Chapter 14:
Gratitude
THE IMPERIAL PALACE was so large that it was practically a metropolis;
it was hard to tell exactly where it began and ended. One particularly large
building on the palace grounds was the workplace of the prime minister, and
every individual within this looming skyscraper was under the prime
minister's employ.
In an office on the building's top floor, a gray-haired old man was
trying to deal with the work before him while also hearing out a younger man
who had requested an audience. The younger of the two was Cliff, Liam's
father.
"What is the meaning of this, Your Excellency? Why will you not
approve our change of headship?!"
The fact that most nobles appeared to be in their twenties was proof of
just how many years the prime minister had been alive. He had served several
generations of emperors and was said to know everything there was to know
about the Empire.
"Some years ago, you applied for succession. It was approved, so there
is no reason to overturn that decision now."
Whereas the prime minister was dispassionate, Cliff was incensed.
"The boy brought a doll to the Imperial Palace. He is simply too unaware of
what it means to be an Imperial noble. Would you have House Banfield
simply bear this humiliation?"
The prime minister sighed and finally looked up from the documents
on his tablet. "Is Lord Liam not a fine noble? He runs his territory so
effectively and even eliminated a fleet of space pirates. The Empire does not
punish nobles for keeping dolls—it is simply not customary."
"And there is a reason for that custom, is there not?! Please rethink
this, Your Excellency!"
The old man offered a crinkled smile. Cliff took that to mean his
passion was finally getting through to the man, but soon enough, his own face
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paled.
"Lord Liam is fulfilling his obligations and paying his taxes, unlike the
lords who came before him. He is a splendid noble who is contributing to the
betterment of the Empire, and we have high hopes for him. Do you
understand my meaning?"
"Erm, well... In that case, I swear to you that we will pay our dues
upon your approval, so there should be no problems."
Looking well and truly amused, the prime minister laughed. "You want
us to trust you to do something you've never done before? You lot and that
boy are possessed of vastly different characters. The reason you're able to
petition me this shamelessly is that you can't even understand which of you
would be more beneficial to the Empire."
Cliff's mouth opened and closed as he tried to come up with an
argument, but the other man didn't give him a chance to speak.
"I wouldn't do anything rash if I were you. If you want to keep living
quietly in the capital, that is."
To Cliff, there was a message between the lines: "If you do anything to
Liam, we'll erase you." Defeated, he left the office on unsteady feet.
The prime minister watched him leave, appalled. "The standards of
nobility really have dropped in recent times. I still can't believe that man
produced a son of such caliber."
Not only had the boy revived a waning domain, he'd defeated a fleet of
pirates in an outnumbered battle. Actually, an outstanding lord in a remote
region who excelled in both political and military matters was a bit of a worry
for the prime minister. Such an individual might turn against the Empire one
day, after all. The Empire would never lose, of course, but it would make for
trouble. If Liam remained loyal, then that was different. The prime minister
was very fond of nobles who dutifully paid their taxes and followed
directives.
"Why would I want to grant headship to someone who's no use to the
Empire? I'd rather that boy Liam continue to work faithfully for us."
He checked over a particular digital document. It detailed Liam's
reward for vanquishing the pirate gang.
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Liam had declined the reward. More specifically, he had put it toward
the arrears on his taxes. At the same time, he'd used his other profits from the
battle to order a dreadnought from an Empire-controlled factory, and he was
requesting authorization for the purchase.
Neither of those actions harmed the Empire; in fact, it would profit
from them. Not only would they not have to pay Liam his reward, but he was
even making a purchase from an Imperial factory. The prime minister was
constantly finding some new reason to stress over the Empire's finances, so
he was thrilled with both proposals. In Liam's case, he wasn't obtaining a
reward for all his hard work, and all he was really getting was permission to
own a flagship.
Scanning another document, he murmured, "A doll who protects her
master, hmm?"
This one was a report from Amagi on the actions of Liam's relatives.
Amagi had met in secret with the prime minister, arranging for him to decline
Cliff's proposal to change the headship in exchange for Liam not accepting
his reward.
"She is utterly devoted to the boy, while his own blood relatives are
trying to drive him out for their selfish desires. It truly is a sad world we live
in."
The prime minister shook his head, taking a short break before he
resumed his work.
***
In an expensive suite in a high-class capital hotel, I rested on my bed
with my head in Amagi's lap.
"I just don't get it, Amagi. What are parties?"
