It was around the time when he was in his mid-thirties.
I had sent the mobile knight that Grandpa used for repairs, and it had returned safely.
Its distinctive feature was the large shields held by the auxiliary arms on both shoulders, and otherwise, it was a humanoid weapon wearing knight-like armor.
I had thought that humanoid weapons were the epitome of waste, but apparently, for the people of this world, human-shaped ones were easier to operate.
Fantasy worlds are amazing.
Avi, standing in the courtyard of the mansion, looked impressive when I looked up at it.
"Wow, that's amazing."
Standing next to me, satisfied, was a technical officer from the seventh weapons factory of the Algrande Empire.
Since he was also a soldier, his work uniform had rank insignia.
The technical lieutenant had shoulder-length black hair in a bob cut and wore glasses.
She was an intellectual-looking woman, and a beautiful one who seemed capable at her job.
I didnât know her name.
"If you like it, I'm very pleased. Still, I didn't expect to be maintaining this unit."
"Do you know this unit?"
"It was manufactured by our factory. There are records of the same unit in the archives. Skilled technicians were maintaining it with nostalgia."
Now it's a large unit that isn't used anymore.
But, as they say, bigger is better, so it's fine.
The technical lieutenant was worried.
"But is it okay? The assist has been removed, so it's quite difficult to operate."
Is it like the difference between an automatic and a manual car?
The master, who was with me, folded his arms and laughed.
"This level should be easy for Lord Liam. There's no need to worry. Rather, may I ask your name? I'd like to hear some explanations about the unit, so let's talk in my roomâ"
"I have the manual, so there's no problem. Besides, it's the Earl who will be operating it, so it's better to explain directly to the Earl."
The technical lieutenant seemed to be the master's type.
But she was smiling and politely declining his invitation.
I saw the master's shoulders drop.
As a villainous lord, should I let the master have his way?
No, butâ
She is also a soldier of the empire.
It's a bit hesitant to make a move.
"Come, let's get into the cockpit, Earl."
"A, ah."
Guided by the technical lieutenant, I headed for the cockpit.
â
The cockpit wasn't narrow at all.
"Pretty spacious, isn't it? No, isn't it too spacious?"
"This cockpit uses spatial magic. We've prepared the highest quality seats for you to relax. There's no assist function, but everything else is top-of-the-line."
When I sat down, the seat was very soft.
I thought it would support my body like it was enveloping meâand it did.
The control stick also automatically moved to the position of my hands.
"The color is black and it looks cool, I like it."
"Men like black, don't they? There are many black units."
Many nobles own mobile knights.
The reason is that they are a symbol of knighthood.
Also, humanoid weapons are very popular among nobles.
They look good, and some nobles even display them in their mansions.
Many nobles use decorated mobile knights.
"Still, not many people spend this much money on maintenance."
"Really? I've heard they all decorate them with lots of ornaments."
The master told me this.
That's why he said I could spend as much money as I wanted.
"Most units are just improved mass-produced models. Since the budget was generous, our technicians went a bit overboard. Now, please start the engine."
When the engine started with a single switch, it began scanning my body.
It recognizes the pilot and is set so that only I can operate it.
"Now the operator is fixed to the Earl. This unit can only be operated by the Earl. It's a dedicated unit."
"The sound of 'dedicated unit' is pleasing."
When I gripped and moved the control stick, the scenery around me changed.
The cockpit gently shook.
"A, ah?"
Before I knew it, Avi had fallen over.
The technical lieutenant had a "I knew it" look on her face.
"This unit has all assist functions, including the auto-balancer, removed. The operation is difficult, but once you get used to it, you can control it like it's your own body."
The difficulty of operation is extremely high.
I understood what the master had said.
"Indeed, if I can master this, the path to becoming a top pilot will open up."
"No, if you can handle this unit, you are already a top pilot."
The technical lieutenant placed her hand on top of mine, which was gripping the control stick.
I could feel her gentle scent and warmth.
âMy distrust of women was gradually healing.
But I was still somewhat uneasy.
"This unit requires direct operation and visualization. Be careful with the magic-based operation. Now, let's slowly move the control stick."
Avi slowly stood up.
