Volume 11 Chapter 2 - Yasuyuki-kun

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Banfield Family mansion.

Serena the head maid was nervously walking down a corridor.

“–It might be too late already.”

She had subconsciously voiced her thoughts due to her anxiety. Realizing this, she quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

Serena was usually a calm individual, but she was flustered due to Liam’s recent behavior.

After entering the comms room which allowed long-distance calls, Serena locked the doors, connected her terminal to the communication device, and contacted the Prime Minister for her regular report.

When the Prime Minister was projected onto the monitor, she gave a brief greeting before getting to the point.

“It’s been a while, Your Excellency. Please forgive me for cutting to the chase as I’d like to report that that have been some disturbing movements within the Banfield Family.”

With her back straight, Serena stared at the Prime Minister who was on the monitor.

The other party had a complicated expression on his face.

‘I feared that this would happen after his fallout with His Highness Cleo, and alas it has.’

Not long ago, Liam had a falling out with Cleo.

With Cleo now being the Crown Prince, being in conflict with him didn’t bode well for the Banfield Family’s future.

From Liam’s point of view, it was natural that he’d want to amass power in case something happened later on.

However, from the perspective of the Prime Minister, Liam was becoming one of the greatest sources of threat to the Empire.

Serena began informing him of Liam’s activities.

“He’s been purchasing territories from nobles with massive debts.”

‘So I hear. The Duke has been recommending several lords to the position of court aristocrats. He’s been acquiring nominal positions with money and having them take those up.’

After purchasing the territories, Liam would have their previous lords become court aristocrats, as if to prove that everything had been transferred over to him without a problem.

Was this kind of behavior allowed? –As a matter of fact, it was, at least within the Empire.

As matters stood, the Empire didn’t care who was managing the territories. Everything was fine as long as there was someone overseeing the planets.

In fact, they would even encourage the buying and selling of territories if it could be used to resolve debt issues.

However, it was a different story if Liam was involved.

‘Give the Duke a warning. If he expands any further, it will be seen as an act of treason.’

Taking into account Cleo’s betrayal, the Prime Minister could understand why Liam was acting up.

Hence, Serena was to advise Liam to stop while he was ahead.

“Understood.”

Serena performed a deep bow.

◇

Serena was going down a hallway when she discovered Brian walking with long strides.

For some reason, he seemed to be in a foul mood, so she decided to ask what was wrong.

“Is something bothering you?”

Brian’s usual composure was nowhere to be seen as he replied angrily.

“Lord Liam has finally returned to the mansion for the first time in several years! Today, I must give him a piece of my mind!”

“Why are you so upset?”

“Is that even a question? He left his home planet to expand his territory in the frontier! Utterly unacceptable!”

Listening to Brian, Serena felt as if she had gained an ally.

(So Brian’s also opposed to the expansion. Makes sense. It wouldn’t be wise to provoke the Empire in the current situation.)

She was going to seek an audience with Liam alongside Brian, who was absolutely fuming.

“In that case, let us speak our minds together.”

“Oh! It’s reassuring to have you, Serena. Shall we pick up our pace?”

And away they went to Liam’s office.

◇

“Lord Liam, you’ve been neglecting Lady Rosetta for years! How could you be absent from the territory for so long when you haven’t produced an heir!”

–Inside the mansion’s office.

How troublesome. I’ve returned after a long period of absence, yet the first thing I’m greeted with is Brian’s nagging.

Serena, who’s beside him, appears slightly confused, which is amusing. Having said that, even if it’s Brian, I won’t forgive him for broaching the topic of children.

“How dare you bring this up here? You must have ill intentions toward me! If it was anyone else, I would’ve had them slain by this sword!”

“And I wouldn’t mind! This Brian is willing to die if that’s what’s needed for an heir to be born!”

“Idiot, why would you die for something like that!?”

“Idiot!? Lord Liam, did you just call me an idiot!? For the Banfield Family, there’s nothing as pressing as the issue of a successor!”

