Though he was still only five years old, the tavern owner believed they were lucky to have Liam as their leader.
We then moved to Liam‘s palace, where he was meeting with the president of the Humphrey Trading Company. They were evaluating the treasure Liam had obtained from the pirates. The Humphrey president noted that the value was extremely high. Amagi commented that it could pay off a large portion of the Banfield family’s debt.
Surprised, Liam asked Amagi just how large their debt really was if even this treasure couldn’t clear it. The Humphrey president changed the subject and mentioned the medical equipment he had previously provided. He added that manufacturers were requesting medical data from them to improve their products.
Then, Tia arrived and thanked Liam for making her treatment possible and allowing her to leave the hospital. However, Liam wasn’t interested in her gratitude. He simply told her to explain to the Humphrey president how the treatment made her feel human again.
While Tia was speaking, Nias entered the room. Assuming Tia was trying to sell warships to Liam, Nias sat next to him to prevent competition. Shortly after, Ulissia arrived and introduced herself. Nias became even more annoyed, seeing her as another rival seller.
Ulissia offered Liam a new class of warships and told him to ask for anything he desired. Liam was impressed and told Amagi he wanted one. However, Amagi reminded him that ships over 2,000 meters in length required special permits from the Empire, which the Banfield family couldn’t obtain. Disappointed, Liam was advised by Nias to buy 1,000-meter-class ships from their factory instead.
Tia then pointed her sword at Nias, warning her to stay away from Liam. Meanwhile, Brian was delighted to see women fighting over Liam and said he was happy for him.
Brian then informed Liam that he would receive a medal from the Empire for defeating the Guaz pirates and was expected to attend an award ceremony on the capital planet.
Later, Liam met with his family. When his father approached, Liam bluntly asked, “Who are you?” His father replied that he was his dad and said Liam had grown into a fine young man. Still, Liam repeated, “Who are you?”
His father was shocked by Liam’s coldness, assuming he had forgotten their faces after more than 40 years. Liam then turned to Amagi and asked who the man was. Amagi confirmed he was indeed his father. Liam remarked bitterly that this was the man who had abandoned all responsibilities, taken his mother and grandparents, and left him behind with the family debt.
His father admitted that it was natural Liam wouldn’t remember them, but was still hurt. His mother tried to lighten the mood, asking if he still had the doll they once gave him. His grandfather was annoyed at her, saying Liam was an adult now and should throw it away. His grandmother agreed.
Amagi suggested they wait in another room, but Liam asked her to stay. He directly asked his family what they wanted. His father admitted they were here to ask for a share of his reward for defeating the pirates. His mother also mentioned how expensive life in the Imperial capital was.
Fed up, Liam told Amagi to escort them out, saying he had no time to listen to their nonsense. His father grew angry, questioning how Liam could speak to his parents that way. In response, Liam drew his sword and declared that everything now belonged to him—and they would get none of it.
As they left, Liam asked Amagi if he was legally obligated to pay their debts again. Amagi replied that while he wasn’t, the merchants and collectors would likely come to him anyway. She suggested offering them a small increase in allowance on the condition they never contact him again. Any public complaints from them could damage his reputation.
Liam agreed and asked her to draft the agreement in writing. As Amagi turned to leave, Liam called out to her, saying she was his only true family.
Elsewhere, the Guide had been eavesdropping and was furious, vowing never to forgive Liam.
Back in the family’s room, they received a letter from Liam stating that they were never to contact him again, in exchange for a slightly increased allowance. The grandfather, frustrated, blamed the entire situation on the way Liam had been raised.
Liam’s father told his own father that he hadn’t done anything for Liam either. At that moment, the Guide intervened with his dark power, prompting a sinister plan among the family members.
The grandfather suggested they try to change the Banfield family head, which would transfer all of Liam’s assets to them. The grandmother offered to contact someone in the palace to begin the paperwork immediately. Liam’s father then proposed preparing a new heir to replace Liam, and his mother agreed, hoping to secure money for themselves. She asked what they should do with Liam afterward. The father replied that, once they had the money, they could hire mercenary assassins to deal with him.
