"Linus? He was no enemy of mine. I told you that before, didn't I?"

Next to me, as I drank at the hotel bar, sat a stunned Wallace.

He had been looking strangely haggard lately, but hearing about the assassination attempt seemed to have snapped him out of it.

"No way. To think you could actually beat Brother Linus."

As for that Linus, he was now being treated as a fool who rushed Cleo's assassination and failed.

The world is cold to those who fail.

But Wallace had held Linus in high regard.

"Brother Linus was a man who built his own faction and earned the second-in-line position to the throne through his own power. For him to meet an end like this..."

I glanced at the bewildered Wallace and tilted my glass.

"I told you, didn't I? Not to worry."

"Yeah, you said that, but! Normally, no one would think you could win!"

"I had a chance of winning from the very beginning. Do you really think I'd pick a fight I couldn't win?"

"Huh? No, but... he's the brother who's second in line to the throne!"

I fought because I knew I could win.

Certainly, the forces Linus could mobilize were greater than mine, and he likely still had more cards to play.

However, Linus was also in conflict with the main contender, Calvin.

I just aimed for that opening.

It was a battle I was more than capable of winning.

After all, Linus couldn't use his full strength against us.

Fighting fair and square is not what an evil lord does.

Making moves to prevent the enemy from using their full power is the way of a proper evil lord.

And by defeating Linus, Cleo's reputation has skyrocketed.

To snatch all the delicious parts for myself—that, too, is the mark of an evil lord.

However, the bonus stage ends here—I thought of my next opponent.

"But next up is Calvin. He's going to be a handful."

Wallace seemed to agree.

"He's the Crown Prince, after all. Many nobles support him, and a large portion of the palace is probably on Brother Calvin's side too. I was surprised you managed to defeat Brother Linus, but what do you plan to do now?"

"—There are no clever tricks."

"You don't have any?!"

The man named Calvin holds the position of Crown Prince, and his standing is nearly unshakable.

He's not a man who would fight recklessly like Linus.

To put it simply, he has no openings.

The nobles gathered around him are numerous, and the quality of his personnel is also high.

Wallace was holding his head in his hands.

"What are we going to do?! Brother Calvin is the more troublesome one!"

"Don't worry about it. It'll just be a long battle. In the end, the one who wins will be me, the one favored by fortune."

Losing is out of the question.

Besides, I have the Guide on my side—there's no way I can lose.

All I have to do is enjoy this battle.

Once Cleo is on the throne, I'll do whatever I please.

Oops, I was about to forget something important.

"By the way, Wallace, what's the status on that group date?"

Wallace looked at me, said nothing, and downed his drink in one gulp.

"Hey, that's more important to me, you know!"

Damn it! I want to fool around like a university student, but this succession war is taking up so much time I can't even play properly.

I want to live it up more as a nobleman!

◇

The capital planet was in an uproar.

"Did you hear? Prince Linus has fallen ill, and the second-in-line position to the throne is now vacant."
"Won't the third prince just move up?"
"No, it seems to be vacant. But isn't it impossible for the third prince?"

The second prince, Linus, had passed away.

Everyone predicted that the inner palace would become tumultuous as a result, with a scramble for the second-in-line position.

In fact, the princes ranked fourth and below, along with their noble backers, are already maneuvering behind the scenes to obtain the second-in-line position, bypassing Cleo.

From here on, the number of princes and princesses who disappear will likely increase—that's what everyone expected.

The reason was that similar things had happened many times before.

And there was one more topic that was exciting the capital planet—and the Empire.

◇

On a planet far from the capital.

Yasushi trembled as he clutched an electronic newspaper.

On it, an image of Liam holding a press conference was displayed, a video playing on the paper's surface.

Yasushi was trembling.

"Th-that bastard! He did it. He finally did it!"

Yasushi cried.

Not out of happiness.

He cried out of anger, and out of fear.

In the video, Liam was boldly declaring before the reporters.

"The Sword Saint? Ah, I defeated him. I, a man who holds the master's license of the Issen-ryu style, did it."

The reporters were bewildered.

"Are you saying you defeated one of the Four Heavenly Kings? For real?"

"Don't make me say it again. I cut him down. But it's strange for the system to not let me call myself the Sword Saint after I've slain the Sword Saint, so I've already applied to the palace to have me recognized as such."

"Y-you're claiming the title of Sword Saint for yourself? Normally, one needs to receive recommendations and pass numerous screenings before His Majesty the Emperor even considers it—"

"Are you an idiot? The Sword Saint those guys chose lost. They have no eye for talent. I am the strongest. I am the Sword Saint. If you won't recognize it, then bring the remaining three here right now! I'll cut them all down."

The commotion at the scene was palpable through the video.

Then, as if suddenly remembering, Liam spoke.

"Oh, my apologies. I'm not the strongest. My master is."

