I've found a weakness in the One-Flash style.
It's certainly a magnificent swordsmanship, but it's a style that doesn't consider holding back.
It's a sword style meant to kill the opponent.
While it can be used with restraint, when facing a slightly stronger opponent—there's no option other than to kill.
The One-Flash style was an extremely extreme school of swordsmanship.
Until now, I hadn't even considered holding back when facing pirates.
What a weakness.
"I really need to be careful at my training grounds."
I may be aiming to be a villainous lord, but that's within my own territory.
I don't act arrogantly in other people's territories.
Or rather, I can't.
Even if I were to cause trouble in a viscount's house, I would ultimately be subdued.
Individual strength doesn't hold much meaning.
It doesn't, but—losing is frustrating.
And yet—.
"Liam, it seems we're tending to the garden this afternoon."
Kurt, who had been mocking me, was acting strangely familiar.
He had changed into work clothes and was holding tools.
"—Well, it's not that I mind, but..."
"Mind what?"
It's also a problem not to talk with my roommate at all.
This is fine in its own way, but—lately, the girls' gazes towards me are frightening.
It's not just boys who come to the viscount's house for training.
Girls are also sent to other families as part of their etiquette training—as preparation for marriage.
The Viscount Lazel family is popular as a training destination, so there were many such girls.
However, their gazes towards me and Kurt have been frightening lately.
They often call us by our names together, like "Kurt, Liam" or "Liam, Kurt."
What is going on?
Sometimes they even glare at each other over whose name is called first.
Is this a custom of this world, or a custom unique to the Viscount Lazel family—the interstellar nation of the Empire is too vast to understand many things.
There are many cases where something I thought was common sense turns out to be local common sense.
Perhaps they are entrusted to other families under the guise of training to correct such perceptions?
My thoughts never cease.
"Liam, if we don't hurry, the knight who instructs us will get angry again."
"That old guy is unnecessarily passionate, isn't he?"
He has the vibe of a passionate instructor.
It's not that I dislike him, though.
It's already been half a year since I started training.
◇
"You know, I can only get serious when it's the real deal."
Peter, holding a wooden sword and sitting on a chair, didn't move to exercise.
"Actually, I'm a master of the famous Arren-style swordsmanship, so there's no point in this anymore."
A woman wearing workout clothes speaks to Peter, who is making excuses and refusing to move.
"Peter, move your body properly."
That woman—girl—was Katerina Sera Lazel.
She is the daughter Randolph intends to marry off to Peter.
Peter also likes Katerina, a beautiful girl with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a ponytail.
"Lina, I'm strong without training. Because I was undefeated in my territory."
Katerina—Lina—looks at Peter, who doesn't seem strong, with suspicion.
"Then show me."
"Truly strong men don't fight except when it's important."
Lina was exasperated by Peter, who dodged exercise.
Outside the dojo, disciples who came for training are tending to the garden.
Peter looks at them and says,
"It's annoying, isn't it? Nobles who work that hard, they don't even need to come for training."
Lina, while exasperated, explains.
"They may not be from important families, but they're better than you, Peter, who doesn't move."
"That's not true. If I unleash my full power, I can defeat them in an instant."
Around them, girls who came for training were preparing towels and drinks for the wealthy men.
For them, this is also a place to meet people.
However, they paid no attention to the disciples working in the garden outside.
◇
While Liam was worrying about holding back at his training grounds.
At the Imperial Capital Star, a student approached Tia, who was attending university.
He was from the Lazel family.
"Are you Christiana? Your master is being taken care of at my family's home. Do you know them?"
Tia was troubled by the man who used his family's circumstances to try and pick her up.
(Someone from the Lazel family? He's not worth dealing with, but it's also about Liam-sama's position at his training grounds. I should respond neutrally.)
He seemed like a frivolous man.
For the children of nobles who left their strict families and are studying abroad in the capital, their time at university is like playtime.
While there are serious disciples, many are not.
Due to the sense of freedom and other factors, many indulge in play.
He was one of them.
"Yes, I know. Oh, really? You're from the Viscount Lazel family."
"Yes, yes. My father is currently looking after your master. Since it's fate, shall we exchange contact information? We'll likely have a lot to talk about from now on."
Tia was astonished by the man's words.
(Is he trying to play with another family's knight? A brat who can't take responsibility, getting ahead of himself. But—this is for Liam-sama. My attitude must not tarnish Liam-sama's reputation.)
The other party is likely approaching her for fun anyway.
It's foolish to target someone from a related family when you intend to discard them if something happens.
"Yes, that's fine."
Tia responded with a smile and left the scene.
(That was a bothersome approach.)
◇
At the Viscount Lazel family's mansion.
I was talking with Kurt in my room.
As for the content of our conversation—.
"You're struggling with matters concerning your territory?"
"Ah, yes. My family is a newly risen one. It's good that we received territory, but we're struggling with how to manage it."
Upon rising in status, he received territory.
That's fine, but the Exner family, who had no experience in territorial management—seems to be in trouble.
"I don't know how much tax to collect, or how to treat the people."
Depending on the planet, or even within a planet, the temperament of the residents can differ.
Considering the detailed management, it takes more effort.
Conversely, if management is uniform, dissatisfaction arises.
Sometimes rebellions occur, and then the Empire intervenes, causing trouble.
In my case? If they complain, I'll suppress them with my private army.
I dislike residents who resist.
I am kind to those who obey me, but there's no reason to be kind to others.
"You're an idiot. Just squeeze them dry."
"No, even if I try to squeeze them, they're already at the limit?"
