Service Time

Ratos Duke's mansion. In the battle that erupted last night, Count Return had officially been defeated. This cemented Viscount Aron's status as the empire's greatest knight, and it was revealed that he had reached the Master realm.

No one could block him even without using mana, but now that his ascension to Master was public knowledge, the noble faction's worries deepened.

Count Return, groaning in a stupor, revealed his burning hatred for Aron even in his comatose state.

"Aron, you son of a bitch I could chew up and still not be satisfied! Give me back my balls! Bring 'em back to life, I say!"

"……."

The nobles gathered to discuss countermeasures against Viscount Aron felt pity for Count Return. They could fully understand how deeply the loss of his manhood had cut—enough to make him rant like that even in his dreams.

Duke Ratos spoke.

"Is there truly no way left to stop Viscount Aron now?"

"It seems impossible at this point. No matter what that bastard does, we have no way to counter him... With the emperor backing him, we're out of options, Your Grace."

Marquis Roden, the noble faction's strategist, let out a long sigh. No matter how much he racked his brains, he couldn't find a way to drive a wedge between Aron and the emperor.

What if Viscount Aron publicly declared for the emperor's faction? The neutral and noble factions had barely managed to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠check the emperor and his supporters through their alliance, but if a great noble emerged in the east, it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠would spell trouble. The giant gods looked likely to lose to Aron. Given that he'd torn apart even the legendary Titan, there was no way the giant gods could match him.

Chewing his lip, Marquis Roden said, "I thought Aron was just a dumb brute with brute strength, but that was wrong. For some reason, he's awakened and is using his head now."

"You think those actions are coming from his brain?"

"He might have a brilliant strategist. But in the end, it's still Aron's brain calling the shots."

"Hmph."

Sighs erupted here and there. For such a barbaric thug to bow his head to the emperor—it was something he never would have done before. Back then, he'd acted like a complete menace, one even the emperor couldn't rein in. That's why they'd exiled him to the borderlands.

His methods were similar now, but instead of rampaging on impulse, he was using the emperor to get what he wanted. His territory was already count-sized, with a population of 100,000 and 5,000 troops. With the new lands he'd gained, it had more than doubled, pushing the population past 200,000. Given the border's nature, he could easily muster 10,000 soldiers and, with imperial support, become a massive warlord in no time.

Marquis Roden continued, "On top of that, he's pouring funds into developing his territory. Merchants are flocking in, the internal economy is booming, and the land is developing rapidly. He's even working to attract refugees."

"What? I thought he had zero interest in territory management."

"That's exactly why it's so serious."

The empire's undisputed bully was now using his brains, and the nobles felt threatened. They had to find a way to stop him.

"Guhhh."

Count Return finally regained consciousness. The moment he opened his eyes, he grabbed a sword and swung it wildly.

"Aron, you bastard! I'll grind your bones to dust and drink 'em down!"

"Count Return! Calm yourself!"

"We have to cut that bastard down!"

"The duel is over. You lost."

"Wh-what?"

Only then did Return snap out of it and look around. This was Duke Ratos's mansion, and they were gathered for a strategy meeting. The duel had already ended.

Return collapsed to the floor, sobbing loudly.

"Waaah! If I can't kill Aron, how am I supposed to wash away this shame?!"

"……."

The others understood his pain. Losing his balls was maddening enough, and tomorrow he had to parade his lower half bare for an hour-long jog.

Marquis Roden said cautiously, "Viscount Aron sent you some clothes."

"I'd rather die than wear them! A naked jog?!"

"Ahem, technically it's not naked... Anyway, you made a knight's oath. In an empire that values knightly honor, you know better than anyone what that means. This duel was official, witnessed by all ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the central nobles under His Majesty's tacit approval. If you refuse the penalty, your ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠title could be stripped for violating knightly honor."

"Don't talk nonsense! By that logic, shouldn't the law execute Aron for high treason?!"

"Why act like an amateur? You know politics overrides that."

They still couldn't overwhelm the emperor's power, and they were losing on legitimacy too. Stripping Return's title and reverting his lands to the crown would cripple the noble faction.

"Grrrk! What kind of clothes are they?"

Marquis Roden, looking extremely awkward, handed over the box. Peering inside, Count Return lost his reason entirely.

"Uwaaaaaah!"

He bolted out the door. The nobles watched him rage in frustration.

"Well, yeah..."

