My new name is Liam Sera Banfield -- when I look in the mirror, there is the figure of a child with black hair and purple eyes.
I am five years old.
While playing in the room, I remembered the memories of my previous life.
There are many toys scattered around, of various kinds.
"--- What a spacious room."
The guide had said I would be born into a family of the powerful, a noble family.
It seems they kept their promise.
In my memories, I was indeed born into a noble family.
The Banfield Earl's family.
The interstellar nation, the Argland Empire -- the Alvarite Dynasty.
In such an empire, I was born as the heir to an earl's family that governs a galaxy.
In other words, I am to be the future lord.
No, I am to be a being capable of becoming a king who governs a galaxy.
"They kept their promise, huh."
A smile appears on my lips.
I don't know why they reincarnated me, but they certainly chose well by reincarnating someone like me.
If they expected me to be a good person, they were sorely mistaken.
After all, I don't aim to be a good person.
I aim to be a fine corrupt lord in the future.
However, there is a problem. What exactly should a bad lord do?
In period dramas, they seemed to oppress the people. Is that what I should do?
Or perhaps -- alcohol, women, and gambling?
"Should I aim for a life of debauchery?"
I don't really have an image of what a corrupt lord is like.
Maybe I should mimic a corrupt politician, wasting taxes and accepting bribes?
Anyway, I should live as I please.
"Isn't this getting fun? -- Huh?"
Something fell on my head.
It was a letter.
It was sealed neatly, and when I opened it, it contained a letter from the guide.
"Why don't you show yourself?"
The answer to this question was written in the letter.
It was a congratulatory message for my successful reincarnation.
At the same time, it was written that they were a bit busy and couldn't keep an eye on me.
However, it was also written that they would support me so I wouldn't be in trouble.
It was also written that someone to support me would come to my side.
"Support?"
As I tilted my head, my parents entered the room with a servant.
Cliff Sera Banfield.
Darcy Sera Banfield.
They came to me with smiles and presented a glass-like object.
The document that appeared on the glass-like object was one that transferred titles, lands, and other rights to me.
--- Handing everything over to a child right away?
"Father, what is this?"
I don't have many memories of interacting with my parents.
I don't need new parents now.
As I called out "Father" awkwardly and looked at their faces, they began to explain. However, their explanation was quite outlandish.
"Liam, happy fifth birthday. My gift to you is everything of the Banfield family."
Everything.
They said they would transfer titles, lands, and other privileges to a five-year-old child.
Are they crazy?
I thought so, but at the same time, I remembered the letter I had in my hand just now.
It had disappeared from my hand, but perhaps this was what they meant by support.
Then, Darcy showed me a catalog.
"My gift is this. I'll buy you a maid robot to take care of you. Go ahead, choose one you like."
What Darcy showed me was a robot that resembled a human, almost indistinguishable from a real person. An android?
When I received and opened the catalog, images and videos were projected around me.
The images and videos projected in the air felt futuristic.
"What is this?"
Darcy explained how to use it with a smile.
"You choose what kind of maid you want. Make it cute."
It seems I can order a robot as if I were creating a character in a game.
I started to choose.
There were numbers displayed below, but since I wasn't paying for it, I chose the highest specifications regardless of the price.
For the face -- I chose a Japanese beauty.
I tied her long black hair into a ponytail, with the front hair longer on the right side and flowing back on the left -- for the body, I chose a large bust.
I could read the text and understand its meaning, but it included a function for sexual gratification.
I opened my eyes wide.
Cliff teased me.
"My son has good taste."
"Ah, maybe you like big chests because you're a child?"
In front of a child trying to buy a robot with adult functions, both parents smiled together.
It's a rather bizarre scene.
The old but straight-backed butler, Brian, standing behind them, had a complex look in his eyes.
He seemed sad and confused.
Do they really look abnormal?
But, this made it clear.
--- This must be the support the guide mentioned.
Eliminating the troublesome parents and placing a woman of my ideal at my side.
I can't trust real women.
So, the maid robot is a very considerate gift.