"Your master, you say? Would that be the master of the Issen-ryu style? In the first place, why is this master so unknown? If the swordsmanship is that powerful, it should be more famous—"

"You bastard, are you trying to mock Master Yasushi?!"

Liam displayed an image of Yasushi.

It was a sharp, handsome-looking picture of Yasushi.

It had been taken previously while he was teaching Liam the sword.

He was displaying such a thing on a large screen in front of the reporters.

"You idiot!"

Yasushi wanted to stop it, but by the time he was watching this video, it was already in the past. There was no way to stop it.

Liam, with clear eyes, praised Yasushi.

"He is the strongest man in this universe. The strongest swordsman I am still chasing—but I still can't imagine ever surpassing my master. I'm more afraid of fighting my master than I am of fighting a Sword Saint."

The reporters were astonished.

"Is he really that amazing?!"
"To be stronger than the one who defeated a Sword Saint means—"
"The strongest swordsman in the universe—Yasushi! No, a Sword God who surpasses the Sword Saint!?"
"Sword God Yasushi!"
"The universe's strongest Sword God!"
"Yasushi—who in the world is he?!"

The article's headline read, "The Strongest Man in the Universe, the Sword God! —His Name is Yasushi!" and it was featured prominently.

Yasushi was terrified that such news had reached even this planet, far from the capital.

Yasushi trembled.

(This is bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad—if I stay here, I'll definitely be killed. I have to run—I have to escape the Empire!?)

Liam's goodwill was cornering Yasushi.

In a dim, shack-like house, Yasushi was contemplating his future.

Just then, there was a commotion at the entrance.

"Hey, bring out Yasushi. Bring out the strongest man in the universe!"

The voice he heard belonged to a man.

He must be a man who learned of Yasushi from the news and was trying to defeat him to become number one in the universe.

He was confident in his skills; it was clear from his voice.

"Eek! Eeeeeek!!"

As Yasushi tried to escape through the window, he heard the voices of his disciples fighting with the man.

"Huh? What makes a small fry like you think you can fight our master?"

"What a delusional bastard."

It seemed his two disciples were at the entrance and were dealing with the man.

"—You brats dare to mock me, the founder of the Infinite Esoterica Style? I'm a man who has already cut down five renowned knights!"

Cutting down five people, he was a genuinely dangerous man.

Yasushi didn't think his disciples could win against such a man and put his foot on the windowsill to escape.

Then—THWACK!—he heard a sound.

It sounded like a wooden sword hitting a human body, but the sound was too loud.

A moment later, the man's scream could be heard.

"Gyaaaah! My arm! My arm!"

The disciples were laughing.

"Stop screaming like that. You'll bother the neighbors. The old lady next door is a real nag."

"I'll crush your right leg next."

He heard the sound of flesh being crushed again, and the man was wailing.

As he trembled, the man's companions were shouting something.

"St-stop it!"
"We're leaving! We'll never come back!"
"P-please, forgive us!"

However, the disciples were unforgiving.

"Did you really cut down five renowned knights? You're weak, so weak it's making me yawn."

The brutish disciple seemed to have been hoping the man might be at least a little strong.

He was irritated that his expectations were betrayed.

"Hah? You believed their lies? What an i~diot."

The giggling child mocked even the brutish disciple.

And while that child was laughing, he heard the sound of flesh being beaten and crushed again.

Yasushi's cold sweat wouldn't stop.

The brutish disciple spoke to the sadistic disciple who enjoyed tormenting people at a leisurely pace.

"I'll kill you first."

"—Don't you remember that you need the master's permission for disciples of the same school to fight to the death? Ahh, I'm gonna tell on you to the master."

"Y-you!"

Fighting to the death among fellow disciples is forbidden—this was a lie Yasushi had made up as insurance for when Liam challenged him. He had made sure to tell his two disciples this because they were already stronger than him.

Yasushi climbed down from the window, and after confirming that the men had fled, he headed to the entrance.

The entrance was in a terrible state, but he was careful not to let a single eyebrow twitch.

It was to maintain his dignity in front of the two.

(What vicious brats. But with them, they could even defeat Liam. They'll also defeat the idiots who come after me. No, maybe it's better to just leave the Empire.)

Yasushi looked at the two blood-soaked disciples and let out a sigh.

"You two, are you at it again?"

The two hurriedly straightened their posture in front of Yasushi.

"B-but Master!"

"I tried to stop him."

Yasushi screamed in his heart.

(Like hell you did! Your attitude is what's scary!)

While looking after the two, he had somehow managed to maintain his dignity as a master.

Now, both of them called Yasushi 'Master'.

"Both of you, clean this up, take a shower, and then come to the back room."

And when the two had showered and come to the back room, Yasushi handed them the tools to kill Liam.

To the brutish child, he gave two katanas.

To the child with a nasty personality, a katana longer than a normal one.

Each was the finest article he could purchase.

The source of the funds was the money he had received from Liam.

