The day came to leave my territory for training.

At the spaceport, a dreadnought-class battleship, exceeding six hundred meters in length, was prepared for me.

Seeing it, I felt dissatisfied.

"No, they should have brought out a flagship-class super-dreadnought."

Flagship-class vessels, exceeding one thousand meters, are simply more conspicuous.

There's no point in buying three of them if I can't use them.

Amagi rejected my opinion.

"The crew's training is not yet complete. Furthermore, given the scale of the spaceport owned by the Leizel Viscountcy, a dreadnought-class battleship was deemed appropriate. Besides, deploying any more vessels than this would be intimidating."

The fleet prepared to accompany my departure numbered three hundred ships.

As a Count's family, I wondered if this was sufficient, but apparently, sending a large fleet to the family I would be staying with was not a preferred action.

"To show my strength, shouldn't I increase the numbers?"

"Please don't provoke the family you'll be staying with. -- Master, it's almost time."

The surroundings were filled with people who came to see me off.

Officials, soldiers, mansion servants -- and Brian was crying so hard it was hard to watch.

"Liam-sama, you have become so dignified."

This guy cries easily from emotion, but I'm only going to spend three years at another house.

Personally, I doubt whether one can grow as a person to that extent.

After all, I'll just be receiving hospitality.

"I'll leave Brian as he is."

"Liam-sama!"

Brian calls out my name, but I ignore him and speak to Amagi.

"--I'll leave the rest to you."

Amagi smiled at me.

"Understood."

◇

The Leizel Viscount's mansion.

As the servants lined up, the one who greeted them was Peter from the Pietack Count's family.

His pink hair was styled flamboyantly, and his tanned skin was adorned with makeup.

He didn't look like the heir of a great noble family at all.

His body was slender, and he didn't seem to be training much.

"Huh, is this the Viscount's mansion? It's quite nice."

His drawn-out speech and his way of speaking to Randolph were as if he were addressing a friend.

Randolph felt anger at this, but

(Even if he's a bit of an idiot, it's not bad considering future relations. I can use him for the Leizel family.)

Hiding his inner thoughts, he responded with a smile.

"I'm glad you like it. I've prepared a party for you today, so until then, you must be tired from your journey, so please rest."

"You're reasonable. Then, hurry up and show me to my room."

Randolph did not reprimand Peter's attitude.

The reason was that he remembered the pile of gifts he believed his own family had accumulated.

He had received a quantity that made such an attitude insignificant.

"Speaking of which, from tomorrow, I plan to have my daughter guide you through various things."

Having his daughter guide him -- the meaning was to marry her off to Peter.

Even if Peter himself lacked any notable talent or qualities, he wanted to forge a connection with the Pietack Count's family.

Therefore, he decided to marry off his daughter.

One of the benefits of accepting noble children as trainees is finding a fiancé for one's own children.

Families who send their children are often looking to forge connections.

Therefore, marriage negotiations tended to proceed smoothly.

When Peter heard this news --

"The Viscount's daughter? Is she beautiful?"

-- he didn't seem to understand much.

But Randolph forgave him with a smile.

(A man like this, my daughter can easily manipulate him.)

Although he himself was the worst, he wanted the connection with the Count's family.

That's what Randolph thought.

◇

The Leizel Viscount's mansion was also spacious.

Unlike my mansion, which was more like a... something, it was a bit smaller, but still a sufficiently large mansion.

Upon arriving at the spaceport, I came to the mansion along with other noble children.

A vassal knight of the Viscountcy guided us.

I believe he held a certain status, but he was not an Imperial Knight.

"From today, you will live here."

We were shown to rooms for two people.

Everyone was saying things like "This is impossible," but the knight paid no mind.

"You are not guests. You have come here for training. You will follow the policies of this house."

Although the rooms were quite clean, the noble children seemed dissatisfied.

Me?

--The room I lived in when I died in my previous life was even worse, so I don't feel anything about it.

More importantly, I thought I would be entertained, but it seems like the training is quite serious.

