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n–Rosetta, you’ve disappointed me.

n“Darling, do you think this outfit looks nice?”

n“…uh, yeah.”

n“I’m glad. Amagi recommended these to me.”

n“…I see.”

nRosetta didn’t have clothes or possessions appropriate for her new status, so I had Thomas import various products.

nI told her she could have whatever she wanted– and she ended up choosing things with great joy.

nAnd now she was showing me her new clothes.

nI thought she was a woman with a spirit of steel, but she had fallen so easily– is this the ‘two frame punchline1’ my junior told me about in my previous life?

nEven so– there’s no way I can accept this!

nAdorned with her dress, Rosetta spun around in front of me to show it off.

nHer hair was still curled into ringlets, but it was slowly turning back to its original state– she looked more beautiful the longer I looked at her.

nPersonality wise? –I’ve been told that she’s grown up in poverty, so she’s actually quite humble.

nI didn’t know the details.

nI wasn’t interested in them.

nThere’s a budget being prepared for Rosetta, but I don’t think it’d be a problem even if she exceeded it a bit.

nNow that the engagement ceremony is over, we’ll be returning to elementary school soon.

nThomas even prepared Rosetta some special school supplies.

nRosetta went on to tell me about various things,

n“Oh, and darling, about tomorrow–”

n“You’re going to visit the grave? I’ll go with you.”

nAfter seeing Rosetta’s proud moment, her grandmother peacefully passed away.

nRosetta was crying back then.

nShe seemed to be recovering now, but she seems to relapse whenever she visits the grave.

n…also, their thankful attitude towards me is troubling.

n–Rosetta’s mother was so grateful she’d start crying, while Rosetta herself was giving me this whole ‘darling’ treatment.

nThough, it did feel unexpectedly good to be thanked for something.

nHow did this happen? As I thought so, the huge monitor in the room started broadcasting a drama.

nRosetta’s face flushed as she watched it,

n“Oh, it looks like it’s this time already.”

nIt was a drama starring Rosetta as the main heroine.

nThe moment I saw it, I was instantly filled with regret– it was seriously embarrassing.

nAre you really okay with this?

nShow me more resistance! Start crying, “This isn’t me!”

n“She looks like a princess, that’s not me.”

nThe actress who was playing Rosetta’s role was very beautiful.

nAnd the original herself seemed to be pleased with this… wrong. This is so wrong!

nOn the sofa I was currently sitting on, Rosetta shyly sat down beside me.

nThere was a subtle distance between us, but for some reason I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

n…where did the woman of steel from school go?

nWell, I was the only one calling her that, but wasn’t her change to a young maiden in love a little too drastic?

nWhile watching the drama, Rosetta was blushing,

n“My home wasn’t such a big mansion.”

nBecause this episode was still focusing on her life of poverty, I was somehow able to endure it.

nAt the end of the drama, a handsome actor appeared to play my part.

nIt looks like it was during the time before I left for the elementary school, while I was still in the mansion.

nHe was vainly portrayed to be cool.

nThe dialogue was written to make him look like a kind lord who cared about his territory, so it was obvious how little they understood me.

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n

nSurely, this was the wish of people of what they hoped I’d become.

nBut it was meaningless. I wasn’t a virtuous lord.

nEven so, I was worried about the filming location.

n“Huh? It looks really similar to the mansion…”

nBrian entered the room with a service cart as I commented on how close they were able to reproduce my house.

nHe looked really happy today,

n“Please excuse me, I’ve prepared some refreshments for you.”

nI pointed at the monitor,

n“Hey Brian, it looks just like our mansion.”

nBreaking out into laughter, Brian responded to me while preparing the tea,

n“Of course it does, we rented out part of the estate for the filming. In actuality, this Brian here was an aspiring actor in the past, so I approved of it with great joy. This Brian here even got to have a minor role in the show.”

nSo Brian was involved in this.

nOr rather, be clear on whether you were an adventurer or an actor already.

nA little embarrassed, he happily added on, “I even got to receive an autograph from an actress I’ve been quite the big fan off.”

n…that’s nice.

nTurning back to the drama, the strong willed lady Rosetta just had her fateful encounter with the young scion of a noble house– myself, and the broadcast was over.

nThere were a lot of things I wanted to comment on.

nAs for Rosetta, she was either really happy or embarrassed– her face was flushed.

nWhen the episode finished, she was looking at me.

n–she looked like she was expecting something, but I didn’t know what to do.

