It's time for my promotion!

"Otome Game Sekai wa Mob ni Kibishii Sekai" (The World of Otome Games is Harsh to Mobs) Volumes 1 and 2 are now on sale.

*The manga version can be enjoyed for free on Comic Walker, Nico Nico Seiga, etc. (Chapters 1 and 3 are currently available as of December 28th).
If you haven't read Chapter 3 yet, which is free for a limited time, please check it out.

"Seventh" Volumes 1-7 are also available. Please support them.
*The book version has been rewritten from scratch and is different from the web version.

How about it for your New Year's holiday?

In the territory of Viscount Razel.

Yasushi was there.

Yasushi, Liam's sword master, had come after hearing that they were recruiting people for mining operations.

He is also the founder of the impressive sword technique called Issen-ryu, but he himself is not a particularly skilled swordsman.

"Damn it. They won't hire me because I don't have a license to operate heavy machinery. I've even ridden a mobile knight. Well, I've only ridden it."

He was originally a peddler, but he became Liam's master at the request of an acquaintance.

As he said things that sounded plausible, his disciple eventually became first-class.

Yasushi himself didn't understand how.

He became anxious, thinking that his lies would eventually be exposed and Liam would kill him, so he ran away.

After that, he wandered around having fun, but he ran out of money.

Now, he's wandering around looking for day labor jobs.

"No one watches my performances, and no one will hire me. Sigh, what should I do?"

He walked aimlessly through the entertainment district.

He didn't even have money to drink anymore.

Yet, he found himself coming to the entertainment district, a pathetic man.

He had sold the sword he wore at his waist and had nothing left to sell.

"Won't someone, anyone, buy me a drink?"

As he was muttering, he bumped into some thugs coming from the opposite direction.

"Hey, where are you looking, walking around?!"
"Ouch! It hurts!"
"Are you okay! --You hurt my junior. You think you're getting away with this for free?!"

He had run into some low-quality individuals.

Around them, people muttered, "It's them again," and moved away, trying not to get involved.

Yasushi was surrounded by three thugs, with no escape.

"It was just a light bump!"

He resisted, but it was useless against the three of them.

"Is that all you have to say? It seems you need to learn a lesson the hard way."
"Big brother! Let's take him to an illegal doctor and sell his organs."
"That's a great idea!"

It was no use talking.

Facing the three clearly villainous figures, Yasushi prayed to the heavens.

(Someone, please help me!)

Then, the surroundings began to buzz.

The trio ignored the commotion and moved to attack Yasushi.

"Anyone who underestimates us--"

But--.

"Everyone-- what? Finish what you were saying."

Yasushi looked behind the trio and heard a familiar voice.

He had grown taller since the last time he saw him.

However, he had encountered someone he really didn't want to meet.

(God, not him. Please, stop him!)

When the trio turned around, Liam was standing there.

He was holding a weapon in his right hand.

A laser blade – a convenient weapon to carry.

Seeing Liam like that, the trio drew their handguns.

"Kid. Don't talk to us so casually--"

The head of the man who spoke fell off with a plop.

Yasushi trembled with a chilling sensation.

(This guy... he reproduced my technique with martial arts!)

His technique seemed even stronger than when he had seen him before.

Yasushi couldn't gauge his skill, but he understood that Liam had become an uncontrollable existence.

His instincts screamed at him: Do not fight that.

He had to escape—but he was already within Liam's reach.

(It's... over.)

Yasushi felt his life was over, and his terror turned into a look of resignation.

The thugs looked confused, unable to comprehend what had happened.

As Liam approached, they raised their weapons, but then both of them spurted blood from their bodies and collapsed.

The surroundings also looked bewildered.

As the smell of blood spread, Liam said,

"Don't get in my way. Hey, old man, you're also getting involved with these guys--"

Liam didn't seem to notice Yasushi.

But when he saw Yasushi's face, he knelt on the ground and bowed his head.

"M-Master! I-I apologize."

Seeing Liam hastily bowing his head, Yasushi was at his limit.

With a resigned—rather, a dignified demeanor, he spoke to Liam.

"You look well."

"Y-Yes. Uh, um... are you living here?"

What should he answer?

If he said anything foolish, he would be revealing his whereabouts to Liam.

He couldn't do that.

"I'm traveling... traveling."

"Traveling? Uh, why are you here without even a sword? I don't think Master needs to worry, but shouldn't you have some kind of weapon?"

Yasushi thought.

(I already sold it! Because I have no money! If only I could say that easily.)

"I was traveling with nothing but the clothes on my back, unarmed."

"Why?"

(Huh? Why... there's no reason!)

"...I am looking for a disciple."

Looking at Liam, he spoke a reason that came to mind.

Liam smiled.

"If that's the case, I will immediately prepare a dojo in my territory. If you could dedicate yourself to training the next generation there, I would be happy, and your wish would be fulfilled."

"No, that won't do."

"Eh?"

Liam looked as if to say, "Why not?"

(Whoa! My brain, please work at full capacity right now and think of a good excuse!)

Yasushi spoke the reason that came to his mind.

"What I am looking for is not just any disciple. I am looking for a disciple to complete Issen-ryu—to complete Issen-ryu."

"Complete? No, Issen-ryu is already complete, isn't it?"

"That is incorrect!"

He denied it strongly, but Yasushi was panicking internally.

Liam, being scolded by Yasushi, closed his mouth and waited for his next words.

"There is no end to the path of martial arts. Issen-ryu is about continuous progress."

"--Master, I was foolish. But then, wouldn't it be alright to look for disciples in my territory?"

