Chapter Volume 9 Chapter 15 - Traitorous Yasushi

Master’s story has come to an end.

It’s my first-time hearing about One-Flash having a long-cherished wish, but I’m honestly happy that Master has named me his successor.

It seems this world is crawling with troublesome monsters, like the giant octopus that we saw earlier.

As an evil lord, I must dispel any sparks that may lead to danger.

I’m determined to kill anyone who can be a threat to my well-being, but the problem is that there’s an enemy out there that even Master couldn’t defeat.

There’s no doubt that Master is stronger than me, which means there’s an enemy more powerful than even the giant octopus that I defeated.

I didn’t think a swordsmanship that I happened to pick up would have such a secret.

Honestly, hats off to the Guide for his stellar support.

One might argue that I’ve been burdened with an unnecessary fate, but even if I had known about its secret, I would’ve requested to learn the technique anyway, so all’s well.

“Let’s leave the matter of One-Flash’s long cherished wish to the side for now. The bigger problem at hand is—”

Marie, who’s standing next to me, worries about my condition after seeing the distraught look on my face.

“Lord Liam, we should first tend to your injuries.”

“I’m fine. Rather than that— enter.”

I’m currently in the drawing room as someone has requested a visit.

The door opens, and in comes Rosetta, whose eyes appear swollen.

Relieved to see that I’m safe, she comes to my side while shedding tears, holding herself back from hugging me right there and then.

“Darling, I was so worried! I heard you were injured. Are you okay? Let’s have you treated right away!”

Rosetta drones on and on out of worry for me.

To think it’d be Rosetta’s personal guards that came to my rescue.

—Guide, I’m always grateful for your help. I truly am.

But I mean really! There should’ve been better alternatives.

“You were a lifesaver, Rosetta. Thank you.”

“I’m glad I was able to help Darling.”

I haven’t been paying much attention to the matter of Rosetta’s personal guards, so I’m surprised to hear that their number has swelled to 20,000.

The troops overall skill and quality are mediocre, but they were still much stronger than the enemies, which were like paper tigers.

There’s no room to deny that Rosetta’s reinforcement was what helped us ensure victory.

—However, I don’t want to feel indebted to Rosetta.

“I’ll return this favor one day,” I mutter in regret.

Rosetta wipes away her tears with her fingers.

“I’m content as long as Darling is safe. Not to mention, Darling has helped me many times in the past, so I’m glad I was able to be of help this time.”

The smile on Rosetta’s face appears genuine.

However, inside my heart, I hold my head in distress, refusing to accept the fact that I had to receive help from Rosetta of all people.

◇

Yasushi was walking aimlessly inside the ship.

“It’s over. My life is over.”

He had escaped from the infirmary with his disciples Rinho and Fuuka hot on his trail.

Yasushi fell into despair once he imagined his life ahead.

Once they arrived on Liam’s home planet, it would be like being put under house arrest.

Liam and his two other disciples would visit him whenever they had the chance, not giving him a moment of peace.

“I could’ve escaped if I was alone.”

However, his wife Nina wouldn’t let him give her the slip.

He had tried once, and Yasushi shuddered as he recalled the traumatic experience of being stabbed by Nina with a knife.

Besides, he also had his cute son Yasuyuki to think about.

Yasuyuki was a nice child who loved his father despite all the latter’s flaws, and Liam had taken him hostage.

“Damn it. All because of him, my life is in shambles.”

Even if he somehow fled from Liam’s home planet, what awaited him was a life as a fugitive where he would have to escape from warriors who wanted to make a name for themselves by defeating him.

Furthermore, the aristocrats of the Empire, the Kingdom of Dominion, and other nations were keen on finding Yasushi, who was hailed as a Sword God.

Regardless of whether he escaped from Liam or not, a miserable life lied ahead.

However, he wasn’t willing to let things end this way.

“I must get back at him one way or another. I’ll harass him just enough so that he doesn’t get angry at me!”

Not only was Yasushi a petty man, but he was also a coward.

Thus, he swore to have his small revenge on Liam.

Just then, something caught his eyes.

“Hmm? A dog?”

The dog then entered a narrow passage.

Yasushi went over to take a look, and saw a girl in maid outfit deep inside the passage, holding her head.

The dog was nowhere to be seen.

“At this rate, everything will go exactly as Liam wants!”

Yasushi watched the girl in silence.