nAs I thought so, Wallace suddenly barged into the room,

n“Liam, let’s go back to school already!”

n“Departure is three days from now.”

nAt my immediate answer, Wallace’s expression broke down into despair.

nRosetta turned towards Wallace, her gaze frosty.

n“Is there any reason why?”

nI asked him for an explanation, but his answer was pathetic,

n“It’s Serena! She turns into a demon whenever my manners don’t reach her standards! I thought my life would change after leaving the palace, but things haven’t changed at all!”

nApparently he only wants to go back to school so he can escape from Serena.

nHe’s an idiot.

nSerena won’t complain as long as you’re mindful about your manners.

nEven I get scolded on my bad mouth, but that’s about it.

n“This is a good opportunity. Let’s make your training harder for the remaining three days.”

n“Are you betraying me, Liam?!”

n“I’m doing this for your sake, Wallace.”

nThen, some maids entered and bowed their heads to me, before grabbing and dragging Wallace away.

n“I HATE THIIISSS~!!!”

nI drank my tea while listening to Wallace’s cry.

nIt was my decision to take him as my underling, but subjugating Wallace didn’t really feel like putting a prince under my control.

nIn this universe, he was my one mistake.

nThat’s when Brian told me something interesting,

n“Oh yes, Lord Liam, we’ve received a report from a pioneer planet that they’ve discovered something interesting.”

n“Something interesting?”

n“Yes, it’s a fake, but curious thing. Do you know of planetary development equipment?”

nPlanetary development equipment.

nThey were devices used to terra-form pioneer planets into environments suitable for people to live in.

n“I’ve heard about them. How do they relate to the device?”

n“It seems that the device used by the ancient civilisation was far superior to the technology that we use today. The report says that we’ve found an object similar to that tool. I understand that you like such things, so I had it transported to the mansion.”

n–Holding my hand over my mouth, I went into deep thought,

nI recognise this pattern.

nThings like this meant the guide was involved, and every instance brought me great amounts of wealth.

n“I want to check on this immediately.”

nWhen I stood up, Rosetta said she’d come with me– but I told her that it was okay, and she should rest.

n◇ ◇ ◇

nA blue sphere was brought to the estate.

nIt was about the size of a soccer ball, and there were multiple glowing lines that stretched around it, creating a beautiful sight.

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nStanding next to me, Brian explained,

n“After placing this device near a planet, it’ll slowly transform said planet into an environment that people can live in. It’s a kind of talisman for pioneer teams, imitations are still being created to this day.”

n“That’s amazing.”

n“While it does have the power to make planets prosperous, if used improperly, it also has the power to destroy planets, converting the absorbed energy from them into elixirs. It’s a frightening device that was the death of many worlds in the ancient civilization.”

nIt was possible to enrich ruined planets, but the reverse was also possible.

nWhen I touched it, the sphere turned red.

n“Oh, it’s rare for them to have a red shine. Usually, they’re made to only shine blue.”

n“…is that so?”

nI might’ve struck gold here.

nThe possibility of this being the real thing is high.

n“Brian, tell me more about how to use the device.”

n“For Lord Liam to be so interested in the stories of my adventuring days, this Brian here is overjoyed.”

nAfter learning the procedure to use it from Brian– I immediately left for space.

n◇ ◇ ◇

nWhile Liam had left for space.

nRosetta had called out to Amagi.

nAmagi was expressionless,

n“Is there something that you need, Lady Rosetta?”

n“I heard about darling’s circumstances from Brian and Serena. Is it true that after he was abandoned by his parents, you took over the role of his mother?”

nAmagi nodded,

n“Master’s parents and grandparents had left him for a life in the imperial capital. They didn’t have any intention to raise their child, so I took care of him in their stead.”

nShe continued on,

n“I understand that my presence is unsatisfactory, but I can’t go against my Master’s order.”

nLiam was the one at fault for keeping an android by his side.

nBut Rosetta…

n“Wait! I wasn’t complaining about that!”

n“Lady Rosetta?”

nRosetta brought out a braided string bracelet and presented it to Amagi,

n“–this is something that I made by hand, I’m sorry I couldn’t give you more.”

nIt wasn’t something purchased from the Banfield house’s territory, and it wasn’t something procured from Thomas.

nThis was something she had made herself.

n“Are you sure about this?”

n“Of course I am! Aren’t you an important person to darling?”

nAmagi smiled, but she looked a little sad,

n“Yes, I guess I am.”