The knight raised his voice.

"Put your luggage down and head to the ground. Jogging!"

When I entered the room to put down my luggage, the person I was sharing it with was a man named Kurt Sera Exner, from a Baron's family.

--Hmph, I win. I'm from a Count's family, so I'm more important than him.

As I was thinking that, the knight shouted.

"Hurry up!"

One of the children retorted.

"Don't act so high and mighty, you vassal knight. I'm the second son of a Count --"

"So what! This is the Leizel Viscountcy. Your family has nothing to do with it!"

The child who resisted was slapped, and seeing this, the other children suddenly started moving briskly.

Of course -- I also hurriedly changed and headed to the ground.

"I will retrain you, who have been living a listless life in your homes!"

The knight was enthusiastic.

--It seems the Leizel Viscountcy has no concept of "entertainment."

"Damn it, this isn't how it was supposed to go."

As I muttered my complaint, the man sharing my room had a composed expression.

He had unruly blonde hair styled short.

His purple eyes were distinctive, but -- he was even more handsome.

He had an expression that suggested this was no problem at all.

--It made me angry.

The knight led us outside the mansion -- the garden of the building that became our dormitory was the training ground, and we were immediately made to run.

"First, we'll do some running. From now on, I'll train you every morning!"

Amagi -- and Brian, why did you choose this place for training?

Unlike the training life I had imagined, I felt like giving up on the very first day.

◇

A week has passed since the noble children were accepted.

Randolph gathered the knights who were their instructors and asked for their evaluations of the children they had taken in this year.

Peter's evaluation was low.

"Please also caution him, Randolph-sama. I've given up on him sleeping during lessons, but it's unbelievable that he's inviting women to his room and making noise until morning."

Peter, along with some of the children he wanted to associate with in the future, were being educated by the Viscountcy.

This education was separate from Liam and the others.

"Indeed. I will speak to him."

However, he also thought that fools were easier to manage, so he didn't feel anything about it.

Randolph had no expectations for Peter personally.

"And what about the other children we accepted?"

The knight who instructed Liam and the others said:

"I gave them a stern warning on the first day, so they are now well-behaved. Although there is variation in education depending on the family, in about a year, we can provide proper education."

Randolph nodded.

"Were there any children who caught your eye?"

"As expected, it's Kurt of the Exner family. His personal talent and aptitude are considerable. And then there's Liam of the Banfield family. This one is interesting."

Randolph muttered.

"The Banfield family, huh --"

What Randolph remembered was the time the Banfield family visited the Viscountcy.

It was an unreasonable family that not only sent a fleet of three thousand ships but also brazenly demanded that the Viscountcy bear the cost of their supplies and maintenance.

The quality of their vessels was also poor, and the proficiency of their private army soldiers was low.

There was nothing noteworthy about them.

(On the other hand, what about the Pietack Count's family? Their vessels seem to be the latest, and their proficiency is remarkable. As expected, if I'm going to associate with anyone, it's the Pietack family.)

The Pietack family had a fleet of three hundred ships.

However, after delivering Peter, they paid for the supplies and maintenance and quickly returned to their territory.

He was impressed by the report that their handling of the matter was also excellent.

Among the private armies of nobles, there are many terrible groups that resemble pirates.

In such a context, Randolph was impressed by the Pietack family, which possessed quality and proficiency comparable to regular armies.

And he felt grateful that they had entrusted their children to the Leizel family for training.

"--I see. Educate both of them strictly."

"Yes!"

Randolph did not have much expectation for the knights who instructed the many others.

This is because Peter was the important one.

--By the way, the fleet of three hundred ships belonged to the Banfield family, but the Viscountcy mistook it for the Pietack family.

◇

It was about three months after arriving at the training location.

"Huh? This is quite easy."

Every morning, I had been living a life of early morning exercise, classes, and then servant work --

But I realized something.

--It was incredibly easy.

I didn't have to process electronic documents in the executive office, and there were no troublesome guests to deal with.

