"Sevens Volume 8" will be released on February 28th!
For those who haven't read Sevens yet, let me explain:
It's a story about the tale of a noble lineage.
The story begins with Riel, the next head of a noble family, being disinherited after losing a contest to his sister, Ceres.
After being cast out of his family, Riel obtains a gemstone that revives the memories of his seven ancestors.
The story follows Riel and his ancestors as they battle his sister, who has turned into a monster.
By the way, Riel is the protagonist of the story and is not a reincarnated person.
If we were to give it a more modern title, it might be something like "My Ancestors Are Too Harsh!" or "About the Revival of My Ancestors When I Had to Battle My Sister Who Turned into a Monster!"
Volumes 1 to 7 are currently available in e-book format.
If you're interested, please consider purchasing them.
---
Charity is worthless.
I, Liam Sera Banfield, the head of the Banfield family, was in the reception room of my overly large mansion, facing a man.
"Are you asking me to be your patron?"
The man in a suit is a senior member of the "Planetary Reclamation Organization."
Their activities involve the reclamation of planets that have been destroyed.
They are a group trying to restore planets that have been rendered uninhabitable by human actions to their original state.
"Yes. We would like you to understand and support our activities."
The man, who looks serious, seems very enthusiastic about charity.
He explains to me how many planets have been devastated.
"Many planets have been devastated by wars and the barbaric acts of pirates. Can we just abandon these planets? Many people have become wanderers. We want to prepare reclaimed planets for them to live on and cultivate the land."
It's a truly wonderful idea.
"An admirable ideal. I'm impressed."
"Then!"
The man looked delighted, thinking I would become their patron.
"The reclamation of devastated planets is truly wonderful. However, I will not be your patron."
"---Eh?"
I leaned back on the sofa and grinned at the man.
Charity? ---It makes me want to vomit.
"Do as much charity as you like. But don't involve me. I have no interest in your activities."
In my past life, I used to put small change into donation boxes whenever I saw them.
I thought that if this could help someone, I would donate.
But when I was suffering in my past life, I desperately needed that small change.
Yet, no one helped me.
After donating so much, no one helped me when I was in trouble.
I understood.
---Charity is no different from self-satisfaction.
"I dislike people like you. Go ahead and help others for your own self-satisfaction."
The man's face turned red and he trembled at my words.
"Is that what a lord, known for his virtue, would say! I had high hopes for you!"
"Do as you please. I have no obligation to respond. Besides, when did I ever call myself a virtuous lord?"
"The people in your domain have high hopes for you. You're called a virtuous lord, yet what is the reality? You are unfit to be a lord!"
Is this guy an idiot?
"The people are just mistaken. And you've been quite presumptuous."
I narrowed my eyes, and the man started sweating.
"If you lay a hand on me, the great nobles I associate with won't stand for it!"
There are apparently great nobles who are enthusiastic about charity.
The pamphlet lists the names of prestigious noble families that I've heard of.
It's not unusual for wealthy great nobles to donate to charity.
But not me.
"Do you think I'll back down just because you mention other people's names? This is my territory. I am the ruler of this planet. Eliminating you would be no problem at all."
No matter which family you belong to, no one would protect a man who comes to my territory to lecture me.
At most, they might complain.
Most great nobles don't value human life.
To us, life is just a number.
"Do as much charity as you like. I won't complain, and I won't donate. That's all. No problem, right?"
I intimidated him, and the man fled the room, leaving the pamphlet behind.
As I laughed, Amane, who was standing behind me, looked at me.
"Sir, is that attitude appropriate?"
I'm weak when Amane says something.
I tried to justify myself.
"Don't say that. I hate charity. But if you say so, I'll become your patron. I can provide as much money as you need."
I have an alchemy box, an incredible treasure.
It's a wonderful tool that can turn collected garbage into gold.
Thanks to it, I'm practically sitting on a mountain of treasure.
Even in this state, I absolutely don't want to do charity.
"Do you dislike charity?"
Amane tilted his head in confusion.
"Of course."
Even with my immediate answer, Amane didn't seem convinced.
"What's the matter?"
"---Our family is already conducting charity under your orders. I didn't think you disliked it."
"---Eh?"
Amane calmly explained the charity we've been doing.
"We are buying and reclaiming devastated planets to secure new frontier planets. We are also accepting wanderers."
I was surprised to learn that I was doing the same things as the Planetary Reclamation Organization.
"No, you see---that's for expanding our territory, not charity."
"Yes, but we are also providing infrastructure support to the revived minor lords as aid. It's not just for the territory."
We are providing aid.
No, because---they beg for help and cling to me.
As long as they're willing to become my subordinates---a little bit, you know.
"---I'm just giving candy to the tail-wagging subordinates."
"There are also various other activities---"
It seems I've been spreading a lot of money without knowing it.
But I couldn't say I would stop.
"Besides, the biggest one is that."
"That?"
"The treatment of those captured by pirates. The costs for securing talent, equipment investment, and other expenses are astronomical."
"Oh, that one."
To secure talented people---my ambition is a life of luxury.
For that, I'm rescuing beautiful women captured by pirates.
If I like a woman, I keep her by my side; otherwise, I let her live in the territory.
I thought that if beautiful children are born from beautiful men and women in the future, the chances of beautiful women appearing would increase.
While plastic surgery can achieve anything, I prefer natural beauty.
Evil lords spend money to realize their dreams.
However, unfortunately---even after saving many, there's no standout beauty.
Tia, a candidate for my knight, is capable but a bit disappointing.