Currently in the office are Amagi…and Rosetta.

I had called upon Brian to ask if anything happened while I was away from the territory.

I didn’t think he’d suddenly go off on a rant and shout about having a kid while Rosetta is here.

Honestly, he’s got no tact.

“Darling! Um, y-you don’t have to feel pressured or anything!”

Rosetta looks apologetic, which makes me feel guilty even though I haven’t done anything wrong.

As for Amagi, she’s staring at me with cold eyes!

–In reality, her expression hasn’t changed at all, but I can’t help but feel that way.

I glare at Brian and tell him to leave the room.

“If you have nothing else to report, leave!”

“No! Today, I won’t leave until Lord Liam listens! Serena is of the same mind!”

Serena was perplexed, having suddenly been dragged into the conversation.

“Huh? No, I–”

“You too, Serena!? Stop with the heir nonsense!”

Apparently, Serena’s also here to discuss the matter of a successor.

Who do they think I am?

I’ll have them know that I’m the Empire’s most vicious lord! If it weren’t them, I would’ve had them executed by now.

“Have Brian and Serena leave the room, and don’t let them come near me for a while. –But take care not to hurt them!”

Receiving my order, the knights that have been standing guard outside gently lead Brian and Serena out of the office.

“Brian-dono, please take a step back for today.”

“Release me! The Banfield Family is in a crisis! Why is no one speaking up about this!?”

I wipe the sweat off my forehead after the two leave the office.

“They start yapping about having a child the moment I come back.”

Rosetta, who’s been watching from the sideline, also brings up the topic of children.

“Darling, you don’t like children? Should I take care of Yasuyuki-kun’s matter then?”

“Yasuyuki-kun? Wait, is he already done with his education!?”

I’ve been so busy as of late that I haven’t been keeping up with Yasuyuki-kun’s situation.

“He started receiving basic education after moving here. Now that he’s done with it, I was thinking of having someone look after him.”

“–He’s my Master’s son. I can’t leave him in the care of some random dude. In that case, who should I entrust him to? By the way, what does Yasuyuki-kun want to become?”

It would be a simple matter if he has an idea of what he wishes to do in the future.

When asked, Rosetta answers with a smile.

“His dream is to become a skilled knight.”

◇

Yasuyuki-kun was the son of Sword God Yasushi and his wife, Nina.

Ever since Yasushi was invited to live over on Liam’s home planet, he had been living in a splendid mansion.

When he returned from school, he was greeted by a man stationed at the entrance.

“Welcome home, young master. Your older sisters are waiting for you inside.”

“–Un.”

Yasuyuki immediately knew who the “older sisters” the man was referring to.

Fuuka and Rinho were his father’s disciples, and they visited the mansion almost every day.

When he headed to the reception room, Fuuka, who had been waiting there, jumped at him.

“Welcome back, Yasuyuki!”

“Uh, yes.”

Rinho held Yasuyuki in her arms, but was pushed away by Fuuka soon after.

“You’ve grown so big, Yasuyuki!”

“Didn’t we meet yesterday though?”

His father’s disciples liked to dote on him, but their true identities were rather impressive.

They were legitimate heirs to the monstrous school of swordsmanship known as the One Flash, which was well-known for having produced the strongest swordsmen in the Empire.

Even though they weren’t as powerful as Liam, Fuuka and Rinho were also monsters in their own right.

Happy as he was to be doted on by them, Yasuyuki, who had learned common sense, was concerned.

(Is it alright for them to not work?)

Under Liam’s protection, Fuuka and Rinho were free to devote themselves to training with the sword, never having to do anything that could really be considered work.

They had apparently worked as maids before, but only as part of their apprenticeship.

Despite being strict when it came to swordsmanship, Liam’s would open up his wallet whenever his junior disciples asked for pocket money.

In other words, they could keep themselves fed without ever needing to work.