Just making it stand required a lot of concentration.
If I made even a small mistake, it would fall over immediately.
The technical lieutenant was explaining Avi to me, so I listened while focusing.
"This unit is sturdy and powerful. It can't be beaten by ordinary units, but remember that it's also very difficult to handle."
The technical lieutenant leaned closer to me.
"Then, this isâ"
She seemed to have a well-toned body, with the right places having the right amount of flesh.
Her chest and buttocks were rounded, and her stomach was tight, giving her a good figure.
While operating, my mind was focused on her chest.
At that moment, Avi, sensing my consciousness and magic, began moving its hands on its own. No, it moved because it sensed my consciousness.
The technical lieutenant noticed the movement and took a step back from me, covering her chest with both hands.
"No, that's not it!"
"Let's take a break. Oh? The communication is cut off. Is it a setting error?"
â
Bryan, who was watching from a distance, was moved by the revival of his respected great-grandfather Alistair's mobile knight.
Although its appearance had changed, it still retained a familiar look.
However, he was concerned that the unit, Avi, which belonged to the respected Alistair, was making very lewd hand movements.
"Lord Liam, what are you doing?"
I knew.
I knew.
The dispatched technical lieutenant was beautiful, and they were alone in the cockpit.
Usually, Liam, who always puts his hands on women in the castle, might put his hands on her. I had such worries.
But Liam, who never put his hands on real women, made me wonder if he was only excited by dolls.
I was also happy that he seemed to have developed an interest in real women, and it would resolve the issue of succession, so I felt relieved.
However, it was unacceptable for the mobile knight to be making movements that looked like it was groping.
Thinking about the beloved unit of the admired Alistair making such pitiful movements made Bryan want to cry.
Avi's hand movements were very detailed, reproducing the pilot's finger movements.
It was as if there were actually breasts to grope.
At least turn it off before doing that! That's what Bryan thought, but he couldn't get close to Avi, which could fall over at any moment, and could only watch from a distance.
Moreover, the communication was cut off.
For a while now, Anshi had a vein popping on his forehead.
"That brat is groping the lieutenant's chest. Is it soft? Is it that soft!?"
When his fingertips made a pinching motion, Anshi seemed to have reached his limit and sent multiple communications to Liam.
"Lord Liam, come down immediately. What you're doing in the cockpit isâunforgivable. Come down immediately. Lord Liam? Are you listening, Lord Liam!"
Anshi, who pretends to be proper in front of Liam, shows his true colors when Liam is not around.
Bryan also doesn't trust this man.
(Why does Lord Liam get results from such a man?)
He can't be fired because he gets results, and reporting to Liam won't change anything because he respects Anshi as his master.
There's no significant damage, and since Liam gets results, Bryan remains silent.
Personally, he felt grateful because he asked Tenjo to revive Alistair's beloved unit.
If left alone, Tenjo, who prioritizes efficiency, would never have repaired Avi.
Anshi was shouting.
"Get down here, you brat!"
Then, Tenjo glared at Anshi.
Anshi noticed and apologized.
"Oops, sorry. I got a bit excited."
He was sweating and fawning over the doll-like Tenjo.
âIs this man really a master of swords and martial arts?
Bryan was very puzzled.
â
(You bastard, I won't forgive you.)
Anshi was furious at his disciple for putting his hands on the intellectual and beautiful technical lieutenant.
But he was genuinely afraid that if Liam really did it, he would be in trouble, so he planned to take revenge by making his training even more rigorous.
A petty manâsuch was Anshi.
"Lord Liam, you're trembling."
"I, I'll be careful."
He made Liam stand on an unstable log, blindfolded him, and gave him a very heavy sword.
He also made him do tightrope walking and other circus tricks.
All because Liam put his hands on a woman he liked.
"How can you swing a sword on an unstable surface? Let's start over from the beginning."
Liam was sweating profusely and looked very tired.
But he planned to push him to the limit and bullyâtrain him.
"After this, it's piloting training. There's no time to rest."
"I understand, Master!"
Liam, who listens well, is the one who put his hands on the woman he targeted.
He can't forgive that.