After participating in them day and night for some time now, I had
begun to seriously consider just what these parties were for. They were all so
elaborate and unique. I had eaten creatures I'd never even heard of and
marveled at entertainment I'd never before experienced. The one that had
surpassed my imagination the most was the bucket party. Hearing the name
"bucket party," I was tempted to make fun of it even before I attended.
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Honestly, I wondered how people even came up with ideas like that. Well, it
certainly left me with an appreciation for the infinite possibilities of buckets.
Other worlds sure are something else.
"I had no idea what you could do with buckets. I still can't believe it."
Amagi stroked my head gently. "Did you not enjoy yourself?"
"Quite the opposite. I was just so surprised." My heart was still tickled
by the lingering excitement.
I was also enjoying the blissful feeling of Amagi's lap—until she
rained on my parade.
"You are almost an adult now, Master. I have served you for over forty
years."
"Feels like a long time, but somehow short too."
This timespan had been longer than my entire previous life, yet it had
gone by in a flash.
"You should no longer keep me at your side."
I sat up. "What's this all about?"
Amagi explained matter-of-factly, "The Empire has a negative view of
dolls. Your reputation will suffer while I stand beside you, Master. I would
suggest making a human woman your companion instead."
Amagi's comments were a bolt from the blue. "I-is this some sort of
joke?"
"It is not."
"Huh?" I was suddenly reminded of my wife from my last life.
"It will be better for you this way."
I remembered the woman who had told me she loved me and then all
too easily abandoned me. The woman who had gotten together with another
man and spurned me. The woman I'd hated so much once I discovered the
truth that I'd wanted to kill her.
"I see—you're abandoning me. Just be honest and tell me you don't
want to be with me anymore!" I stood up, shouting, "Even a doll will
abandon me?!"
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"No," Amagi said with a shake of her head. "I have thoroughly enjoyed
the time I have spent with you, Master. That is exactly why we must part. In
addition, I am now an outdated model. A more efficient—"
So what? That's why you want to leave me?
"Don't be ridiculous! All you need to do is follow my orders! So, it's
an order, then: stay by my side forever. You can't disobey my orders—isn't
that right, Amagi?"
Amagi hung her head. "If that is your order, I shall obey."
That's right. You should've just done that from the beginning.
"You should've just said that. You can't... You can't abandon me too."
I started to cry, and Amagi stroked my head.
"Whatever am I to do with you, Master?"
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Now that I think about it, she's been with me for almost a half a
century. She's more important to me now than my wife from my past life.
"Hasn't it always been the two of us?" I said, tears flowing down my
cheeks.
After a short pause, she replied, "Mister Brian has always been with
you too, has he not? He has been your companion since you were born, in
fact, so Mister Brian has been with you longer."
What? I mean, yeah, but Brian doesn't count; he's in a different
category.
"Don't bring Brian into this. That's not what I meant."
Amagi smiled when I said that. The expression looked truly heartfelt,
not one you would think a doll was capable of. Still, there was something sad
about it.
"I shall endeavor to serve at your side for as long as I am able, then."
"Good. As you should."
Jeez. Don't scare me like that. I was relieved, but also strangely
nervous. What was that touch of sadness I thought I'd seen in Amagi's smile
just now?
***
When she awakened, she felt very strange. The sensations of her body
felt nostalgic somehow, and the ceiling above her wasn't the ceiling she was
used to seeing, of that horrible breeder's room.
"Where am I?" she muttered. Turning her head, she saw what looked
like a hospital room around her. Her body was moving in ways she wasn't
used to. It felt like she had her old arms and legs back, almost as if she were
in a dream.
After a little while, she heard a door open, and a male doctor in a white
lab coat entered. For a moment, she tensed up, but it wasn't the breeder.
"I see you're awake." There was no disgust in the doctor's eyes as he
looked down at Tia.
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"Pardon, but where am I?" Her voice sounded different. It was as
though her old, lost voice had returned, but perhaps younger than she
recalled.
A nurse came from behind the doctor to check on Tia. Now that her
head was clearing, she noticed that the ceiling was a mirror; she could see
herself in it. At first she looked away, not wanting to see herself, but the Tia
in the mirror was her former self. She looked just as she had shortly after
becoming an adult.
Long, flaxen, glossy hair. Pale skin and vibrant pink lips. Green eyes.
Yes: it was her old face, which she hadn't seen in so long.
"Huh? What's going...?" As she stared at herself in confusion, tears
began spilling from her eyes. She was human.
But she couldn't move her face very well, or her arms and legs. Her
whole body wasn't responding as she wanted it to.
The doctor gave her a reassuring look. "We completely regenerated
your body from scratch. It took quite a long time."