While Yasuyuki was worrying about their future, Nina, his mother, returned home.

“I’m home~”

Having come back from work, she entered the reception room wearing a suit.

After moving to the Banfield Family’s home planet, she had gone to college and began working as a bureaucrat after graduating.

As an official working in the government office of the Banfield Family’s main planet, she was considered an elite among the elite.

A short while later, Yasushi also rushed back to the mansion.

“Nina! Please give me some pocket money! I’m pretty confident that we can recoup our losses soon!”

“Yasu-kun, did you blow all your money away again? You’re really hopeless without me~”

Yasushi had lost his allowance after a big loss at the casino and was here to ask for more from Nina.

“Thanks. Love you, Nina!”

“Come back early~”

Now that he had his money, Yasushi left for the casino once more.

Nina sent him off with a smile.

When she handed him the pocket money, there had been a mix of exasperation and joy in her voice, joy at being relied on.

More specifically, it was 10% exasperation and 90% joy.

Watching this left Yasuyuki in deep thought.

(Mom’s a diligent worker, whereas dad’s a gambler. –Yet mom always sees him off happily. This can’t be good. At the very least, I must get my act together.)

Even as a child, Yasuyuki had doubts about his home environment and was determined to become a proper adult.

Rinho was disappointed when she learned that Yasushi had left for the casino.

“Aww, seems like Master’s busy today as well.”

Fuuka faced Yasuyuki while smiling.

“It’d be nice if he could watch over our training once in a while, but it can’t be helped if he’s busy. By the way, Yasuyuki, we got senior’s permission.”

There was a big smile on Yasuyuki’s face when he heard that they had received permission from Liam, their senior.

“Really!?”

The reason why Yasuyuki wanted to become a knight had to do with the Banfield Family’s circumstances.

The Banfield Family was currently looking to expand their military strength and was in need of skilled knights.

He had lived under Liam’s protection for years and wished to return the favor by becoming a knight.

While his father, Yasushi, was Liam’s master and idol, Yasuyuki was nothing more than his child.

To be allowed to live in such luxury was something to be grateful for, and he wanted to return the favor by attaining knighthood.

He’d also been told that Liam initially hoped he would become a knight, which led him to believe that this was the best course of action.

“Yup, it’s true. He reluctantly agreed when we told him that you wanted to be a knight. It seems he planned to have you become a government official, but he said he’ll respect your wishes.”

At first, Liam was troubled by the revelation.

Yasushi had declared that Yasuyuki had no talent as a swordsman. Would he be able to survive as a knight? That had been his concern.

Rinho placed her hands on Yasuyuki’s shoulders and bent down to match his eye level. Then, she spoke to him with a serious look.

“Yasuyuki, you’ve obtained permission, but you must not push yourself too hard. If you face trouble, you can come to me for help. –I’ll slay whoever’s in your way.”

Rinho and Fuuka’s eyes had lost focus. They weren’t kidding when they said they would kill Yasuyuki’s enemies.

Even if he didn’t have talent for the One Flash, Yasuyuki was the son of Yasushi, the master that they both admired.

In other words, he was like their little brother.

Yasuyuki felt slightly overwhelmed by the love his older sisters were showing him.

“I-I’ll be fine.”

He vowed to acquire enough strength to defend himself so that his sisters wouldn’t have to draw their swords.

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Brian (´・ω・｀): “It’s painful. They’re newlyweds, yet Lord Liam has no qualms about leaving by himself for a few years. His passion for work is painful.”

Wakagi-chan (；゜Д゜): “…You’re kidding, right? None of you can perform photosynthesis? …How pitiful.”

Brian (｀・ω・´): “Enough about photosynthesis! Volume 4 of the novel and Volume 1 of the manga for ‘I’m the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire!’ are about to go on sale!”

Brian (´・ω・｀): “For those that have already acquired a copy, please refrain from posting spoilers in the comments. –They aren’t out yet.”