The manga adaptation of "The World of Otome Games is Tough for the Subordinate Character" will soon be updated.
It updates on the first Friday of every month.
"Patrol Fleet?"
I was talking to Wallace in the officer school cafeteria.
It's been three years since I started living here, and I've gotten quite used to the life.
"Yeah. I talked to my brother, who left the harem like me. He chose to live as a soldier, but the regular fleet refused to accept him and sent him to the patrol fleet."
It's a strange story that the regular fleet would refuse to accept a royal family member, but there are ranks within the royal family. There are too many members who are in a position similar to the former Wallace, who had virtually no right to succession.
Since it causes a lot of trouble, most of the regular fleets don't want to accept them.
"If he becomes a commander in the patrol fleet, he would lead at least a few hundred ships. It's not a bad deal, right?"
When I said that, Wallace had a rather complicated look on his face.
"There are many fleets that are like a dumping ground. My brother, Cedric, was sent to a fleet of about thirty old ships. He says patrolling an empty space is utterly depressing."
"You can just relax on the ship. You don't have to do any work, right?"
"It's impossible to relax in a cramped and poor environment. The soldiers are demoralized and don't know why they're working. They're just rotting away."
It sounds like a place for demotion in the military.
In a company, it would be like a desk job — a position by the window.
There are quite a few patrol fleets that are just idling, and the number of such fleets is increasing.
— Are they stupid?
"Why did it come to this?"
Wallace, while poking at his greasy food with a fork, told me several reasons.
"Soldiers wanted a place to knock down their rivals. It wasn't just a demotion; it was a place to break their spirit. And it's also a place to push the nobles."
"Nobles?"
"There are many who abuse their positions. In the military, that can be fatal, so they make them commanders in the patrol fleet. As a result, the number has increased, and it costs a lot to reorganize the fleets, so they just leave them alone."
"Maintaining them must be difficult."
"They can operate with supplies, and it's almost like they've been abandoned. Besides, the patrol fleet is necessary. If pirates start living in empty spaces, it wouldn't be funny."
A lot of complicated situations are intertwined, maintaining the ultimate waste.
— No, it's not bad.
"That's an interesting story."
"Are you interested? Liam, you'll be assigned to the regular fleet even if you say nothing."
"I'm not interested in that."
That's right, I've been approached by the regular fleet internally.
They're calling from all over, saying, "We want you in our fleet!"
The regular fleet has various types, from those stationed at the border to those stationed in the provinces.
There are always three fleets stationed to defend the capital planet, and the elite gather in the Imperial Guard Fleet.
The Imperial Guard Fleet has also called me, but frankly, I'm not interested.
I don't like taking orders from above, and the patrol fleet, where I can do as I please, is the best, isn't it?
"I want to be assigned to the patrol fleet!"
"—Liam, are you an idiot?"
"Why?"
"Did you listen to what I said? My brother was sent to a desk job and is complaining that his heart is dying. It's foolish to want to be assigned to such a place. Besides, the patrol fleet's equipment is all old, and the ship environment is poor. Do you want to spend four years in such a place?"
Wallace doesn't understand.
I, a rich person, will be assigned to the patrol fleet.
Of course, I will invest in the fleet.
"You can just buy the ships. If you prepare ships as luxurious as cruise ships, even a boring job will be enjoyable."
"—The military won't pay for it."
"I will pay for it."
"Eh?"
"I will pay for the ships."
"But—Liam will be the only one riding on a luxury cruise ship, and that will cause resentment from the others."
"No problem. I'll buy everything. But, if I do that, I won't have enough time to invest when I'm assigned. —Okay, I'll start preparing a fleet suitable for me now."
"—Eh, are you really going to prepare it?"
"Of course. Tia will graduate from the officer school next year. I'll have her prepare my fleet in advance."
It's not about getting the desired assignment through donations.
I will create the desired assignment myself!
Complaining to the military and preparing my own fleet—how villainous and lord-like.
The power of money to make even the military comply resonated with me.
"There are many nobles, but I don't think there's anyone like Liam."
"Is it the first in the empire? That's good. I'll give Tia the order right away."
◇
In the communication room.
The person Tia was talking to was her former superior, the Chancellor.
"—Many nobles prepare their own ships. Some nobles have even prepared entire patrol fleets. But this is the first time for a viscount."
The Chancellor couldn't hide his surprise.
While looking at his expression, Tia said confidently,
"One of the empire's problems will be solved. I don't think it's a bad deal, do you?"
"The downside is that a fleet influenced by a viscount will be born. But the re-supply of the fleet and the reduction of the bloated patrol fleet—considerable costs will be incurred."
"Liam-sama has ordered me to prepare a fleet suitable for him. The budget has been provided, so there's no problem."
Liam said to prepare a patrol fleet, but for Tia, a fleet suitable for Liam is on par with the regular fleet.
With a sufficient budget, she decided to gather the unnecessary patrol fleets and form a fleet on par with the regular fleet.
She sought permission from the Chancellor.
The military's upper echelons are unlikely to approve, and even if the empire's financial situation benefits, they may not understand.
