The mainstay of the Zork forces was the female-type Zork from the Kevin Territory.
They were primarily former soldiers of the Galactic Empire—victims who had suddenly been transformed into women.
They were a tragic lot, a group that had been abruptly robbed of their lives as middle-aged men.
Well, the ones who stood out among them had become idols and were enjoying their new lives.
In the eyes of the public, criticism was minimal, likely because their lives had been toyed with in such a visibly miserable fashion.
Speaking seriously, however, their divorce rate was astronomically high.
Many were even barred from seeing their own children.
It made sense... from a child's perspective, having such a parent could negatively impact their education, job prospects, marriage, and promotions.
There were countless horror stories: people stripped of their noble status, or fired from their companies.
The children suffered as well.
Quite a few had been completely disowned by their parents.
Those outcasts had eventually begun forming pseudo-families.
The former "old men" who had been robbed of their children—especially the soldiers with stable livelihoods—took in and raised the children who had been kicked out of their own homes.
If anyone asked if that was a healthy environment, no one had an answer.
All one could do was watch over them.
One-O-One was the one leading this Zork Squad.
Her situation was a bit complicated.
Actually, after a great deal of confusion and meetings so heated they nearly devolved into fistfights, things were finally organized.
Kevin was positioned as the Chief Retainer for One-O-One's clan.
This meant One-O-One was the head of the Main Family.
Kevin was a subordinate under One-O-One’s lineage.
However, Kevin’s personal status was guaranteed by a joint coalition of medical authorities, universities, and various academic societies.
It wasn’t just Kevin; the Relay Machine Type Zork were exceptionally well-suited for the medical field.
The medical world had effectively claimed them for its own.
A military doctor’s influence was vastly greater than their actual rank.
Even if their top officer was only a Colonel, no one dared to defy them.
After all, not even His Excellency the General could understand medical technical jargon.
I couldn't defy them either.
However, they only asserted themselves when it came to medicine.
They were a group that drew a clear line in the sand.
In a way, that made them even more intimidating—a rational group that knew exactly how to wield that kind of power.
When these people, who usually demanded nothing, said, "Give them to us. We will protect them," no one could refuse.
Thus, Dr. Kevin occupied a unique position with incredibly powerful backing.
To be honest, in terms of raw authority, she was more influential than One-O-One.
One-O-One felt more like a tribal chief.
Therefore, One-O-One commanded the battles.
She was the symbol of the Zork.
Kevin, meanwhile, handled the practical affairs.
It was like a branch manager who also served as an executive at headquarters—the kind of person even the president had to consult with beforehand.
While those were the Zork, I received a communication from the drone unit.
It was composed mainly of students from the Faculty of Medicine at the Officer University Division.
The leader of the drone squad was a perfect example.
That would be Second Lieutenant Junko Mizoguchi.
Her physical age was eighteen.
Her original name was Gou Ushigome.
She was born of a branch of the Ushigome Count House.
However, she was on the absolute fringe of being allowed to use the Ushigome name.
In the provinces, she was treated as a noble, but in the capital, she wasn't.
She was something like a goushi—a rural samurai.
She was a person of rather difficult social standing.
She was the former drone squad leader of the Ushigome Count Army, forty-five years old.
She was a soldier among soldiers who had put her children through the National Officer Academy and raised them well. A man among men.
And yet, as soon as he had turned into a woman, he was divorced and disowned by his family—a tragic man.
After being cast out, she had taken in and raised three children who had also been turned into females and abandoned.
Not once had a single bad word about her ex-wife escaped her lips.
Sorrow and responsibility. She was a man among men who let her back do the talking.
Yes, a man among men.
She was worthy of respect.
"This is Second Lieutenant Junko Mizoguchi. We are ready."
A short girl with pink hair in pigtails appeared on the screen.
The person herself had wanted a military buzz cut, but those around her wouldn't allow it, resulting in that tragic appearance.
She hadn't intended to change her name either, but after being disowned by the Ushigome family, she had been pressured to do so.
Apparently, her current name was something she had chosen at random from a name generator.
Furthermore, she had entered the Faculty of Medicine at age forty-five.
She had been given no right of refusal.
Zork who turned female possessed frighteningly high academic abilities.
It seemed their information-processing capabilities were the target.
Therefore, the plan was to turn the Relay Machine Unit into doctors.
Even I... couldn't refuse by arguing for their "personal will."
No matter how many times I saw it, it was so tragic it almost brought me to tears...
This little girl... was a true man...
"Your Majesty King Chronos, your attitude is what stabs me in the heart the most! Could you seriously cut that out?!"
"But... but... Mizoguchi-san, you're so manly. You're a man among men... and yet you became a high-pitched little girl..."
"Everyone else is making too much of a fuss. I'm just doing what's in front of me. Forget that—let's talk about the mission!"
"Right. Stir them up while you can. If you find any Corpse Eater Relay Machines, take them out."
"Understood. All right, you bastards, let’s go!"
"Sir!"
Though the voice was manly... the responding voices of the subordinates were also high-pitched.
They... looked like a group of little girls...
Only their chests were aggressively prominent.
Their average age was thirty-six.
If one didn't know the background, they'd be accused of "deploying child soldiers!"
The cruel impermanence of it all was overwhelming.
Having been given such hardships and trials, they were now drone operators.
Kevin was special even among Relay Machines, having been chosen as my potential assassin once upon a time.
Even so, the drone skills of this unit were unparalleled.
One could call them the strongest.
If the Space Raiders were the main force, then these were the ultimate support unit backing them up.
Combat, rescue, and medical care—they were our ace in the hole.
"Well, King Leo. This body isn't all bad. My knees and hips don't ache anymore."
"Gwahahaha! Captain! My farsightedness is cured!"
"Oh, my hernia's gone too!"
...My brain was melting because they looked like busty little girls.
That's right, their insides were those of dirty old men.
Someday, I would probably end up like that too.
Not meaning I'd become a little girl!
I smiled to hide my thoughts.
"Make sure you come back alive for the sake of the kids~"
"I know, I know. The little ones have finally gotten used to life as girls. Good grief, I'm just glad it happened before they hit puberty."
The contents of the conversation were far too poignant.
Usually, if a transformation happened after one's identity as a man was as solidified as Kevin's, they wouldn't be able to endure it...
I decided to be kinder to Kevin.
The drone-carrying transport battleships arrived.
"Let's do this, you punks! Let's give those bastards who ruined our lives a taste of their own medicine!"
"Osu!"
A massive number of drones were deployed.
In truth, this battle held great political significance.
The Beast Race, the Chlorella Modified Humans, and the Zork.
They were joining hands to fight a powerful enemy.
Wifey’s reign would stabilize, and the resentment toward the Zork would dissipate.
Best of all, the only ones who would be troubled were those on the side of the Zen Divine Race. This was the best possible outcome.