The next day, for some reason, I headed to the Battle Dome conference room dressed in formal attire.
Even more baffling was Uta, who was wearing an officer’s dress uniform. She even had the rank insignia of a First Lieutenant. Why was she dressed like that?
"Captain, there is something I have been keeping from you," she said.
"And what would that be, First Lieutenant!" I replied, snapping a sharp salute.
"Do that again and I’m putting you in a joint lock."
"Yes, ma'am."
"First, my real name is Uta Tachibana. I am the eldest daughter of House Tachibana."
"House Tachibana? You mean the one used as the filming location for The Unruly Grand Duke?"
"Yes, that is my family home."
She was an incredibly high-born lady.
"Which means your younger sister is..."
"One of the King of Chronos's wives, and a Duke-type who serves as the head of our main family."
"Uta-san, could I get an autograph later... Stop! Stop doing an Iron Claw with zero hesitation!"
Uta’s Iron Claw dug into my face. It hurt—it really, really hurt!
"I actually belong to Public Security," she continued.
I’d thought for a while now that she was unusually well-educated.
"Then that whole thing about junior college was..."
"I actually went to Imperial University. I graduated under a special exemption during my second year because of the Fall of the Imperial Capital. I took a job in Public Security through my parents' connections right after. Though, for what it's worth, I got into the school via a recommendation slot for my judo skills."
"So you’re an elite... Then why were you pretending to be a Non-commissioned Officer?"
"To act as your guard, Army Lieutenant Leo."
"My guard?"
"Yes. In truth, your family—or your clan, to use aristocratic terms—has been identified. The person we are about to speak with via remote link is your cousin."
"Wait, in my memories, we were commoners."
"Your father ran away from a certain noble house."
"I have nothing but a bad feeling about this..."
The Commander-in-Chief of the Battle Dome Area Garrison was waiting in the conference room. He was a man in the clouds, someone an Army Lieutenant would never normally meet. Beneath him sat a long line of other high-ranking officials.
"...Um, is this a court-martial?"
"It is not. First Lieutenant Tachibana! I have brought Army Lieutenant Leo!"
"Good work, Tachibana-kun! Leo-kun, stand right there."
"Sir!"
I answered energetically, even though I was standing in the exact spot where a defendant would make a statement in a court-martial. Still, I had no reason to resist. I obeyed quietly.
Then, a man in a military uniform appeared on the large display. A general?!
"I am the Galactic Empire Special General and King of Chronos, Leo Kamishiro. Yah-hoo, Cousin-chan!"
How casual.
No, no, no, no... More importantly...
I'm Leo Kamishiro’s cousin?!
"See, my old man’s siblings all ran away from home and went missing," the King continued. "The Kamishiro family was left out in the cold for hundreds of years, you see, so people were constantly escaping. It turns out I have relatives all over the galaxy. We’re basically like invasive crayfish at this point."
"U-Um, Your Majesty. Could there be some mistake?"
"Nah, you’ve got the Kamishiro traits."
"Traits?"
"Powerful ESP. Specifically, the special kind that slips through normal testing and can’t be physically measured. That 'return-from-death' ability in your report counts as one. My brother and I have weird, incomprehensible powers too."
"I-I see."
"So, sorry about this, but as of right now, you aren't an Army Lieutenant anymore. You’re Marquis Kamishiro."
"Huh?"
"Anyway, I’m short on governors for these three Count-class planets. Both my first elder brother and my old man told me, 'I'm not being a lord, drop dead!' and I’ve already tapped out all the influential vassals from my wives' families. Plus, I don't have a deputy for the Chronos Crown Land. I’m counting on you."
"Excuse me?"
"Also, you’re being promoted. It would look bad if a member of my family were just an Army Lieutenant. Nice to meet you, Major."
"Is this some kind of joke?"
"I’m dead serious. Also, since our names overlap and it’s going to cause all sorts of paperwork errors, could you think of an alias for yourself?"
"I... I see."
And just like that, I had become a Kamishiro as well. If we shared the same name, there was no telling if some people might try to use me to pull something stupid. I would need a name to go by as Marquis Kamishiro.
Suddenly, this had become a massive pain.
"Hey, Uta. Can I just join your family instead?"
"Like a groom-in-training? I mean, I don't mind, but our house is also part of the Kamishiro Clan Members."
"Then there’s no point."
"Then, Captain, please think of a cool name. Oh, I have a report for His Majesty the King of Chronos, so you should head back ahead of me."
"Understood. Then, Your Majesty, please excuse me."
"Bye-bye~!"
He was an incredibly lighthearted person. He was nothing like the rumors said! Who called him a fair and strict wise king!
And thus, I officially entered the Kamishiro family.
■
"So, what’s the big idea, trying to reel in our boy after all this time, Brother-in-law-kun?"
I was more than a little annoyed. Taking credit for the Army Lieutenant I had been monitoring all this time at this late stage was just too convenient. Even if the one doing it was my sister Melissa’s husband, it still put me in a bad mood.
"Well, Sister-in-law, it's because he's a talent capable of taking over the Galactic Empire."
"Is letting him be free not an option?"
"Regrettably, no. All I can give him is a status befitting his abilities and a salary to serve as compensation."
"I know it's not necessarily your fault, Brother-in-law-kun, but still!"
One of the high-ranking military officials shouted at me. "Tachibana! You go too far!"
"It’s fine," the King said. "This is family business."
"Then let me say this as family: why did you hide the truth from him?"
"Because no one would benefit from it, Sister-in-law. You know the suicide rate for clones. Even our Tatiana has to undergo regular counseling because of it."
That was certainly true, but... still... it wasn't fair!
"Even so!"
"Just because he’s a clone doesn't mean he isn't himself to us, right? I have no intention of going out of my way to tell him that and make him suffer."
"What if he finds out later?"
"I'll get on the ground and apologize. Wifey said she'd bow her head too."
"You weren't the one who did it, Brother-in-law-kun!"
"But I’m the one in charge. I'll apologize as much as it takes."
It seemed my brother-in-law had reached this answer after much agonizing.
"Fine... I don't agree with it, but I’ll respect your decision."
"So, Sister-in-law, how far have things progressed with him?"
"We haven't gone anywhere!"
"Really? Because from where I’m sitting, it feels like 'just hurry up and get married already!'"
Something inside me snapped. I opened a communication line.
"Oh, Melissa. Can I punch your husband?"
"I was reported to the authorities instantly!"
"Go for it~" my sister laughed airily.
"Melissa!"
Every single one of them! The serious atmosphere had completely evaporated. Even the high-ranking military officers were smiling, whispering things like "That would be for the best" and "That would solve the problem."
Don't screw with me, you old farts! I'll kill you all!
Good grief! I’m the only one who can look out for him!