After all, I don't have to worry about it betraying me.
Anyway, I continued to choose the highest specifications.
For the final check, I decided to have her wear a classical maid outfit.
A mini skirt would be too much.
I was torn between a skirt that ends above the knee and one that ends below, but I ultimately chose the one that ends below.
Darcy's reaction was rather awkward.
Your son just bought a maid with sexual gratification functions and all sorts of hobbies?
"Ah, how cute. I can rest assured leaving Liam's care to this robot."
There was something off about my parents' attitude.
I looked up at them and asked.
"Are you going somewhere?"
Cliff was stroking his chin.
"We bought a mansion on the imperial capital planet. We are moving there. You should guard the territory as a lord."
I was also made to sign electronic documents to inherit titles and lands.
Darcy showed me another electronic document.
"Come on, Liam. Sign this one too."
It was a document stating that they would send me an allowance for living in the capital every year.
Handing everything over to me and living in the city, huh.
--- What pitiful parents.
It was ridiculous that they didn't know their son was a reincarnated adult.
I don't know what the guide did, but these two will lose their status and property to someone like me.
What else could this be called but pitiful?
I can't see them as parents anymore, but I might as well send them an allowance.
"Sure!"
I couldn't help but smile.
I took everything from these clueless parents.
As I signed the electronic documents, I looked forward to my future life.
β
A few days later.
Liam's parents came to the spaceport within their territory, guarded by security.
They boarded a specially prepared shuttle but sat apart from each other.
The shuttle, with its luxurious interior, would take them to space, and from there, they would head to the imperial capital planet by spaceship.
This place had developed far beyond what a border earl's family could compare to.
Cliff read an electronic newspaper and spoke to Darcy with a bitter tone.
They didn't look at each other.
"Gift a doll, do you lack the awareness of being a mother?"
In response, Darcy was drinking tea.
There was no love between them.
They were just a political marriage as nobles.
"A child who only carries my genes. If I had suffered to give birth, I might have felt affection, but with that level of appearance, I can't feel any."
Liam was born from their genes.
That was all he was.
Cliff put the newspaper on the table, and this time, Darcy spoke.
"Was it really good to push everything onto a five-year-old child?"
"Then, are you staying?"
"No way."
Darcy took a sip of tea before answering.
"If I hadn't known I would be free in the future, I wouldn't have married you. But, I feel heavy-hearted for deceiving an innocent child. Maybe placing a doll by his side was a bit of mercy?"
Cliff laughed.
"A noble who places a doll by their side is just a laughingstock."
"It doesn't betray and is trustworthy in that sense. If anything happens to that child, we have to come back here. Do you understand that?"
"I'd rather not."
Darcy looked worried.
"Is it really okay to push a title onto a five-year-old child? We won't be blamed later, will we?"
Cliff reached for a drink.
He seemed to be in a good mood, feeling liberated from everything.
"There are precedents. The court has given permission. Many others do the same, so there's no need to worry. In this era, it doesn't matter who is the lord. No one wants such a border territory anyway."
The empire allows handing over titles and property to a five-year-old.
There is a reason for this.
"The empire doesn't want to be involved in border affairs. As long as there is a proper administrator who fulfills their duties, there's no problem."
Ruling an interstellar nation is very difficult.
Moreover, the empire, due to its origins, doesn't use much artificial intelligence for governance.
In the past, humans were ruled by the artificial intelligence they created.
Disapproving of this, the people who rose up created the empire.
Therefore, nobles don't think favorably of AI-equipped dolls like maid robots.
They use them if necessary, but the trend in noble society is to use them minimally.
Darcy looked down at the ground from the shuttle's window.
The planet owned by the Banfield family.
It had no vitality and was minimally developed.
To make matters worse, it was burdened with a huge debt.
"Once he learns about the territory, Liam will be angry."
Cliff drank a strong drink, his face slightly red.
"He'll do the same as me, pushing the territory onto his child and escaping to the capital planet."
A territory that wouldn't make anyone happy.
That was the Banfield earl's territory.