At the limit? —Are you squeezing them to the very last drop?
This guy is quite a scoundrel too.
Like the Baron Exner family, he himself wants to extract more taxes—he shows promise.
Let me give him some advice as a fellow villainous lord.
It's important to nurture these connections.
"Then I'll tell you something important. When you wring out a wet towel, you soak it in water, right? You can't squeeze anything from a dry towel."
"—Of course. Liam, what are you talking about?"
"You don't understand? Before you squeeze them, just make the people prosperous. If you spend money on infrastructure, the people involved will profit. If it develops, an environment where you can squeeze them will be created. Investment is important."
"Th-that, I understand. But it's not easy to implement."
"You have to do it! Squeezing comes after that. Then, money will flow in without you even trying. Until then, be patient. Once the people become wealthy, just squeeze them harder. Oh, and maintain your military strength. Never slack off."
Some nobles, fearing rebellion, don't develop their territories too much.
Some educate only those involved with them, while letting the rest live in conditions similar to the Middle Ages.
—My parents were of that type.
Nobles can incur debt, and I understand the desire not to spend money on their territories.
However, squeezing them is best done after they become prosperous.
"Your place, Liam, who was originally a lord, must be well-managed."
"I'm good at squeezing."
As a fellow villainous lord, or rather, a junior? In any case, I'll give him all sorts of advice.
So, if anything happens, help me out.
◇
Kurt, after hearing Liam's words, thought.
(Indeed, making the people living on the brink of poverty prosperous is the priority.)
The territory his father received was in a terrible state.
While military strength must be maintained and a certain level of contribution is required—the Baron Exner family is managing its territory very precariously.
He knew he should reduce taxes, but it wasn't a simple matter.
He felt sorry for making the residents live a life on the edge.
"Military expansion also costs money. We can't do any more than this. Maintenance costs are also a problem."
Saying that, Liam lay on his bed, looking exasperated.
"Reduce the numbers. What's important is the quality and training of the equipment. Rather than having dozens of outdated ships, get a few new ones."
"Numbers are also important. And doing anything costs money. I can't squeeze any more from the residents."
"You're squeezing them to the very limit, aren't you?"
Saying that, Liam looked pleased.
"Why don't you borrow money? Those who lend will gladly do so if you repay them properly. Ah, but make sure you always meet the repayment deadline. My family also struggled with that."
Kurt was at a loss as Liam spoke earnestly.
"If you don't have credit, there's a limit to how much you can borrow. As a new entity, there's nowhere to borrow from."
Liam said, "In that case"—.
"I'll introduce you to my Echigoya."
"What's Echigoya?"
Kurt thought he was glad he came to train at the viscount's house.
After all, he had made a reliable friend, even if he was eccentric.
(Still, Liam's words are harsh. He's actually thinking a lot about his people, but he says things like squeezing them.)
However, a misunderstanding was occurring.
◇
Liam contacted the Henfrey Trading Company.
"Hmm, this is troublesome."
"What's wrong?"
Thomas, asked by his subordinate, replied that it was a loan application.
"The Banfield family is asking us for a loan?"
"No. I was introduced to a baronet. It's the new Baron Exner family, but since it's Liam-sama's request, I can't refuse."
If the Baron Exner family had asked directly, Thomas would never have lent them a large sum.
But when Liam's name came up, it was a different story.
"If the Count is behind them, there shouldn't be a problem lending, right?"
"If it's about that much, it's not really a problem."
He had made a lot of money in Liam's territory, so there was nothing he couldn't do.
Besides, he owed Liam a favor, so he would do a little more than usual when asked.
"But, you know, these kinds of stories spread quickly. More nobles will come asking to borrow money without any intention of repaying."
"Ah, so that's why."
If they lent to Baron Exner, they can lend to us too, right?
They borrow with that kind of attitude, but it's obvious they have no intention of repaying.
The Henfrey Trading Company had only recently gained strength.
Although Liam was their backer, they were looked down upon by the nobles.
"But since it's Liam-sama's request, I can't refuse. I'll contact Baron Exner right away."
◇
I introduced Kurt's family to Thomas of the Henfrey Trading Company—no, my villainous ally.
I felt a sense of joy at the expanding circle of villainous allies.
"A wonderful bond. We should help each other when we're in trouble."
I was on my way to dispose of the trash from cleaning the garden.
I heard voices from behind a building.
"What is it?"
There, I saw Katerina—the viscount's daughter.
She was hiding behind a building with a man, being intimate.
"Oh, no. It'll be terrible if someone finds out."
"It's fine. I'll silence them."
I recall there was a rumor that Katerina was to marry a rich man named Peter.
Yet, the man with her wasn't Peter.
My heart instantly grew cold.
Infidelity—my previous wife also cheated.
While thinking that I was fortunate not to marry such a woman, I felt sympathy for Peter.
Well, I've never spoken to Peter, and I don't want to cause trouble in the viscount's house where I'm being taken care of, so I'll stay silent.
If I heard about it, Peter's family seems to be very capable and governs with good policies.
I can't get along with someone from such a family.
Our policies are too different, so we wouldn't get along.
"Poor Peter."
At the same time, I thought of Katerina—what a bitch.
I, who still have work to do, leave the scene without seeing anything.
And then I thought.
(As expected, even living honestly doesn't work. Even a serious guy like Peter gets stuck with a woman like this. Poor him.)
Brian: "It's tough. It's tough that Liam-sama is always misunderstanding things! Liam-sama, it's not like that! Peter-kun isn't serious at all!"
Amagi: "It was our usual Master, wasn't it?"