Tia couldn't believe what he was telling her. "You brought my body
back?"
The doctor looked awkward as he tried to summarize the situation. "It
took an elixir to do it, though. Your body is now the same as it was before,
but you'll need intense rehabilitation to move like you used to."
As former royalty, Tia was well aware of the value of such a miracle
drug.
"Elixir? You used something so valuable for me?"
"Well, it was diluted. Anyway, like I said, the rehabilitation will be
harsh. After all, we basically rebuilt your entire body."
Is this a dream? Tia wondered. She didn't care if it was; she was just
happy it was a good one.
"I'll do it. I'll do anything! This really is just like a dream," Tia said,
and the doctor smiled.
"It's no dream. This is real."
At the doctor's words, fresh tears spilled from Tia's eyes. There was
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one thing she was curious about, though. From what she understood about
full-body regeneration, it wasn't something that just anyone could receive.
Unlike regenerating one lost or damaged body part, in order to regenerate
someone completely, you would need a specialized facility and a brilliant
medical specialist as well. This was the sort of thing that could be done, but
typically wasn't. After all, the only people who could make use of elixirs
were nobles and the extremely wealthy. It was true that Tia had once been
royalty, but her nation had been destroyed. At this point, her life didn't seem
worth an elixir, so it was only natural that she wondered if she had been
saved due to a misunderstanding.
"Umm, may I ask who it was who requested my treatment? If there's
been a mistake, I promise I'll pay back the medical expenses after my
rehabilitation. Please just give me some time."
The doctor tapped away at a tablet while explaining Tia's
circumstances. "Please, don't worry—there's been no mistake, and you don't
need to pay anything. Lord Banfield has covered all your medical expenses.
Actually, the count built this hospital and hired the staff for it specifically to
treat all of the people held captive by the pirates."
"A-all of them?!"
He hadn't just sent them off somewhere with the proper facilities, but
he had built an entire hospital himself. Tia could hardly believe it. Never
mind the fact that he'd rescued all of them in the first place. If she had been
in the count's place, she might have given up on them. The choice he'd made
was just that extraordinary.
Count Banfield, huh? I wonder just what sort of person he is. He must
be someone truly remarkable.
"The count's message for you is this: 'I expect you to return the favor.'
Whatever that entails. For now, please just concentrate on recovering. We'll
need to make sure you're mentally recovered as well as physically, after all."
When the doctor passed on the count's message, it dawned on Tia that
a boy had said those same words to her just recently.
"Was he...that knight on the ship?"
"Well, if you're already familiar with the message, then I think you
know the answer."
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The doctor then began to describe the plans for her treatment.
***
I finally returned to House Banfield's domain from the Capital Planet.
Before I knew it, I'd spent a whole year in the capital. Well, things
were pretty interesting there. I basically spent every day just fooling around,
but if you live like that for a year, you're bound to get tired of it at some
point. Since I'd grown weary of partying, I used checking up on my domain
as my excuse to head back.
Upon arriving home, I received all sorts of reports from Brian in my
office.
Smiling, he told me, "Master Liam, someone from the hospital
contacted us to say the treatment is going well."
"What hospital?" At first, I wasn't sure what he was talking about.
Brian's smile stiffened. "You forgot? Remember the prisoners you
saved from the Goaz Pirate Gang?"
"Oh, them."
Come to think of it, I did build a hospital for them, didn't I? Well, I just
figured my domain could use a good-sized hospital I know I can trust. I
already planned on building one at some point, so it was just a matter of
good timing. But those captives—of course. So their treatment's going well?
"Yes. Those still requiring treatment should be fully recovered in a few
more years, and those finished with their procedures have received aid, so
they can start a life here in your domain."
Most of them had lost their homelands, so this would be their new
home. They were all beautiful, and some were artists or possessed of a
special skill. Maybe in the future, they'd have beautiful daughters who could
become part of my harem. Hopefully, helping the refugees was an
investment.
"That's wonderful." It was an economic decision as an evil lord and
almost made me want to sing my own praises.
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"Yes. They are all grateful to you, Master Liam."
The people I'd saved felt they owed me, which made it all worth it.
This discussion put me in a good mood. I then recalled something else related
to the Goaz Pirate Gang incident.
I opened a drawer and pulled out a gold box, taking a closer look at it.
"Come to think of it, this is one of the things I took from Goaz." I hadn't
brought it with me when I went to the Capital Planet, having simply stowed it
away in this drawer.
Brian gave me an exasperated look. "You do love gold, don't you,
Master Liam?"
