run.

◇

The next morning.

The four of us were in front of the magistrate's mansion.

For such a poor domain, it was quite a splendid mansion.

Normally I would praise it, but right now, I was in a bad mood.

"Are you all ready?"

Fuuka smiled, but her eyes were bloodshot.

"Anytime! We'll get the master back, and we'll make a bloodbath of everyone else!"

Rinho wore a cold smile.

"The lineage of the 'Original' One-Flash School ends today. The only One-Flash School that will remain is ours."

Their fighting spirit, showing no mercy even to those from the same school if they were enemies, was reassuring.

They've both grown.

However, only Ellen seemed nervous.

I called out to Ellen.

"Ellen, this is your first battle, so don't leave my side for now."

Seeing Ellen frantically bow her head and reply, "Y-Yes!", Fuuka and Rinho only gave her a glance.

It seemed they were leaving her to me and focusing on killing the enemy.

I cut down the large, thick gate with a single flash.

"—Let's go. It's a raid."