"Yes, I agree. I hope to meet a wonderful gentleman. A wonderful gentleman other than the Earl, of course."
In her heart, she had never thought of such a thing.
After all, the man Siel admired was her brother, Kurt.
Her father's shoulders drooped.
"R-really? Just be respectful to the Earl. I think he's not bad."
In truth, he probably wanted to push her into being one of his concubines, but Siel refused that.
After all, to Siel, Liam was an enemy.
Kurt also looked disappointed.
"Liam is strict. He even beheaded the heir of a foster family who was causing trouble in the territory not long ago."
Her father seemed impressed, as if he remembered something.
"Because of personal connections, it's hard to be impartial. The Earl is noble and upright. Siel, you should be careful too."
Siel doubted that.
When Liam came to the Exner barony in the past, he didn't seem like such an upright person.
She thought everyone was being deceived.
Kurt looked disappointed.
"Liam hasn't returned yet, so I can't meet him. I'll be away on a mission for a while, so I don't know when we'll meet again."
Seeing her brother's disappointment at not being able to meet the man, Siel thought to herself.
(Poor brother, you've been deceived by Liam. Please wait, brother. I'll make you see the truth!)
When they arrived at the hotel lobby, Rosetta was waiting for them.
"Baron Exner, I've been waiting for you."
"To be greeted by the Earl's wife is quite an honor. Come, both of you, greet her."
Kurt was surprised to see Rosetta.
"It's been a while, Rosetta. You look so different from before. You don't have that prickly attitude anymore."
"Stop it, it's embarrassing. Kurt, you're still the same. But that military uniform suits you."
"Thank you."
As Siel watched the three of them chatting happily, Rosetta spoke to her.
"You must be Siel. You'll start your training at the Vanfield household. During this time, you'll be treated as a servant, not as the baron's daughter. Understand?"
Her attitude was strict, but she seemed like a kind woman.
"Take it easy today. Your formal training will start tomorrow. Ideally, I'd introduce you to my darling, but he's back in the territory."
While Rosetta was saying she wanted to return, Siel thought to herself.
(I'll gain this person's trust and get closer to Liam. I'll definitely expose his true nature, so be prepared!)
Siel's battle was about to begin.
ā
The day came for the journey from the territory to the capital planet.
I boarded a super-dreadnought, with Eren by my side.
The disciple who followed me closely was holding my sword.
No, it was the sword I gave to Eren.
Eren was carrying the luxurious sword.
"Eren, I'll be busy for a while."
"Yes, Master!"
Being called Master made me feel a bit complicated.
Is it right for someone as inexperienced as me to take on a disciple? I felt that way, but Master Anshi told me to train three disciples.
I don't know if Eren will become strong, but I have to train disciples to ensure the survival of the Ippan school.
I have to keep this promise, even if I become a corrupt lord.
I decided to devote myself to the Ippan school without any ulterior motives.
"When we arrive at the capital planet, I'll put you in an education capsule."
"Yes!"
"After you come out, I'll teach you the basics."
"I'll work hard on the basics of the Ippan school!"
It seems he likes the Ippan school.
I followed my master's example and showed him the secret technique first.
Back then, I didn't fully understand how amazing Master Anshi was.
Now, I've defeated a Sword Saint, but I can't catch up to him at all.
He moved so smoothly, as if he hadn't even drawn his sword, and quietly cut the log.
When will my rough slashes reach that level?
Eren was looking at the servants who had come to see us off.
Among them was Eren's mother.
Eren was looking at her.
"What's wrong, do you miss your mother?"
Eren, still young, was raised in a single-parent family.
Since Eren became my disciple, his mother was hired as a servant in the mansion.
"It's fine."
Despite being at an age where he might want to cling to his mother, he was acting bravely.
I don't like ordinary children, but Eren is my important disciple and a crucial person to carry on the Ippan school.
I should take care of him.
"When my noble training is over, I'll return as soon as possible. From there, we'll start the formal training, so be prepared. If you do, you'll be able to live close to your mother."
"Yes!"
āWell, once his mother's training is over, I can call her to the capital planet.
But for now, I'll keep it to myself.
I'll surprise him later.
When I boarded the warship, the knights were lined up.
Among them was Chancy.
I stopped and looked at her face, which was composed.
"Your injuries seem to have healed."
"Yes."
"Are you still going to target me?"
Chancy's spirit wasn't broken at all.
On the contrary, she was smiling.
"Of course."
The surrounding people were tense, but I burst out laughing.
"Good, you! If you achieve something again, I'll fight you. For now, work hard for me."