The Guide, pleased by the evil in the room, clapped with joy and then vanished.
Suddenly, Liam’s truth-seeking white dog appeared but left the room just as Amagi was approaching. She overheard the family’s conversation and left in silence.
We then moved to Amagi’s room, where she watched Liam receiving honors at his medal ceremony.
Later, the High Counselor reviewed the family’s request to change the head of the Banfield family. He rejected it, stating there were no errors in the paperwork. Liam had led the territory for over 40 years, and they hadn’t provided a valid reason to replace him.
Liam’s father argued that bringing a doll with an AI to the palace was shameful and that it was unbecoming of a future emperor. However, the High Counselor defended Liam, saying he had run the territory successfully, expelled pirates, paid taxes the family had long avoided, and brought prosperity. Keeping a doll wasn’t illegal, only disliked by some.
When Liam’s father insisted they’d pay taxes once Liam was removed, the counselor laughed, pointing out how untrustworthy that sounded coming from someone who had never paid taxes. He firmly stated Liam was better than all of them—and better for the Empire.
The High Counselor warned them not to do anything reckless, or else consequences would follow. After they left, he wondered how someone like Liam could be their child. He asked, “Was that enough?” and Amagi appeared, thanking him.
In exchange for rejecting the family’s request, the High Counselor proposed using Liam’s defeat of the pirates as payment for the family’s overdue tax debt. Amagi hoped they could get a permit to purchase a Super-Class battleship as a reward.
The counselor agreed that if they were buying Imperial-made weapons and settling debts no one expected them to pay, it was all gain for the Empire. He still thought Amagi—being artificial intelligence—was foolish for negotiating such a one-sided deal. Yet, he acknowledged Liam as a lord who brought true prosperity, despite being surrounded by a greedy family.
Amagi thanked him once again and left.
Later, we returned to Liam in his room. He was confused by the ongoing celebrations. Amagi asked if he was tired from all the parties. Liam admitted he didn’t understand them, especially when strange creatures and odd performances appeared. The one that shocked him most was the bucket party, which he once mocked but now found bizarre and oddly impressive.
Then, Amagi told Liam it was time for her to leave. At first, Liam assumed she just needed a break. But she explained seriously that, as artificial intelligence, she was hated in the Empire. For his sake, he should be seen with a human, not a doll like her.
Liam, shocked, asked if this was a joke. Amagi wasn’t joking. She reminded him of the three laws for mechanical maids:
- A robot must not harm its master or, through inaction, allow the master to be harmed.
- A robot must obey its master’s orders unless they conflict with the first law.
- A robot must protect its own existence unless it conflicts with the first or second law.
Because staying with Liam made him a target, Amagi believed it violated the first law. So she could no longer follow his order to stay. She thanked Liam, saying he had treated her like a human when everyone else hated and feared dolls. That made her feel deeply happy—and lucky.
She asked Liam to grant her final wish—by letting her go. But Liam grew furious and asked if she could even protect her own feelings. He questioned whether her heart truly agreed with her decision to leave, reminding her that as an AI, she wasn’t built to properly analyze human emotions.
Yet, after declaring her intent to leave, Amagi’s processor began to overload. She cried, her body temperature rising uncontrollably. Liam saw clearly—she couldn’t protect her own emotions after all.
He then told her that if she really left him, he would drown himself in alcohol every night, waste all his money, lose his relationships, and perhaps even die alone. Worse, pirates might come and kill him. He demanded to know if she could live with putting her master in such danger. She couldn’t. That would go against the very first law embedded in her: to never allow her master to come to harm through action or inaction.
So, Liam gave her a direct order: she was not allowed to leave, because doing so would expose him to danger. Amagi, compelled by her programming and her feelings, obeyed—something she had never done with such emotional conflict before.
Liam approached her and said he could never abandon her. They had been together for so long. Yes, Brian had also been with him—but Amagi was entirely different. In Liam’s eyes, she was special.
Moved, Amagi promised that she would continue to serve him… as best as she could.
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