(I thought the people on this battleship all respected Liam— it turned out there was one that didn’t.)

Yasushi approached Ciel, who hated Liam, and called out to her.

He stroked his stubbled chin and pretended like he was a capable swordsman, even if it was only in terms of the atmosphere he exuded.

“You sound troubled.”

Ciel trembled when she turned around to find Yasushi facing her way.

“Lord—Sword God.”

She clearly remembered what she had just said and turned pale as she confronted Yasushi, who Liam professed was beyond even him.

Yasushi, on the other hand, was convinced that he had found a comrade.

(She’s probably thinking about all the bad things she’s said about Liam. With her, I can get back at Liam in various ways.)

“You need not feel alarmed. I simply wish to hear more about Liam. Truth be told, he’s given me quite the trouble.”

Ciel was suspicious of his words.

“Aren’t you the master swordsman that Liam greatly respects?”

“I’m troubled by all the fame that’s come because of him. Hence, I’m thinking of getting back at him a teeny bit.”

Ciel was still skeptical, but she came to the conclusion that there was no reason for Yasushi to lie about this.

She told him about Liam, hoping to obtain a trusty ally.

“—He’s not the wise ruler that everyone thinks he is. He’s a villain! He looks down on his people and decides to raise tax just because he feels like it. When I told him the citizens would suffer because of the increase in tax, he said that they deserve it!”

“Ho-hohou~”

(Wait. Doesn’t that mean it’s a bad idea to take revenge? I guess I should be careful with how I go about doing it.)

Yasushi wasn’t the type to give up on his revenge though.

Ciel told him the truth.

“Everyone is being deceived, even his fiancée Lady Rosetta. She’s such a nice person, but she’s been fooled by Liam. Despite having a fiancée, Liam refuses to marry her and plays around.”

Marriage immediately after the aristocratic training —was how things were supposed to go, but Liam had selfishly postponed it indefinitely, and Rosetta had allowed this to happen.

From Ciel’s point of view, Rosetta had an admirable character.

“I refuse to forgive Liam! My dear brother and father have also been placed under his spell—”

Yasushi felt his blood boil seeing the look of frustration on Ciel’s face, and came up with a plan for his revenge.

“Understood. Then allow me to assist you.”

The subsequent smile on Ciel’s face was as if she had suddenly gained the strength of a million men.

“R-Really?”

Yasushi placed his hand on Ciel’s shoulder.

“Leave it to me.”

◇

With Ciel in tow, Yasushi barged into the drawing room where Liam, Marie, Rosetta, and the female knights escorting Rosetta were.

The female knights directed their killing intent toward Yasushi who suddenly entered without permission.

A shiver ran down his back, but Yasushi maintained a calm facial expression.

“Stop directing your killing intent toward Master, or I’ll kill you.”

“A-Apologies.”

The female knights suppressed their killing intent under Liam’s orders, and hurriedly apologized when they realized it was Yasushi.

Rosetta greeted Yasushi by lifting her skirt, and performing a curtsy.

“My name is Rosetta, and I’ve heard a lot about the esteemed Master from my fiancé, Lord Liam.”

Rosetta didn’t address Liam as Darling as she respectfully greeted Yasushi.

Yasushi assessed her in his mind.

(A blond lady with hair drills. Not my type.)

As he preferred intelligent ladies with black hair, Rosetta, while certainly a beauty, did not strike his fancy.

Liam squirmed uncomfortably.

“Master, is there something that you need? Let me come with you if it’s an urgent matter.”

The way Liam phrased his question made it seem as if he wanted to escape from where he was.

Although Yasushi was a small fry, he was an expert at seeing through people’s weaknesses.

(Right on! He’s not comfortable staying next to his fiancée!)

Yasushi, who heard from Ciel that Liam had become engaged with Rosetta for the sole purpose of obtaining the title of Duke, suspected that there was no love between the two.

He further inferred through Ciel’s account that Liam was trying to run away from his marriage.

Ciel’s eyes shone at the sight of Liam in dismay.

Liam was surprised to see Ciel standing behind Yasushi, and his expression soon became apprehensive.

“Why are Master and Ciel together?”

Liam looked at the two with suspicion.

Yasushi knew that this was the time to strike and take revenge.

“Liam-dono, I’ve been told everything! You have a fiancée, yet you’re running around without getting married!”

“What?!”