The exercise was also very easy.

My training in the Issen-ryu style was much tougher.

After the morning exercise, I was eating breakfast in the dining hall and talking with the seniors.

A three-year training period.

There were already noble children who had been staying at the Viscountcy before me, and a senior-junior relationship had been established.

"Did you hear? The rich folks are having a party again today."
"The third-year students are preparing for it, right?"
"They say they'll be serving too."

In the first year, it's miscellaneous chores, and from the second year, formal education begins.

In the third year, they even participate in parties held by the Viscountcy.

Although, when I say participate, it's not as invited guests.

"Liam, your roommate is over there."

When told, I looked towards the corner of the dining hall and saw Kurt eating alone.

--That guy's attitude of being different from the others irritates me.

"I don't talk to him much."

As I said that, the seniors resumed their conversation.

"He was the heir to a Baron's family, wasn't he? Well, that's fine --"
"You guys, things are about to get seriously tough, so be careful."
"Your work will also become busier."

The seniors must have had a hard time too.

Kurt finished his meal and quickly left the dining hall.

◇

Training ground.

The instructor knight, as usual, raised his voice.

This guy is a sports-minded type, so he's always unnecessarily passionate.

"From now on, you will have matches in pairs. Use whatever weapon you like!"

As nobles, martial arts knowledge is also necessary.

Therefore, everyone had at least one weapon they were proficient with.

Of course -- I chose a wooden sword -- instead of a sword.

Kurt was going to be my opponent.

The wooden sword I held was a replica of a double-edged Western sword.

His stance was imposing.

Kurt looked at me.

"--I'm not good at holding back. I apologize in advance."

At those words, I --

"Hey, who do you think you're looking down on? I'm a fully licensed master of Issen-ryu."

Kurt tilted his head.

"Issen-ryu? I've never heard of it. Is it a minor school?"

I gripped the wooden sword in my right hand.

As the knight gave the signal, noble children all over the ground began their matches.

While the knights watched, I intended to beat Kurt down -- but

"--!"

--This guy actually blocked my attack.

He blocked my strike, which I intended to use to knock him out in an instant, and then we both created distance.

Damn it! If I go all out and attack carelessly, I'll turn him into mincemeat.

But he's not someone I can beat by holding back.

Kurt assumed an eight-direction stance with his sword and looked at me silently.

--This guy is strong.

◇

--Kurt was panicking internally.

(This guy -- is strong.)

Facing Liam, he was convinced.

He had expected him to be somewhat strong, but it exceeded his imagination.

(I underestimated him, thinking it was a minor sword style, but what was that strike just now? It felt similar to another school --)

Kurt Sera Exner is the legitimate son of the Exner family.

The Exner family is said to be a rising family, and its head, the Baron, was a knight so strong he was called a sword master.

As a knight, he was a strong individual who rose to prominence with just one mobile knight.

Naturally, Kurt had also been rigorously trained since childhood.

It was to ensure he could survive on the battlefield.

Kurt, who held a license for a famous sword style and was sent to the Viscountcy for training, was bored with this lukewarm environment.

He spent his days in a state of half-disappointment, wondering if this was truly training.

But --.

"--It seems I underestimated your minor sword style."

Liam replied.

"It's Issen-ryu. Remember it."

"Ah, I won't forget it again."

--A smile formed.

Seeing Liam's stance, Kurt started sweating.

(If I move carelessly, I'll be taken down in one blow.)

His heart was pounding.

He realized he was feeling the tension of facing an opponent of a higher rank.

He couldn't even blink, lest he miss Liam's slightest movement.

(Where should I strike? No -- I can't imagine my sword reaching him.)

The two remained frozen in their stances.

Liam too.

Then --.

"You two, stop slacking off!"

Both of them received a fist from the instructor knight.

Brian (´；ω；｀) "This is tough. The items I prepared for Liam-sama are all being credited to others, and it's tough. Or rather, what is this! Confirm it properly! You stupid Leizel family!"