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"---Are you stupid?"
Last night, there was a commotion near the party venue.
Ruffians were running with weapons, and my knights, who spotted them, attempted to apprehend them.
Since they were armed, it seems my knights used guns, but at that moment, the ruffians used bombs to blow themselves up.
Or rather, it seems the bombs malfunctioned—anyway, the investigation is still ongoing.
Considering the route, they were probably targeting us.
However, their method was too shoddy.
To launch an attack despite the presence of security—were they stupid?
Then, Kukuri appeared from my shadow.
"Lord Liam, I have a report."
"What is it?"
"It's about the attackers mentioned in the report."
"Did you find anything out?"
"It seems the bandits intended to infiltrate the party venue. We moved to a different location beforehand, but the problem is that various other things were tampered with. The bandits were likely a diversion."
It seems the party venue was rigged with various traps.
"I was supposed to advise canceling the event, but Lord Wallace removed all the traps."
"---I have a bad feeling. It's ominous for Wallace to be this useful."
Thinking about it, I feel grateful but also uneasy that I could hold the party thanks to his actions.
I never expected Wallace to be this useful.
A competent Wallace isn't really Wallace.
"Well, that's fine. So?"
"Two of my subordinates were killed. Skilled individuals are targeting us."
There was no anger in Kukuri's voice, even though her comrades were killed.
She reported their deaths as if having a casual conversation.
"I see. How did those two die?"
"They were investigating the bandits' movements. The enemy's shadow organization is active."
Even Kukuri, who is usually excellent, suffered casualties.
Well, there weren't many to begin with.
I have mixed feelings about it—these are my few capable subordinates.
It would be a waste to treat them as expendable.
"---Can you handle it? If you need help, I can lend a hand."
"Then we would have no job. However, if possible, we would like to hand over the bodies of the shadow operatives we captured. Their bodies are highly confidential information."
"You're dedicated. Understood."
"Lord Liam, it seems skilled individuals have been sent in large numbers. It would be wise to be cautious for a while."
"No problem. I am favored by luck.---Besides, I will cut down all who oppose me. I've always wanted to fight the shadow organization. If there are any interesting ones, send them to me."
"Our job is to prevent enemies from reaching you, so that's not possible."
What a dedicated worker.
This is it. This is what I need!
I wish Tier and Marie would learn from Kukuri more.
"Too bad.---I'll leave the behind-the-scenes work to you. I'm holding a grand party today, so the enemies will gather."
"Understood."
Kukuri sank into my shadow and disappeared.
â—‡
Ciel was exhausted from the continuous parties.
Her footsteps in the hotel corridor were heavy.
"I feel like I've attended parties for a lifetime."
It wasn't just the number.
The variety was also vast.
Though there were no bucket parties, the days felt like a whirlwind of different parties.
"Well, I won't lose. I need to strip Liam of his disguise and wake up my brother."
However, she was barely managing to get through each day.
"Still, it's unforgivable for Liam to let my father and others fight while he enjoys himself in the capital. My father accepts it as inevitable!"
Ciel didn't know that Liam was supporting the logistics from the rear and protecting the families of the expeditionary forces.
She hadn't even attended the young school yet.
Her knowledge in this area was limited.
She felt that Liam was fleeing the front lines.
"---I'll definitely strip Liam of his disguise someday."
Even in her exhausted state, Ciel still harbored hostility towards Liam.
Then, she saw something at the edge of her vision.
"Huh?"
She also heard footsteps.
"Who's there? There shouldn't be any animals on this floor! It must be Liam!"
Liam's floor was heavily guarded, so no animals could have sneaked in.
Only Liam could bring them in.
Ciel chased after it and reached a dead end.
"I lost it. I need to report this to Rosetta."
Thinking it would add to her workload, she noticed something on the ground.
It was an electronic paper.
"Why is a cheap electronic paper lying here?---Oh, this is..."
Ciel hurried to deliver the electronic paper to Rosetta.
â—‡
"Darling, it's serious!"
The noisy Rosetta burst into my room.
I was giving Eren guidance while she was standing on a balance ball with her eyes blindfolded.
Her breathing was erratic, and she was about to lose her balance.
She was drenched in sweat, at the peak of fatigue, but I had no intention of stopping.
"What's wrong?"
What Rosetta was holding was a disposable electronic paper.
Since I am rich, I don't use such things, so I thought it was quite rare.
After catching her breath, Rosetta showed me a video on the electronic paper.
"Look at this!"
"What is it---What is this!?"
I snatched the electronic paper from Rosetta and felt my anger rise as I saw the content.
It was about a swordsman who attacked the headquarters of the Arlen Swordsmanship.
I wasn't surprised by the attack on the headquarters.