So, I still don't have a beautiful woman serving me.
---Amane is in a different category.
"But, I heard that the people we saved from Kurt's hometown are useful. It's not a complete waste. It's benefiting the territory, so it's not charity."
Amane seemed to accept my explanation.
"Then, let's leave it at that."
That's right---I don't do charity.
Everything has a hidden motive.
So, this isn't charity.
"Sir, the next visitor is the new head of the Third Weapon Factory for a greeting."
"Eh? What about Yurisha?"
The head of the Third Weapon Factory is changing.
The disappointing Yurisha is no longer my handler.
"She is re-enrolling in the military academy for re-education."
"---Eh, why?"
There are schools for re-education for soldiers who have been away from the military for a long time.
But Yurisha is an active soldier.
I don't think she needs re-education.
"The reason is unknown, but she is already in re-education. Therefore, they want to change the handler and greet you."
One disappointing person is gone.
A little disappointing---but there's another even more disappointing woman, so it's not a problem.
"Still, there are a lot of requests for meetings."
"Before you enter the Young Noble School, people want to meet you. Once you enter, it will be difficult to arrange meetings."
The Young Noble School for nobles.
It's a preparatory period before entering university or the military academy.
In my terms, it's like high school.
However, the Young Noble School is in a different planet, a direct territory of the empire, not the capital planet.
It's a boarding school, but the number of students is so large that a city centered around the school exists.
Only the children of nobles can attend.
A school truly for nobles.
"---Amane, is the bribe ready?"
I, who is about to enter the Young Noble School, confirmed something important with Amane.
"Charity donation, right? We have already made a large donation."
"Good. I'm looking forward to it."
There's no tuition for the Young Noble School, but great nobles donate a certain amount for face.
However, some increase the donation to receive special treatment at the school.
---Be like me!
"I'll enjoy the six years to the fullest."
The power of money is great.
I made a large donation to enjoy the six years at the Young Noble School.
All for special treatment.
Amane smiled.
"I'm glad you'll enjoy it, Sir."
---
The Banfield family mansion.
The head maid's room.
The head maid, Selina, was reporting to the floating image of the prime minister.
The prime minister is the one who sent Selina, a spy, to find Liam, after she was recommended by Bryan to serve the Banfield family.
"About the large donation to the Young Noble School, shall I explain the reason?"
"Charity donation?"
"Yes. The teachers at the Young Noble School are at a loss. They don't know what to make of it."
"Isn't it common for nobles to make donations?"
"Just a noble would mean they want special treatment for their child. The teachers understand that. But with Liam, the pirate hunter, it's a different story."
The head maid understood what the prime minister meant.
"---Do they not know that Sir Liam is a man of integrity at the Young Noble School?"
"They know. They know, which is why they are at a loss. The amount of the donation is too much, and they don't know what to do. What do you think?"
"That's simple. Sir Liam does not desire special treatment at the Young Noble School. He wants a solid educational environment."
The prime minister nodded, understanding.
The head maid recalled how Liam had asked detailed questions about the Young Noble School before.
"He was interested in the fact that the school supplements its budget with donations. When I mentioned that many foolish nobles make large donations to receive special treatment, he seemed to be deep in thought. He must have been sighing."
Nobles receive good treatment just for being nobles.
The head maid thought about this as she watched Liam think.
"Such an environment is not what Sir Liam desires."
"Is he too serious for his age? Is everything the same at the mansion?"
"Yes. He trains and studies from morning to night and handles political affairs. I also give advice on manners, but I don't need to say anything about other matters."
"He's too perfect. Is there any interesting story? It would be more realistic if he had some fun."
The head maid chuckled.
"Like flirting with the palace maids for a break, like someone I know?"
"---I was young back then. Does the earl have any such stories?"
The prime minister, who returned to the topic of Liam, seemed a bit embarrassed.
The head maid had a troubled look.
"Even after discussing with Bryan, he shows no interest. He's too serious, which is a bit of a problem."
He doesn't even look at the maids in the mansion or the daughters of the subordinates' families who come for training.
It was the only worry about Liam.
"Too serious, as always."
"I'm even considering accepting a girlfriend at the Young Noble School, even if she's of a lower rank, and considering her as a potential wife."
"---I wouldn't want him to form ties with a troublesome family. What about arranged marriages?"
"The Banfield family's past actions are so bad that, while Sir Liam personally has credibility, the family as a whole has almost none. Other families are hesitant."
Even if they tried to arrange a meeting, other families refused because of the terrible actions of Liam's father and grandfather.
While Liam personally is fine, when considering the relationship between families---there's still no trust.
There were doubts about whether Liam would change his mind.
So, many families are waiting to see how things go until his training is over.
In this world, fifty years of good behavior is only worth so much.
If they had a hundred years of good behavior, marriage proposals would have come in one after another.
It's proof of how terrible Liam's father and grandfather were.
"Right. I would hesitate too. That's why I sent you to observe."
To take him in or leave him alone---Selina was sent to observe.
The prime minister seemed a bit anxious.
"There's also the issue of marriage, but the prince will also be entering the Young Noble School. Please be careful about that. Give the earl a subtle warning."
Selina recalled and had a subtle expression.
"The prince---Prince Wallace, right? I never thought he and Sir Liam would be classmates."
One of the imperial princes, Prince Wallace Noa Alberight, was scheduled to enter the Young Noble School as a classmate of Liam.
Bryan (´；ω；｀) "It's tough. It's tough in many ways. It's tough that Sir Liam forgot about the family's charity, but the toughest part is---not having a role in the story."