"No human could do that. How did Viscount Aron even think of something so cruel?"

No one had the guts to wear those clothes. They fully sympathized with Return's anguish a hundred times over.

Aron was enjoying a novel refreshingly. Midnight was approaching; time to sleep soon.

This is gonna be fun tomorrow. If that bastard wore the custom-made(?) secret weapon, the gods would go wild. Right now, they were probably chattering excitedly about what humiliating fate awaited Count Return tomorrow.

Nice. Tomorrow, I'll claim a bonus perk from Rebra.

Knock knock.

Aria visited in the dead of night. Was sneaking in at odd hours her specialty?

"Aria, what's up?"

"My lord! I did it!"

Aria's voice brimmed with excitement. Her expression screamed achievement, and it was obviously related to the mana engine.

She subtly leaned into him. Not a pervert like Cecilia, but who would refuse a beauty throwing herself at him? Her deep immersion in magitech wasn't exactly normal, but no one normal hung around the protagonist anyway. This was decent by comparison.

"Alright, Aria. Design complete?"

"Not perfect, but ready for prototype testing!"

"Oh ho, already?"

"Who do you think I am? Aria, magitech genius!"

She was thrilled, unlike her usual self. Developing a mana engine warranted that much excitement. As expected of Aria. He'd set her up to surpass genius in protagonist-territory development, and it was paying off perfectly.

Whoosh!

She unrolled the blueprints.

"This is...?"

"I designed it based on the piston concept you taught me. It works like this, right?"

"Uh... yeah. An engine converts explosion force to power. But can it even explode?"

"Yes! Use mana explosions!"

"Mana explosions..."

"Engrave a magic circle for Fire Bolt—a 1st Circle spell—into the engine, and install a magic stone at the mana inlet. Open the inlet, mana flows in automatically, triggers Fire Bolt, and boom—mana explosion! That pushes the piston, and power transfers to the wheels!"

"Huh, just 1st Circle?"

"That's gear 1. Gear 2: Fire Ball. Gear 3: Fire Blast. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Circle respectively! Third gear should suffice—what do you think?"

"……."

No genius like her. It adjusted speed via explosion power. Brakes and extras were needed, but not hard. Trains ran nonstop once started anyway—did they even need super-strong brakes?

"Well done. Extremely well done."

"Then praise me."

"Praise?"

She tilted her head like a puppy. Was this her character? The latter half was so rushed... But if this was her reward, no reason to refuse.

Pat pat.

He stroked her head as requested. After enjoying it for a while, Aria shouted,

"I'll head back to the territory and start experiments!"

"Experiments?"

"Yes! Gotta test to make products."

Her eyes sparkled. Developing the mana engine, laying rails, building locomotives— it'd guzzle funds. Even dumping all the giant-god loot might not cover it.

But locomotives would revolutionize logistics. To take down the emperor later, the territory needed growth—no hesitation on investment.

"Good. Return to the territory immediately. You have full authority on locomotive production."

"Yes! Thank you!"

Aria overflowed with zeal. Talk magitech, and she became another person. No need to curb that passion.

"Genius is genius. Grasping it in one go."

Once the giant-god war ended, what wonders would await? Excitement built already.

Next day, 9 a.m. The gods had been buzzing since yesterday about what outfit Count Return would show up in. They'd paid him intense attention since dawn. This would drive them mad and shower karma.

But would Return keep his word? Aron doubted it. A honor-bound knight would sooner suicide than do that.

Yet Count Return kept it.

"It's Count Return!"

"No way—the great Count Return in that getup?!"

Nobles' laments spread. A massive crowd swarmed before Return's mansion. Yesterday's news had spread empire-wide, even sparking bets on whether he'd honor the oath. Aron himself had half-doubted.

As the bastard appeared, Aron naturally sneered.

"Puhahaha! Perfect fit for a eunuch bastard!"

It was shabby leather armor like common soldiers wore, adorned with fluttering white lace, paired with women's high-heeled boots. His manhood dangled exposed—shriveled to grub-size since his balls exploded.

"Heh."

"Hehehe!"

Laughter rippled everywhere.

"Ughhh!"

Count Return looked half-mad. Soon, he began his frenzied jog.

"Uwaaaaaah! Aron, you fucking prick! I'll kill you! Someday I'll carve your flesh and eat it raw!"

His junk flopped with every stride. The gods went berserk.

"What the hell kind of broken-ass skill is this?"