I've secured stock during the New Year's holiday.
I plan to continue daily updates throughout the three days of the New Year.

The Seventh Weapon Factory.
Nias, working there, moved through the zero-gravity space in her work clothes.

She looked like she was flying, but her movement stopped when she reached a certain point.

Before her was a fortress-class space carrier, over two thousand meters long.

"Hey, why isn't it selling? I thought it was going to be adopted by the regular army."

Her junior made an excuse to the angry Nias.

"The Third Weapon Factory cut in. They just announced their new fortress-class model."

"That's terrible! This is a model that's been improved since its announcement twenty years ago. Ours is superior in stability and performance."

Unusually for the Seventh Weapon Factory, which pursued performance, maintainability, and productivity, they also focused on design.

However, they still lost to the popular Third Weapon Factory in terms of brand power.

Her junior looked troubled.

"What should we do? If we can't deliver this, the dock won't be free. Also, we'll be in trouble if we don't get the payment for this."

The price of a fortress-class was higher than a super-dreadnought battleship.

And if the Empire didn't buy it, the buyers were limited.

It couldn't be sold to foreign countries.

It could be sold to territorial nobles, but only to those whose families had been granted permission by the Empire.

The only family Nias could think of that might buy it was the Banfield family.

However, Liam was currently undergoing training.

It was not preferred to intrude on someone's training grounds to negotiate.

But she wanted to sell it immediately.

So,

"In that case, I have no choice but to sneak into the party being held at the training grounds. It was the Razel Viscount family, wasn't it? Do we have any dealings with them?"

She asked her junior to check, and they began to investigate.

"Yes, we do. Twenty years ago, they purchased a batch of old regular army models that we serviced. After that... it seems they've been buying products from other weapon factories."

"If they have money, I wish they'd buy the new model."

"Only a handful of families, including the Banfield Count family, buy new models so readily. Um... if it's a Viscount family's party, the closest one is this."

Nias could only attend events where she could represent the Seventh Weapon Factory.

This was a party to send off the disciples who had finished their training.

"But that's still in the future! Other weapon factory people will be there, and I can't try to sell it here!"

"But that's about all we can participate in."

Nias became dejected.

"If this dock doesn't become free, the development plan will be delayed."

It couldn't be dismantled.

It couldn't be left outside.

Nias had to sell it no matter what.

◇

Ever since I heard about that man's explosive condition, I've been living a serious life.

I want to go out and have fun, but I'm too scared to, which is the truth.

Thanks to that, before I knew it, my training had entered its third year.

"Before I knew it, it's almost over."

"That's right."

Three years, which felt long but was short – in the latter half, I couldn't have fun because I was terrified of the explosion.

Damn it – this is all the fault of that idiotic viscount.

I've decided to conduct a mass examination of my citizens as soon as I return to my territory.

A territory this dangerous, where I can't even have proper fun, is too much.

"Speaking of which, there's a martial arts demonstration the day before training ends."

"Ah, you mean the match."

A match is held the day before we leave, inviting all the relevant people.

However, this is a match designed to let the well-behaved noble children who receive special treatment win.

We were instructed to lose gracefully.

"The viscount is pathetic, isn't he? Just trying to please the rich folks."

I thought I was rich myself, but there are always people richer than you.

Families with history, who have developed their territories for generations, are still beyond my reach.

Just realizing that is a gain.

However, there's a problem.

"In my case, I have a master's license, so it's a problem if I lose, isn't it?"

"I'm the same. But since Peter is also there, I feel relieved."

"Why?"

Kurt and Peter were practitioners of the same Aren-style swordsmanship.

As it's a famous sword style, there are many disciples.

There are an enormous number of them – and there seems to be a problem.

"If the opponent is from the same school and also has a master's license, it's not a problem if I lose."

"Is Peter as strong as you?"

"--No, Peter bought his master's license with money."

When I heard about it, it seems that famous sword styles sell master's licenses to people of social standing.

This serves as publicity, and their retainers also try to learn the same style as their lord.

In my case, since there's no one to teach Issen-ryu, my retainers have learned martial arts on their own.

"Famous sword styles are also tough, aren't they?"

"My father only received his master's license after becoming a lord. I heard he paid quite a lot of money."

Hearing that makes Master Anshi's integrity stand out.

To prevent Issen-ryu from disappearing, I have to take on disciples seriously, or it would be inexcusable.

Still, what should I do about the match?

Would it be better to simply not participate?

However, I'm a little curious.

If Peter's family is a very benevolent noble family, would they buy a master's license with money? Perhaps they consider individual martial prowess to be useless?

--As expected, we are incompatible.

◇

I lived at the Razel Viscount's estate for three years, but this is longer than I've spent at my own home.

As I was feeling a bit complex, I saw Peter walking arm-in-arm with Lady Katerina, who was cleaning the garden. Damn it – no, Katerina.

As they approached me,

"Yo, pauper."

"Peter, you poor thing."

Lady Katerina, who said "you poor thing" while giggling. Damn it – no, Katerina.

My family is still repaying the debt left by my grandparents and parents, so it's not like I can't be called poor.

I could repay it all at once, but Amagi told me it would attract attention if I repaid it suddenly, so I've continued to repay the debt.

Because of that, I'm treated as poor.

"Do you need something?"

Peter was smiling defiantly.