β
The Banfield family's mansion.
At five years old, I became an earl and a man who governs a galaxy.
"Truly a powerful person. No, a king?"
It seems there are many earl families like the Banfield family in the empire.
But, in the territory, I am the king.
An absolute ruler.
Brian brought a report to me, sitting in the oversized chair in the office.
"Liam-sama, the maid robot has arrived."
"Is that so. Bring it in."
"Yes. -- Come in."
The office door opened, and the maid robot I saw in the 3D projection came in.
Its movements were natural.
It didn't assert itself as a robot.
When it came in front of me, it curtsied, lifting the hem of its skirt.
"Nice to meet you. I am your butler, Amakasu."
I gave it a Japanese name. I named it "Amakasu."
There was no particular reason.
Brian remained calm.
"I plan to have it take care of you from today. However, it needs maintenance once a week."
"Maintenance?"
When I looked at Amakasu, it had finished its greeting and was standing straight.
"Regular maintenance. It takes about two hours."
"Surprising. I thought it would move more."
When I looked dissatisfied, Brian explained.
"Maintenance is just a body check. It includes cleaning the body. If there is a serious malfunction, it needs to be repaired by the manufacturer."
Is it amazing that it can work fine with just two hours of rest a week?
Anyway, I reached out my hands to Amakasu.
Amakasu came closer and gently picked me up, holding my small body.
When I touched her chest, it was a large chest that my small hands couldn't fully grasp.
"Soft. The softness a man desires."
It was soft but firm, a truly wonderful chest.
Brian was perplexed.
"Liam-sama, you shouldn't do such things in front of others."
Brian, who has served the Banfield family for a long time, has been in charge of the mansion since before the previous generation.
It seems the mansion can't be maintained without a butler, and he is indispensable.
But, I am the master.
Pretending is pointless, and I discarded my childlike behavior.
"What I do is my own business. Rather, report on the situation in the territory."
When Brian touched his bracelet, images appeared around us.
They showed the state of the territory with numbers and graphs.
Maps were also displayed, but---
"--- I don't understand."
Brian also had a slightly disappointed air, saying, "I see, that's understandable," but he didn't show it on his face.
But, I'm in trouble.
I have no idea what to do.
As I was at a loss, Amakasu, who was holding me and rubbing my chest, spoke.
"I have a function to assist in governance. If you wish, I can support your work, sir?"
"Really? But, I don't understand anything."
"I recommend entering an education capsule. During that time, I can manage the territory on your behalf."
Hearing this, Brian hurriedly warned me.
"Liam-sama, no! Letting an AI manage is considered evil in the empire. It is only allowed to provide support."
But, Amakasu countered.
"There is no such regulation in the empire. It is just recommended. However, I will follow your orders, sir."
The education capsule is a convenient device.
When you enter a capsule filled with liquid, it strengthens your body and implants knowledge into your head.
It was said that if you stay in the capsule for half a year, you would have the knowledge equivalent to elementary school.
The problem is, even if you implant knowledge and strengthen your body, you won't really learn unless you go out and actually study or exercise.
Still, it is said to be several times more efficient than regular studying.
However, I can't understand what these numbers and graphs mean.
--- I can't use modern knowledge to cheat in internal affairs.
"Brian, prepare the capsule. Amakasu, I'm leaving the territory to you while I'm in the capsule."
"Liam-sama!"
Brian shouted, but Amakasu only said, "I will take care of it."
It seems it only listens to my orders.
What a wonderful thing.
I tried to persuade Brian.
"Brian, listen. Isn't it more frightening for me, who knows nothing, to interfere with the territory?"
"Well, that's true, but---"
"Just for a while. Understand and prepare it."
In the first place, if I can trust it, I can leave it to it.
They say it's bad because it's an AI, but that doesn't matter to me.
Still, I'm in trouble.
Even to exploit the people, I need to study.
For now, I'll stay low.
My body is still a child's.
Even if I want to oppress the people and extract taxes, I can't do much as a child.
While rubbing Amakasu's chest, I thought about such things.