The two received the katanas, their eyes sparkling.

"Whoa! Master, can we really have these?!"

"It's my katana!"

He had also prepared clothes tailored for the two of them.

He had also gathered supplies for them to set out on a journey.

The reason—was for them to go and kill Liam.

(With two of them, at least one should succeed. Once they're gone, I can just flee the Empire.)

Yasushi turned a serious face to the two.

"—I hereby grant you both the master's license."

The two looked at each other.

"Huh? Master, why? But, our training is still—"

"Th-that's right, Master!"

Yasushi smiled, but inwardly, a cold sweat was pouring down his back.

(There's nothing left for me to teach you! Liam was the same, but these guys are also seriously dangerous.)

In the first place, there was little he could teach them.

If he kept them by his side forever, he felt he would eventually expose himself.

Yasushi wanted to get rid of the two as quickly as possible.

"Go on a journey into the outside world and polish your own swords. You must find the Issen-ryu style of you two."

The two looked like they were about to cry.

But they were hugging their katanas.

Yasushi couldn't understand that.

(Why are you so moved you're hugging your katanas? You're scaring me.)

However, he wouldn't tell them his true objective.

"Journey and polish your skills. There will surely be life-or-death battles. Your paths may diverge at times. But remember this one thing. —Your senior disciple will put the finishing touches on your swordsmanship."

The brutish child was wiping away tears.

"Senior disciple—Liam? He's also from the Issen-ryu, right?"

"That's right. As you are now, you wouldn't stand a chance. So, polish your skills in the outside world. And then, challenge your senior disciple."

The child with the nasty personality was sniffling.

"Is he really that strong? We're strong too, you know."

Yasushi nodded in his heart.

(Honestly, how should I know who's stronger? From my perspective, you're all monsters. Just kill each other, you monsters.)

Yasushi spoke.

"He is strong. You two must intend to kill your senior disciple—no, you must kill him. Without that much spirit, it is you two who will lose your lives instead. —Challenge him together. That is how great the difference in power is between you and your senior disciple."

(Well, if they challenge him together, they should be able to win.)

As the two nodded through their tears, Yasushi told them their travel preparations were complete and provided them with clothes.

They were high-quality clothes. The reason he went to the trouble of preparing them for the two was likely due to his own sense of guilt.

And he also prepared electronic money equivalent to several million.

He figured this would be enough for them to live on for a while, and that the two of them could earn money as bounty hunters or something.

"Once you two leave here, I will also vacate this place."

"Master!?"

"Wh-why is that!?"

"It is so that your resolve does not dull. And I, too, will set out on a journey. I will continue to polish the Issen-ryu. We may never meet again, but I pray for your safety."

(If they beat Liam, I could call them back and make them my guards—no, that's no good. I don't want to be with monsters like these. My heart wouldn't be at ease. Besides, if they kill the current Liam, they'll become wanted criminals.)

As the two cried, he continued to speak to them gently.

Then, the two changed their clothes, put the katanas at their waists, and came before Yasushi.

"—You've grown up."

When he said that, the two looked embarrassed.

The two thanked Yasushi.

"Master—thank you for everything. Once I defeat my senior disciple and become a full-fledged swordsman, I'll come see you again, Master!"

"I'll prove that I'm the master's number one disciple. Well then, Master—until we meet again."

Watching the two depart, Yasushi grinned.

(Haaah, they're finally gone. It took decades to raise those two. I'm finally free.)

Yasushi looked at the house the two had left.

(—I-I'm a little lonely.)

It seemed he had grown attached to them while raising them.

But he couldn't stay here any longer.

(I never thought a man like me would raise children. Well, I guess they were pitiful for being raised by me.)

Yasushi was about to begin his own preparations to flee the Empire's territory.

Just then, the old lady from next door barged in.

"Mr. Yasushi! Your kids were making a racket again, you know?"

"Oh, neighbor! M-my apologies for that."

"I don't know if it's swordsmanship or what, but is there any point in working so hard at something with no future in a place like this? Besides, you don't look very strong yourself."

Being told off so bluntly by the old lady, Yasushi could only manage a bitter smile.

"Hahaha—I'm ashamed of myself."

(Damn it, she's saying whatever she wants! As if I'd ever touch a sword again! With this, my days of cowering in fear of Liam are over. Leaving the Empire is a little scary, but I should have done this from the start.)

He would go to a land where no one knew him.

As Yasushi thought this, he felt refreshed—no, a little lonely.

Yasushi found himself strangely concerned about the two who had left the nest.

Painful-Brian (´；ω；｀): "It's painful. If I don't say it's painful, people say I'm a fake or that I'm being parasitized by some weird plant. The way this Brian is treated is too cruel... it's painful."

Sapling-chan (゜∀゜): "How rude! I don't parasitize people! I just take them over! More importantly, Brian—look at your name."

Painful-Brian Σ(´；ω；｀): "My name is—!!"