So, she contacted the Chancellor, who recognized this issue.
"—When leaving the military, the fleet will be operated by the empire. The nominal commander will be provided by us."
"Nominal? Are you worried that Liam-sama will command?"
"You're both too young. Even if you're officially assigned, your rank won't be sufficient. Forcing a promotion will make the military department noisy. The nominal commander will be provided, but the actual power will be yours."
Tia thought,
(The burden is heavy, but the reward is small, but this is probably the best I can do.)
"—Understood."
"A truly excellent proposal. The empire can solve two major problems."
After the communication ended, Tia got motivated.
"I have to prepare a fleet suitable for Liam-sama—within two years, I need to gather the unnecessary patrol fleets, re-educate and train the personnel, and prepare the ships—so that everything is ready by the time Liam-sama is officially assigned."
Tia, who often shows her incompetence, has real talent.
"A fleet suitable for Liam-sama—I will support him by his side."
She pressed her hands to her cheeks and sighed dreamily, but—she has real talent.
◇
While Liam and his group were moving at the officer school.
The Berkeley family also made a move.
"Damn it!"
Kashimiro was growing increasingly dissatisfied with the reports coming in one after another.
The economic war with Liam over several years, but none of it was going well.
The reason is simple: the money battles haven't ended.
"What the hell? What the hell is that kid!"
Kashimiro, who holds the planetary development device—the Elixir—was being relentlessly pursued.
Moreover, rumors were circulating that Liam had invested heavily in the military.
While competing with the Berkeley family, he was showing that he had the resources to invest in the military.
"How much Elixir are you spreading around!? If you can't corner me with this—so, you have it too!"
The possibility emerged that Liam also had some incredible device.
However, it's highly likely that he recovered the planetary development device that Derrick lost.
With that, he could indeed fight against me.
—Kashimiro never thought that he could properly handle the device he recovered. It looked like a meaningless sphere.
However, the Berkeley family has multiple such devices, so Kashimiro has the advantage in the end.
But, how long can this mutual destruction continue?
He shouldn't have engaged in an economic battle with such a person.
"If we keep fighting, we can win. But—there's too much to lose."
Continuing the economic battle was a waste of time.
So, Kashimiro decided to stop this fruitless conflict immediately.
—Not the battle with Liam.
"The tricks are over. If we don't crush him seriously, we'll be the ones to fall."
Liam, who is still young and talented.
Kashimiro, who has a different remaining lifespan, will become a troublesome existence as he gains more experience.
Can his own sons defeat Liam? —Kashimiro, realizing it was impossible, immediately contacted someone.
"What's up, Dad?"
"—Contact the military. Gather experts to wage war against Liam."
"War!? That's too hasty, Dad!"
"Idiot! If we don't crush him while we can, the Berkeley family will be trampled by him! Just follow my orders! Bring in military men who can defeat the Banfield family. Anybody. If they can defeat that kid—anybody will be treated well."
Kashimiro genuinely feared Liam.
The Guide, who had a strong interest in Kashimiro, was watching.
The Guide applauded.
"Excellent, Kashimiro. You correctly identified Liam as a threat."
What the Guide liked was that Kashimiro was the kind of person he preferred and had more military power than Liam.
With over 100,000 ships, pirates, and nobles.
The mobilizable forces number in the hundreds of thousands.
In contrast, Liam, even if he increases, won't reach 50,000 ships.
He's satisfied with a fleet of over 30,000 ships.
Now, while he's arrogant from his continuous victories, it's the chance to defeat Liam.
"Liam—your complacency will be your downfall."
With few allies, Liam is in a situation where he has to fight almost alone.
"Kashimiro—you can win. I will support you with all my might."
Black smoke came out from the Guide and clung to Kashimiro's body.
While watching this, the Guide spread his arms wide.
"From now on, those who aim to defeat Liam will gather. The darkness of the empire will gather to kill Liam! Unite them and make them your strength!"
The Guide adjusted to attract those who could become enemies of Liam.
This will increase the number of allies for Kashimiro, and the power gap will widen.
Faced with a number that can't be handled by quality alone, the Guide is thrilled to see what kind of death scream Liam will let out.
"There are also seeds I've planted. It's uncertain whether Anshi will be in time—but there's that woman too."
The woman who harbored a desire for revenge against Liam—Yurisha Morishiru.
"I'll make it so that she can be by Liam's side as she wishes. It would be interesting to see Liam stabbed by that woman."
A situation where Liam can't break through, no matter how much he struggles, is taking shape.
The Guide is enveloped in a sense of happiness.
"I understand. I understand—Liam is being cornered!"
A powerful enemy is about to appear before Liam.
Tsuyan (´；ω；｀) "It's tough. Liam-sama wants to go to a desk job—It's tough."
Marie ( ゜∀゜) "The manga 'The World of Otome Games is Tough for the Subordinate Character 1' will be released soon, so check it out. The original is available in volumes 1-3! Buy it♪"
Tsuyan (´；ω；｀) "There are extra people in the afterword—It's tough."