"I thought I'd bestow something upon you, pauper. I'll take you to the casino I frequent."

It seems he was bored and came to invite me.

Casinos and playing in a viscount's territory where the entertainment district isn't properly managed is foolish.

I'd rather earn revenue from casinos than play in them.

"I decline."

When I politely refused, Peter's face contorted.

"Y-you refuse my invitation! Th-this guy, despite being poor!"

Peter, who suddenly lunged at me, tripped right in front of me.

He then hit his head and writhed in pain.

"Peter, are you okay!"

Lady Katerina rushed over and helped him up, and Peter glared at me.

"I won't forgive you. I'll report this to the Viscount!"

"You just tripped yourself."

What is this guy talking about?

I dismissed him with that attitude and returned to my cleaning.

◇

The guide watched Liam and Peter's argument from the roof of the mansion.

"--That one is out of the question."

He's been moving around to get revenge on Liam, but without success.

The reason is that there's no one who can defeat Liam.

Even Kurt couldn't defeat a serious Liam.

"Time is passing without me being able to do anything. Is this okay?"

Even if I try to do various things, my own power is now limited.

To efficiently make Liam unhappy, I had to use my strength at the right moments.

"The pirates who are trying to get Liam are also smaller scale and weaker than Goaz was before. They're completely unreliable."

So, even if I find some convenient people nearby, it's unlikely to yield results if I manipulate them into attacking Liam.

"It's not enough. It's not enough at all. What should I do?"

The guide was agonizing and unable to act again today.

A white light was watching the guide's back – and then it moved away, heading somewhere.

◇

"Damn it! That bastard won't show himself!"

The pirate captain slammed his fist on the table.

Even though they've been gathering information about Liam and making preparations – Liam himself isn't showing up.

He's holed up in his mansion, and the pirates couldn't get to him.

"Captain, if this continues, he'll finish his training and return home. Liam's hometown isn't our territory."

If they let him escape, they won't be able to chase him anymore.

The pirates couldn't end this by being looked down upon and considered the next step.

The captain said--.

"--Contact that Randolph fellow."

"I-is that alright? They told us not to contact them carelessly."

"This is an important time! If we're looked down upon, other pirate groups will move in and gain influence. That guy doesn't want that either."

When the subordinate hastily made contact, Randolph's image was projected in front of the captain after a while.

"What is it?"

To the displeased Randolph, the captain spoke deferentially.

"Viscount, there's something I'd like to tell you."

◇

"--What do you think?"

In the office.

Randolph frowned at the story brought by the pirates.

"You want to hurt the noble children we're housing? What are you thinking? It's obviously impossible."

It would be a problem for the Viscount's family's credibility.

He said that couldn't be allowed, and the pirates seemed to understand that.

"Viscount, we have our pride. To suppress other pirates who are encroaching on our territory, we need to take on the fools who pick fights."

Ending up being looked down upon.

Pirates have it tough too.

"Isn't it precisely because of our family's pride that you can live?"

"I understand. So – before he returns home, won't you let us beat him up?"

Hearing that, the Viscount stroked his chin.

(These guys' displeasure isn't worth the Banfield family's value.)

"--Please do it outside of our territory."

"Of course. And you will cooperate, won't you?"

"We can't deploy our fleet. However, our response to a rescue request might be delayed."

He said he wouldn't lend a hand, nor would he help Liam, and the pirates grinned.

"That's fine. However, to be safe, there's someone I'd like to borrow help from."

"Who?"

"It's Lord Peter of the Pietack family."

Randolph's gaze sharpened, but the pirates were unfazed.

(I heard he had a dispute with the Banfield brat, but he couldn't hold back.)

Peter and Katerina had reported various things to Randolph.

Peter said he was hit, and Katerina later told me it was just a fall.

(He's too incompetent. But if I offend him here and the marriage is canceled, I'll be in trouble.)

The scale of the Pietack family, which Randolph was misunderstanding, was very attractive.

If they formed an alliance, it would be a great benefit to the Viscount's family.

Therefore, it would be problematic if he got upset here.

"--The Pietack family's fleet will not participate. Only pirates will participate. Understood?"

Although he didn't say it, he was telling them to call the Pietack family pirates.

If so, he would approve, and the pirates were satisfied.

"I understand, Viscount. Only pirates will attack the Banfield family. And you won't interfere. This way, we can beat them up without holding back."

"The Banfield family is a family that doesn't matter if they disappear. Even if they are attacked by pirates and lose their heir, the Empire won't investigate."

He didn't expect a full-scale investigation.

So, if he informed the Empire of the whole story, everything would be buried in darkness--.

Randolph was convinced of this.

"Don't leave any evidence."

"Of course."

After the communication ended, Randolph returned to his work.

It was the confirmation of attendees for the party to send off the disciples undergoing training who would be leaving the mansion at the end of the year.

"Hmm, thanks to the Pietack family's participation, this year's event seems to be larger than usual."

Randolph, with a satisfied look, was impressed by the number of participants.

Many families wanted to expand their connections using this as a stepping stone.

Merchants, weapon factories, and various others – he was looking forward to it.

"Still, accepting the Banfield family was a mistake, wasn't it?"

Brian (T_T) "--It's painful. It's painful that I can't do anything."
Tia (# ゜言゜) "--Die."