It wasn’t just Liam.

Everyone present was stunned by how straightforward Yasushi was being.

If it had been anyone else saying this, Marie would have ended the person’s life by now judging from the complicated look in her eyes as she observed the situation.

She came forward to stop him.

“Lord Yasushi, this is a very sensitive topic for the Banfield Family. While you aren’t strictly regarded as an outsider, please refrain from broaching this topic.”

The others around them also wore a ‘Don’t continue this conversation!’ kind of face.

For better or for worse, all the power was concentrated in Liam’s hands.

As a result, he was allowed to be as selfish as he wanted, and not many were able to criticize him even when he ran amok while avoiding his marriage.

He would run away even when Amagi and Brian were the ones to bring up this topic.

If it was anyone else, he’d outright ignore them.

And yet, Yasushi had stepped on this land mine.

Liam’s gaze wandered around the room, while Rosetta made a troubled face.

Apparently, Liam was struggling to answer as he was being questioned by his beloved Master.

(This is it!)

From his reaction, Yasushi became confident that Liam wouldn’t get angry at him over this topic.

Consequently, he decided to enact his small revenge, ignoring the fact that this might cause huge waves in the Banfield Family.

“Liam-dono, running away from your fiancée isn’t how a respectable lord should act. I heard you finished your aristocratic training without any problem, so what’s holding you back?”

Yasushi was making a sound argument, but things were a little different inside.

(My life is at an all-time low now that I’m married. I won’t allow you to continue your free-spirited bachelor life! You’re getting married as well! No, wait! If he begins a family and has children, he’ll have less time to be involved with me, right? Not only am I harassing him, it comes with tangible benefits—this must be what it means by hitting two birds with one stone!)

Yasushi turned back, and gave Ciel a thumbs up.

Seeing this, the people around them realized that Ciel had told Yasushi about the situation, and pushed him into taking action.

Other than Rosetta, Liam and the others stared daggers at Ciel.

Ciel shook her head at Yasushi.

No! This wasn’t what I meant!

However, Yasushi interpreted her message differently.

At the end of the day, they were strangers, not a couple, and they couldn’t communicate telepathically.

(Still not enough?! I can take it a step further? Then here I go!)

Yasushi stared at Liam, forcing the latter to pay attention to him, before cutting off any escape route.

“Liam-dono!”

“Y-Yes!”

“As the successor of One-Flash, you must not be weak-willed! Return to the territory now and hold the wedding! I’m ashamed as your master!”

“N-No, but this—”

“No buts! Make a statement here and now that you will return to your territory immediately to get married!”

Liam surrendered under Yasushi’s pressure, and hung his head low.

“I-I understand.”

“Lord Liam?!”

Marie was shocked, but she was a competent woman despite her difficult personality, and she had been recording Liam’s conversation for some time to ensure there was evidence.

She approached Rosetta and said, “Lady Rosetta, we must hurry back to the home planet and get ready for the ceremony!”

“Eh, eh. Ehhh?”

Rosetta was also confused, and couldn’t keep up with the sudden development.

Yasushi once again turned to Ciel, who continued to shake her head furiously.

(Still? What more can I—right?!)

Yasushi came to a realization.

(I’ll embarrass Liam even more!)

Yasushi was thinking about his next plan.

———————————————————————————————————–

Brian (´；ω；｀): “This Brian has brought up the topic of marriage countless times, only to be brushed off. Yet when Yasushi brought it up, he decides to go ahead and get married—It’s painful.”

Wakagi-chan (；゜Д゜): “—Eh? He’s getting married? Just like that?”

Brian (*´ω｀*): “Anyway, Volume 2 of ‘I’m the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire’ which was released this month seems to be popular. This Brian is relieved.”

Brian (´・ω・｀): “Since there’s no room for postscripts in the light novel, this Brian’s appearance time is further reduced. However, there’s a bonus at the end of the novel instead which features the daily life of Amagi and the maid robots. It seems to be surprisingly popular. —This Brian is having a hard time deciding whether he should be happy or sad about this.”

Wakagi-chan ( ゜∀゜): “Must be sad having your spotlight taken away! Painful too, to also have the postscript section taken over by me, Naegi-chan!”

Brian (´・ω・｀): “……”

Brian (´・ω・｀)ｒ鹵~＜≪巛;゜Д゜)ノ: “Nugyaaaa!”