"Yes, eventuallyādefinitely again."
As I moved away, Eren followed me.
"Um, Master."
"What is it?"
"That person seems scary."
I stopped and said to Eren.
"Of course. She's a woman who's trying to kill me."
"Huh?"
"When you grow up, I'll tell you more. Hurry up. I'll teach you the basics on the ship until we reach the capital planet. I won't allow my disciple to be weak."
"Y-Yes!"
I've got a good disciple.
He's serious and seems suitable to carry on the Ippan school, but it depends on the futureāoverall, I feel he's not bad.
His interest in the Ippan school is more impressive than his natural talent.
This kid will definitely grow. No, I'll make him grow!
Not only about the disciple, but other things are going wellāno, too well.
Ordinarily, it would be called a miracle, but I don't believe in miracles.
Despite my bad behavior, I'm blessed with luck.
This must be thanks to the guide.
While walking, I sent my gratitude to the guide, whose whereabouts I didn't know.
"Let's pray that this gratitude reaches him."
"Master?"
"Hmm? Ah, I was thanking you for our meeting. You should pray too."
"Huh? Oh, yes."
Eren, my serious disciple, began to pray earnestly.
Guideācan you hear us?
Our gratitudeāreach the guide wherever he is!
ā
The missile launch port of the warship Liam boarded opened.
A golden missile appeared, and something in the shape of a dog was watching it.
When the dog howled, the golden missile flew out unnoticed.
The interplanetary ballistic missile, filled with Liam's and Eren's gratitude, soared into the sky.
Since it wouldn't reach the guide just like that, a warp gate appeared in front of the missile.
In the warship's bridge, the crew was in a panic.
"Hey, the missile launch port is open!"
"There's a slight warp reaction too."
"Check it out quickly! Lord Liam is on board!"
The military personnel quickly investigated, but the missile launch port closed and the warp gate reaction disappeared as if nothing had happened.
The dog vanished.
ā
The guide, who was active in a foreign country, was skipping.
"Ugh, here I can be comfortable without Liam's gratitude reaching me. It's a bit painful, but it's better than intense pain."
In the foreign country, he collected negative emotions and fueled conflicts.
What a troublesome guide.
"At this rate, I'll gather strength and crush the empire along with Liamāoh? I see something."
When the skipping guide stopped, he saw a light in the distance.
It was a warp gate.
He saw a golden missile flying from it.
"How tacky! Just looking at it makes me irritable."
Liam's gratitude, influenced by his love for gold, was mostly golden.
Therefore, the guide hated gold.
Whose tacky item is this? I'll make him suffer too, he thought, but the missile was heading towards him.
"Is it an accident? What a nuisance."
He quickly moved to another planet.
I'll gather negative emotions quickly! He thought, but another warp gate opened nearby.
"Huh?"
The guide realized something.
"C-could it beācould that tacky golden missile beāLiam!!!"
Surprised, the guide tried to run, but the missile was already close.
When it landed near him, he was caught in the explosion.
"NOOOOO! It's hot! I'm burning! The gratitudeāt-two people's worth!! I didn't do anything this time!"
In addition to Liam's usual gratitude, the pure gratitude of a child was also included.
The guide hated gratitude.
The gratitude burned and spread, burning the guide.
He was burned black and fell to the ground, barely surviving with the power he had stored.
The negative emotions he had gathered from various countries were reset to zero.
The guide was crying.
"I won't forgive this. I won't forgive you, Liamāafter all the trouble I went through to get this farādamn it!! I'll definitely kill you!"
As he stood up and shouted, an electronic newspaper was blown by the wind and fell in front of him.
When the guide looked down, he saw that it mentioned a deal between the Rustwar Integrated Government and the Vanfield family.
The guide, who didn't understand what was happening at first, froze, then quickly picked up the newspaper.
He read about the economic sanctions Liam faced and how he overcame them, thanks to the rebellion he had caused in the Integrated Government.
"I didn't do anything!"
The guide, sitting in shock, was quite surprised to find out he had unknowingly supported Liam.
A dog, holding multiple electronic newspapers in its mouth, was watching from the shadows.
It had deliberately made the guide see the newspaper.
Satisfied with the guide's reaction, the dog left.
The guide, crying, pounded the ground.
"This is too much!"
Bryan (* Ā“Ļļ½) "Wow, what a fortunate turn of events. When the guide is unhappy, my meals are three times as delicious. Anyway, there's still an interlude, so it will continue for a while."
Avid (Ā“ć»Ļć») "It's not going well... It's tough."