"With a capital L."
"Hrm. Something about that box seems familiar." Brian clapped his
hands together. "Now I remember!"
"What? Is it some amazing treasure?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Then don't get my hopes up. So, what did you remember?" If I didn't
know you for as long as I have, I would have your head for disappointing me
like that.
"In my younger days, I was an adventurer, you see."
By "adventurer," Brian essentially meant he'd been a space explorer.
They were a fearless bunch who discovered ruins, investigated ancient
civilizations, that sort of thing—not that any of it interested me. I wanted
treasure, but I could do without adventure.
"Brian the adventurer, eh?"
"Yes. I recall seeing data about this artifact once. I'm sure it's just a
replica, but this appears to be the alchemy box, a relic of a great, ancient
magical society."
"An alchemy box? Really?"
"It's a rather fantastical story, but from what I heard, it was a tool that
could turn common material into gold. I believe it's said that it could
transmute any inorganic matter. For instance, you could take any rock lying
by the side of the road and turn it into mithril, orichalcum, or adamantite."
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"So I could use it to create gold?!"
"Huh? Ah, yes."
This world has such fantastic tools! To think I could mass-produce
gold. What would I do with it all? Well, I wouldn't have to worry about my
debt anymore, for one thing. I wish this one were real.
Brian seemed to share my opinion. "It really would be fantastic. If you
could get a hold of the real thing, the family's financial worries would be
solved just like that."
"Should I go searching for the real thing, then?"
Brian looked stern. "You are the head of House Banfield, Master Liam
—a count. I'm afraid you can't go off playing adventurer."
What? Is he mad at me?
***
That night in my room, I contemplated the golden box.
"Man, if this were the real thing..."
I'd had Brian show me the data on the item in question, which also
indicated how to use it. The ancient civilization that had created it was long
gone, so the means of manufacturing the alchemy box had been lost; another
one could never be made. If I could just get my hands on it, I would be free
from this debt for good.
"Let's see... To use it, you just had to open the lid and concentrate,
huh?"
I opened the box's lid and concentrated on a wooden practice sword in
my hand, just to see what would happen.
"Yeah, right."
Having figured the thing was just a replica, I was surprised when the
box responded and several screens popped up around me.
"Huh?"
The passages were written in ancient script, but I was able to decipher
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them thanks to my time in the education capsule.
"Convert? Er... This?"
I chose which substance to convert the wooden sword to, and it was
engulfed in golden particles, changing color. When the effect had passed and
I lifted the weapon higher, it no longer had the lightness of a wooden sword.
It carried the weight of metal—of gold.
"No way! This is the real thing?!"
Now that I thought about it, Goaz had been excessively rich for a
pirate, and he'd possessed a lot of rare metals. This must have been the
source of much of his wealth.
"The Guide said Goaz had a great treasure of some kind, didn't he? He
must have meant this."
I opened the window in my room, as if to announce my joy to the
world, and laughed loudly.
"This is fantastic! The Guide even had a bonus like this in store for me!
Seriously, what a great guy! Now I can do whatever I want! I can be the kind
of evil lord I've been waiting to be!"
I thanked the Guide from the bottom of my heart. I was practically
bursting with gratitude for the guy!
"Guide, I'm sorry I thought you were kinda suspicious at first. I'm
really happy, and it's all because of you. I don't even know what to say. I feel
like I'll never be able to thank you enough. Still, I want to say it... Thank you
so much!"
I hope these feelings reach him!
***
Meanwhile, in a field illuminated by moonlight...
Bombarded by Liam's passionate feelings, the Guide's heart was
burning, truly scorching, as if red-hot metal were being pressed against his
chest.
"STOP IIIIIIIT!" he screamed.
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Weeping in agony, he clutched his chest with both hands and writhed
on the ground, his legs flailing wildly. He'd thrown his suitcase aside the
moment the head-splitting pain had assaulted him.
"My power... All my power is fading away!"
What little power had remained in him was stolen away now, with no
hope of recovery. Because of this, he couldn't even kill Liam anymore, even
if he didn't have to worry about appearances. The Guide remained curled up
for some time, clutching his chest and grinding his teeth.
"You won't get away with this, Liam... I won't allow it. No matter
what I have to do, I'll find a way to make your life an eternity of pain and
torment. And in your unending hell, you'll hate and resent me...fear and
curse me...and I'll just laugh."
The Guide slowly got to his feet, vowing vengeance against Liam.
"I swear it! I swear that I will..."
Hiding nearby in the field, a dog watched over the Guide.
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