nShe thanked Rosetta for the bracelet,

n“–thank you, Madam2.”

nHaving been acknowledged as Liam’s wife, Rosetta felt shy.

n◇ ◇ ◇

nOuterspace, an area filled with debris.

nI had come to such a place in Avid– to use my recently acquired device.

n“Now, let’s see what happens…”

nThe planetary development device is dyed red and begins to absorb what I assume to be life force.

nDrifting along this area were the pirates who tried to attack my territory’s pioneer planet.

nApparently the device absorbs life force, or as Brian calls it, ‘souls’ to produce elixirs.

nI’m hesitant to use it on my own people, but if it’s against pirates, then there’s no problem.

nThe sphere is completely dyed red and the light settled down as it stopped absorbing whatever it was before.

nI brought the sphere into the cockpit and started inspecting it,

n“Now, if I do this…”

nLiquid is spilled from the sphere while I was messing around with it.

nThe liquid that splashed onto my knee solidified into stones as it dropped to the floor.

n“Oops, I spilled a bit.”

nI tried to pick them up, but I couldn’t find them all.

nWell, it didn’t really matter.

nI took out a bottle and started pouring the elixir into it.

n“…it’s not a lot, is it?”

nI took the bottle filled with elixir and shook it.

n“As always, it’s the real thing. I have to make sure to thank the guide.”

nTreasures naturally gathered in my hands one after another.

nAs I thought, there was no problem even if I didn’t accept Derrick’s deal.

nHowever, I couldn’t help but notice the guide hasn’t been showing up recently. –is he okay?

nNo, I shouldn’t worry about him.

nEverything that he’s done for me, follow-ups included– were perfect.

nI’m sure he’s doing fine.

n“He was really embarrassed the last time, so maybe he’s too shy to show his face to me? That guy is surprisingly cute.”

nBut it’s important to show gratitude for things.

nI hope these feelings of mine reach him.

n“Thanks for everything guide– you’ve given me even more strength.”

nBut–

nIn the first place, while I’m happy to get a device that makes elixirs, I could always buy them.

nI could just create money using the alchemy box, so to be honest, there’d be no problem even if I didn’t have it.

n“…should I put this thing on the fortress-class, and use it to develop the pioneer planet?”

nAlthough it was a battleship purchased from Nias, I was currently using it as a temporary defense base.

nWhile the ship’s deployed on a pioneer planet, the item’s enriching effects would take hold.

nWhen used normally, the planetary development device was one used to nurture life rather than absorb it.

nBrian said there’d be no harm.

n“Since I also have to prepare a new pioneer planet for Wallace’s territory, should I send this as a lucky charm along with the fortress-class?”

nIf I had this embedded in a stone statue to keep it hidden, nobody will know.

nThis has great potential merits for me.

n“To send such useful tools one after another– the guide is the best.”

n◇ ◇ ◇

nAround that time– the guide was spreading his arms at the imperial capital.

n“Fuhahaha! The negative emotions that have accumulated for thousands of years, give me strength!”

nEven though the emotions were poorly absorbed, there was an abundance of negative emotions in the imperial capital.

nHe could easily recover his power here.

nHowever, it still couldn’t compare to his previous strength.

nLiam’s gratitude was constantly draining the guide.

n“Now I can finally drop that damn Liam to the depths of hell. Just you wait, Liam!”

nThen, as the guide was wondering what to do next–

nThe dog-shaped light that was hiding behind him turned to look up at the sky.

nThe skies around the imperial capital were protected by a layer of metal.

nDespite this, a golden spear of Liam’s gratitude had appeared through the metal– and flew straight towards the laughing guide, piercing right through his back.

n“Uwa-?!”

nThe guide cried out from the sudden impact.

nHe was sown into the ground.

n“Wha… wh-wh-what the hell is this?!”

nThe confused guide grabbed the spear to pull it out– but the very touch of it burned him.

nSmoke was coming out of the places in contact with it.

n“GYAAAAA!!! T-this is Liam’s gratitude?! Why?! I haven’t even done anything!”

nThe oversized feelings of thanks had taken shape, piercing through the guide and leaving him struggling in anguish.

n“I-it’s being taken away. The power that I had finally recovered… was stolen from me… how could such a thing happen? You bastard… YOU BASTARD!!! LIAAAAMMMM!!!!”

nHe didn’t even do anything this time, but the guide was still burned by Liam’s gratitude.

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