(Now, I'll make you do very difficult things. I'll make you do things you can't possibly do, one after another, and crush your pride. Lose your confidence, boy!)
The technical lieutenant, who stayed for about a month, finished the maintenance guidance and explanations and returned.
She said she would come back, and Anshi planned to get her name and contact information this time.
"Your legs are trembling. Your training isn't enough."
"I, I'll train harder."
"Of course. From today, I'll be even stricter."
Anshi, who was making the training more rigorous out of personal grudge.
â
The guide passed through the door to another world.
He was on the roof of the mansion.
Looking into the distance, he seemed to be enjoying himself.
"Well, how is Lord Liam doing? Oh? The territory has developed quite a bit."
It seems he's doing better than expected.
That makes it more fun to knock him down in the future.
He wasn't too concerned about it for now.
"The territory is full of vitality. But more importantly, is that fraudster doing well?"
Whether the fraudster is killed by Liam for being exposed or successfully deceives him, it doesn't matter.
The guide can enjoy either outcome.
As the guide was looking for Liam, he found him in the mansion's courtyard.
He was arranging logs around him, but none were within reach of his sword.
"Oh, you're training. I'm looking forward to seeing how much your skills have improved."
Although he was a fraudster, the guide thought Liam's sword skills were just for fun and not good enough to be a knight.
If he was satisfied with that, the guide would be very entertained.
In this world, there's a huge gap in individual strength.
There's a big difference between those who regularly enter educational capsules from a young age and those who have only entered once or twice.
In extreme cases, even if you have talent, if you're born in a bad environment, you won't succeed.
Those who have received proper educationânobles and knightsâare naturally strong.
Knights, who can defeat soldiers with guns with swords, are special.
When Liam pushed up the tsuba of his sword with his left thumb and released it, a "click" sound was heard.
The guide was surprised.
"âHuh?"
Immediately, the logs around him were cut with lightning-fast sword strikes and fell to the ground.
The cuts were very clean.
"âHuh? Huh!?"
The guide was surprised.
In the thirty years he had left Liam alone, Liam had become very strong.
The doll and the butler were clapping.
"Excellent, sir."
"This Bryan is moved."
It was an unbelievable sight.
No matter how much magic and physical strength you have, only a select few can become that strong.
Liam, wiping his sweat with a towel he received from Tenjo, looked dissatisfied.
"This isn't enough to reach Master's level. I wish he had taught me more, but he suddenly gave me the ultimate technique and left, which is disappointing."
The guide thought.
(What did that man do? Why is it like this?)
He hurriedly prepared a video of the surroundings and checked it. Anshi had fled to some planet and was drinking.
It seemed to be a bar, and a woman was entertaining him.
"âWhat is he? I don't understand."
"Anshi, are you talking about your disciple again?"
Anshi was complaining.
"I'm a second-rate, maybe third-rate, swordsman. But that guy, he did everything I said on a whim. Before I knew it, he surpassed me in ten years and was almost a top swordsman in twenty years."
The woman found it funny and laughed.
"So in the last ten years, you made him a top swordsman? Anshi, your jokes are funny."
The woman didn't believe it.
But Anshi strongly denied it.
"It's not a joke! That brat, in the last few years, he asked me to build a proper dojo in the territory and teach him swordsmanship. Iâgot scared and ran away. He's crazy. He can cut enemies without drawing his sword, which is insane."
He showed the circus tricks he had performed, completely reproduced as swordsmanship.
It seemed he couldn't believe such a Liam.
The guide turned off the video and put his hand on his forehead, troubled.
âHe had a headache.
The cause was Liam.
Liam's gratitude was coming through.
The voice I could hear from Liamâ
(Still, I'm lucky. I learned swordsmanship from a great master, even though I'm unknown, and the territory has developed from a desolate state to this. At first, I thought I was tricked, butâafter all, that guide was real. He's amazing.)
âThe gratitude coming through.
It was very unpleasant for the guide.
He loves negative emotions, but such gratitude and goodwill make him feel sick.
Liam's gratitude was so strong that it made the guide feel uncomfortable.
"I need to think about a few things."
If this continues, the guide will feel bad, so he decided to plant negative emotions in Liam to make him feel worse.