I was shocked by the attacker.
"There's someone impersonating the Issen-ryu?"
Anger welled up inside me.
The attacker claimed to be from the Issen-ryu and defeated the Sword Saint, the head of the school.
The Sword Saint's defeat is irrelevant, but the problem is that the attacker claimed to be from the Issen-ryu.
If sword schools start fighting, the swordsmanship world will become chaotic—such trivial matters are irrelevant.
The problem is that the attacker claimed to be from the Issen-ryu.
"Even a fake has appeared."
The attacker must be quite strong to have defeated the Sword Saint.
I looked at my favorite sword.
Among the swords I own, this one is still the best.
It was a war trophy from the battle against the Gorez pirate group. I've used many swords, but I've never found one better than this.
"I won't show mercy to the fake impersonating the Issen-ryu. I will cut them down."
At that moment, my master's face came to mind.
My master was also searching for a disciple, so it's not impossible that there are other Issen-ryu practitioners besides me.
There might really be other Issen-ryu practitioners besides me.
"---Do I need to verify this?"
For now, I'll take my favorite sword with me.
Eren was about to fall, so I moved behind her to catch her.
"S-Sorry, Master."
"Eren, you're still relying on your senses. You have good eyesight, so you rely too much on your vision. You need to hone your other senses."
"Yes!"
Rosetta, watching Eren nod, had a strange expression.
"I always think the Issen-ryu is a strict school. I'm amazed it has been passed down to the modern era."
Meeting the Issen-ryu was a miracle.
Still, I wonder what my master is doing now?
â—‡
At that time.
Anshi was being chased by a woman.
"You marriage scammer!"
The woman chasing her was a beautiful black-haired lady with glasses.
If she weren't angry, she would look intelligent.
Now, there was no trace of that.
The beautiful woman was chasing Anshi with a fierce expression.
Anshi was running for her life.
After all, the woman was holding a knife.
"I didn't mean to scam you!"
"Stop right there!"
The woman somewhat resembled Neas.
On a planet she had stumbled upon, Anshi had met the woman and, carried away, tried to seduce her.
She was happy when she managed to seduce the woman, who was her type, but the woman turned out to be more possessive than she expected.
She had spent all her money and was living off the woman, which was a mistake.
The woman pressured her to "get a job" and "get married."
Moreover, there was a baby on the woman's back.
Despite the noise, the baby was sleeping soundly.
---Living with the woman, Anshi had ended up having a child.
She had missed her chance to escape, but finally, today, she was ready to run away.
But she was caught.
"I won't let you escape!"
"Please, have mercy!"
Anshi, trying to escape from family and responsibility, was being chased by the woman.
Then, Anshi tripped.
"Ah!"
She tripped clumsily and was caught by the woman---
"You enemy of women!"
"No, please!"
---The woman's knife was brought down on Anshi.
â—‡
In the party venue's waiting room.
Another fun party today.
Don't you get tired of it?
I never get tired of it.
Even if I do, holding parties is what a wicked lord does.
Thinking about how I'm living off the taxpayers' money of the citizens, I feel great!
---Also, I'm a bit nervous today.
"You look beautiful today, Tenshi."
Tenshi, dressed in a gown, was attending the party today.
Seeing Tenshi in something other than a maid uniform, my heart beats faster.
"Sir, didn't you promise not to make me attend the party?"
"Don't worry. The venue is dark today, so no one will notice you. I should have consulted Wallace. Making the venue dark so no one would notice you was a blind spot. Now we can attend the party together."
"What about our promise?"
"Can't you attend just once?"
"Fine.---Just this time."
"Great!"
I was satisfied to bring Tenshi, who usually stays in the background, to the party venue.
I was so excited last night that I had trouble sleeping.
"Why do you want me to attend the party?"
"I want to enjoy it with you."
I can say embarrassing things to Tenshi honestly.
Why? Because it's the truth.
I hate humans because they betray me.
Rosetta is the same.
I thought she was a steel woman, but she turned soft after I got her—this is betrayal.
Honestly, teasing Ciel is more fun now.
Wallace entered the waiting room.
"Liam, it's time."
"Understood. Come on, Tenshi."
I extended my hand, and Tenshi took it hesitantly.
We entered the party venue, but I soon felt unwell.
Of all days, today.
There were some clueless people.
"---Calvin? That guy really has bad timing."
Tenshi looked puzzled.
"Sir, is something wrong?"
Wallace hadn't noticed either.
"Liam, what's wrong?"
I let go of Tenshi's hand and called Kukuri.
"Kukuri."
Kukuri appeared with my sword, which I took.
"Liam-sama, it seems the enemies have gathered. Communication is also jammed, so we can't call for reinforcements."