"Lord Groom. I do not understand what you mean."
In the Chronos Palace, Wifey looked at me with a bewildered expression.
"Umm... my head's all jumbled up too, so let me explain while I sort things out. There was a planet-sized Giant Ghoul that fired a massive Railgun at us."
"I don't understand the meaning of this from the very start."
A planet-sized Giant Ghoul's Railgun?
Was it a Main Cannon?
"Probably... it's like a Great Wall to keep us from going deeper."
More incomprehensible talk again...
"What do you mean?"
"Umm, what we encountered was, I think, a defensive unit. And the Ancient People built a Planet-class Mobile Fortress to destroy it."
"...Wait, what do you mean? Isn't the Mobile Fortress for defense!?"
This was different from the story I had heard up until now!
"Probably for offense. After that, the Ancient People's army was likely wiped out by a Locust Terrorist Attack or political maneuvering."
Those guys use underhanded tactics too.
"So Jester is destined to be defeated by its allies..."
"Since it's a Co-op Specialized Type, compatibility with allies always comes with it."
This couldn't be helped.
It was destiny.
I have bad compatibility with Parcion-kun, but we're allies.
"So, Leonidas-kun and I deflected their attack and escaped."
"What about the half-destruction of Persion, Magellan, and Ozen?"
"Soldiers on the losing side are pitiful, aren't they... they don't get treated with respect."
Citizens are cruel.
Even if they sacrifice tremendously, as long as they win, they're heroes.
But the moment they lose, people start throwing stones.
The militaries of Persion, Magellan, and Ozen will be pointed at forever for failing to protect their homelands.
I, as an invader, don't get scolded much.
Because I'm Free Material.
There's no point throwing stones at someone who's forgiven no matter what they say.
There's no reaction.
I don't pay them any mind either.
So it's always an Ogiri state.
Unless insults about me are really entertaining, Society-sama won't pay attention to them.
Good ventilation in society is important, huh...
It's more effective than I thought...
That was the story I was telling Wifey.
The sorrow of soldiers too.
If you lose, Society-sama beats you down completely.
The points earned desperately through Disaster Relief and Crime Investigation don't just go to zero with a single defeat—they go negative.
I end up sympathizing.
"Even after sacrificing themselves for their country, this is how they're treated... at the very least, we must mourn them with respect..."
"They're subordinates, after all."
I made reservations for a Joint Funeral for the victims of this battle.
Calling Various Religious Organizations to prepare for the Joint Funeral.
"By the way, Lord Groom... your face is quite pale?"
"Hm?"
Now that I think about it, I do feel feverish...
Is it Jester's thing!
"Wifey!"
I hastily covered my mouth with a handkerchief.
This is bad, this is really bad!
If this is an infectious disease, it's serious!
I just realized.
My throat is scratchy.
"Doctor Team! It's an emergency! It's the backlash of ESP! Lord Groom is collapsing!"
"Her Majesty the Emperor! Major Leonidas has collapsed! He has a fever!"
A report came from the Doctor Team.
"The Saint has also collapsed! Based on the symptoms, it appears to be a cold! We will test for Influenza immediately!"
"Leave it to them! I had contact too. Isolate me!"
Seriously, a Depressing Development from Jester is the same as being poisoned.
I, Leonidas-kun, and Tatiana all collapsed.
Alissa was assigned to the defense squad and didn't participate in the operation, so she's fine.
Charlotte participated in the operation, but from her perspective, they were just foreigners whose faces she didn't even know. She was forgiven.
I also developed a fever all at once right around when I was put on a Stretcher.
Fortunately, it was one of those colds that has a specific remedy.
It was heavier than the group that doesn't need remedies, but since there was a remedy, it wasn't anything to worry about.
With colds that don't have remedies and have severe symptoms, it can be life-threatening.
I got an injection in my butt and was moved to the Sickroom.
On a sealed Battleship, diseases can spread easily.
Mass testing and preventive measures were taken for the Crew Members who participated in the operation.
Wifey also got an injection because she met with me. Fortunately, no symptoms.
I'm kind of sorry about that... no, really.
When I woke up in the Sickroom, Claire was furious.
Ren was also in the background.
"Jeez! Veronica-chan's due date is near! Be careful!"
You're also nearing your due date soon.
I wondered if she'd be okay, and then I noticed my surroundings were covered in a transparent vinyl material.
This is Infection Prevention, isn't it~
I was being treated entirely as a Biohazard.
This was the thing where they burn the Exhaust with a Beam to sterilize it.
They went that far, huh.
"Claire... if I don't make it, push the Throne onto someone and go back to my Family Home..."
"Stop with those Black Jokes."
"Ah, yes. Sorry..."
"Husband-sama. Please rest for a while. You've been overworked."
Ren smiled warmly.
Ah, this is the "smiling but actually furious" one.
I'm sorry.
"That's right, Leo works too much! Let's file a complaint next time!"
Claire might be getting more easily irritated due to her Hormone Balance.
...I'm sorry for making you worry.
"Come to think of it, where are Tatiana and Leonidas-kun?"
"Tatiana-chan is in Isolation. It's a relatively Minor Injury, so she's playing Games to pass the time, apparently."
As always, that one's got it easy.
"Leonidas-kun has Elder Martial Sister-in-law with him, so he'll be fine."
...She's probably doing the whole "Ahaha! Captain, you can't eat Yakiniku~? Hahahaha~!" thing to him.
It's the same with Melissa, but the girls of House Tachibana are just terrible at communication.
"Where's Melissa?"
"She went to Katori-sensei's place with the Idiot Boys. Everyone seems shocked that they couldn't act in the moment."
"I think that couldn't be helped."
If Leonidas-kun hadn't moved, I probably wouldn't have been able to either.
But they probably can't accept that.
Everyone has confidence in their Martial Power.
"What about Latania? They took a bit of a hit."
"Battleship Destroyed with many Injured. No Deaths. The Latania King praised them too, saying 'To survive such an attack is magnificent!' He said he'll award Medals to the crew members of the destroyed battleship."
"That's good."
Any further Depressing Development was avoided.
Still, the Latania King... he's completely adopted my "Praise is Practically Free" tactic...
The Chronos Army has also been praising them Sequentially, handing out Medals left and right.
Not many people get angry when praised!
I'd never abandon my Unit.
Even this time, if they were Savable, I would have saved them.
Sigh... I do understand how they feel...
So we have to win next time.
I need to change my mindset, like the Lepsitolians.
Those guys have a Strong Mentality... even when their country fell, it was just "Let's do our best next time!"
I should honestly Learn from them.