"To complete the true Issen-ryu, I must find children who I think have potential. Liam, you are one such possibility, but it's not enough. I still need to find two more disciples like you."

(Huh? This way, I'm just indirectly saying I don't want to go to his territory. This is bad. I need to follow up!)

Yasushi's brain was working at full speed.

"--The Issen-ryu within me and the Issen-ryu within you, Liam, are different things. If I stay close to you, I won't be able to find new possibilities."

"Th-that might be true, but I wouldn't interfere with Master, would I?"

"It's not just my problem. Liam—once you've achieved mastery, you must pass on the Issen-ryu within you to the next generation. Are you telling me to interfere with you? Or do you intend not to take any disciples?"

Liam's gaze shifted.

He hadn't considered his disciples.

(Ah, I've got it! If I tell him to take disciples like this, I can direct his attention to them!)

"Liam, have at least three disciples. Not everyone can entrust their swords to the next generation as swordsmen. I want you to pass on Issen-ryu to more disciples. You are already a fine swordsman."

"Master—I was wrong."

Liam seemed touched, perhaps feeling that Yasushi was thinking of him.

(Of course it's a lie! But with this, I think I can somehow get through this. I want to escape right away, but I can't leave this planet because I have no money. Damn, what should I do?)

Then, Liam said,

"However, as your disciple, I cannot overlook you being in such a state. Though it's a small amount, I will prepare some travel expenses for you."

"Is that so? That is most kind."

(Yes! Now I can escape from him!)

Liam charged Yasushi with electronic money.

Seeing the amount, Yasushi felt his blood drain.

(What? What is this amount? The number of zeros is ridiculous.)

Receiving an unbelievable sum, Yasushi struggled to hide his inner feelings.

And then, he planned to leave this territory immediately.

◇

After seeing off my master, I pondered my new goal.

"Three disciples—and not just any disciples, but ones I deem worthy. It's not just anyone, so what should I do?"

I have to work hard to spread Issen-ryu.

First, should I go see the dojo in my territory?

However, Issen-ryu is not taught there.

Since only I can teach it, I cannot appoint a master.

Only masters of mainstream sword styles are appointed.

"As expected, I have to find them myself. Still, everything Master says carries weight. I should learn from him too."

He was being bothered by thugs, but he acted as if he didn't care at all.

Isn't that the composure of a strong person?

I aim to be a corrupt lord, but I want my master to continue on his path as he is.

"What are you muttering about, complaining to yourself?"

The knight who was my instructor came to see me, who had been thrown into the prison of the Viscount Razel's estate.

It seems causing a disturbance in the town was the problem.

"Honestly, coming for training and causing trouble."

"I apologize."

I had snuck out of the mansion with my seniors and was playing in the entertainment district—but I got lost.

The thugs were noisy, and I was irritated.

I dislike people like that.

Among the debt collectors, there were thugs like them.

Unlike in dramas or movies, they weren't secretly kind; they were just unreasonable.

"However, I can understand your feelings."

The knight smiled as he looked at me.

"I investigated, and they seem to be a group with a bad reputation. Honestly, it's questionable why they haven't been arrested."

They seemed to be quite bad people.

Well, it doesn't matter.

It was their fault for getting in my way.

Also, they laid hands on my master. It wasn't like I needed to kill them anyway.

"Lord Randolph says he will release you soon. Get some rest."

"I will do that."

It was good timing, as I wanted to think about my disciples.

◇

In the territory of Viscount Razel, at the hideout of ruffians.

There were pirates making a fuss because three of their comrades had been killed.

--Liam had killed members of the pirate crew.

"Captain, are we just going to stand by and do nothing?"

"--You idiot. If we do that, won't our reputation be ruined?"

The pirates were the largest pirate group in the territory of Viscount Razel.

"However, it seems the opponent is a noble. A disciple training at the Razel family."

"It's scary not knowing what kind of opponent it is. Killing is easy, but I want to avoid trouble. Hey, is there anyone who can investigate?"

One of his subordinates raised his hand.

"In that case, there's a VIP who comes to the casino. He's the heir of the Count Pietak family, and he owes our establishment money. We might be able to get information from him."

"Alright, get close to him. Use alcohol, women, money—whatever it takes to find out who that idiot who messed with us is. We will definitely get revenge."

They were meticulous, planning to investigate the opponent first.

"We'll make the noble regret messing with us."

The pirates grinned and swore revenge on Liam.

◇

In the territory of Viscount Razel.

Thomas was visiting for a business negotiation, in a place he rarely visited.

"Liam-sama's name doesn't seem to have much effect on the pirates around here."

In the territories where Liam had been rampaging and their surroundings, most pirates wouldn't dare to interfere.

However, it seemed different in Viscount Razel's territory.

One of his subordinates reported.

"We were only charged a toll, but could it be that they are connected to the Viscount's family? The timing of the attacks is too suspicious."

Thomas had also felt that.

"I know. But I'm reluctant to ask Liam-sama to provide guards. Even considering the profit, the cost of guards would make it a loss."

It was good to come to the spaceport of Viscount Razel, but he had to return immediately after the business negotiation.

"I wanted to pay my respects to Liam-sama, but that's impossible now."

His subordinate sighed.

"After the transaction, we'll only make a small profit. I can't shake the feeling that the pirates here are also connected to the Viscount's family."

As if it were planned, the pirates demanded tolls within the range that would allow merchants to profit.

It was an amount that made it seem easier to just pay.

"--I heard he's a well-regarded lord, but I wonder what he's really like."

Thomas began to worry if Liam would be corrupted by the Razel family's ways.

Brian (T_T) "Liam-sama, could it be that you trust that Yasushi more than me, Brian? --It hurts."