“This is the Veronica Personal Guard. Requesting landing instructions.”
Once we arrived at the Imperial Capital Planet, we proceeded to land.
God, it was wonderful! Not having to dodge battery fire during the descent was so revolutionary I almost wept. Everyone else had a distant look in their eyes, too. Our previous atmospheric entry over the Duke Territory had been so traumatic that it had left deep scars on all of us.
“This is Imperial Capital Tower. Please proceed to Runway 07.”
The landing was smooth. A boarding ramp truck arrived just as it should, and we were guided into the airport. The spaceport was currently under a state of high alert. Armored vehicles patrolled the runways, and soldiers armed with rifles paced back and forth throughout the terminal.
We were required to turn over our weapons, ammunition, and supplies for the time being. Staff members loaded them into vehicles and drove them away.
“Loading and unloading will take about two hours,” Veronica announced. “This is a break. Go get something to eat.”
“Wait, but the shops are all closed.”
Most of the businesses inside the port had suspended operations. It wasn’t just the restaurants; even the standing soba stalls and burger joints were shuttered.
“There are vending machines, aren't there?”
Oh... right. The Vending Machine Food Court was still open.
Ah, the classics. Frozen food—the stuff everyone loved. They even had selections from famous restaurants in the Imperial Capital. To put it another way, even the famous shops in the Capital relied on central kitchens. Still, people generally couldn't overcome the preconceived notion that handmade food was superior.
Everyone looked disappointed. Military cafeterias usually served large, tasty portions, after all.
“I’ll put it on the Personal Guard’s expenses,” my bride added. “Eat whatever you like.”
With that one sentence, everyone’s eyes turned into those of hungry predators. They swarmed the vending machines, jostling to be first in line. Even Melissa, Claire, and Ren joined the famished crowd. I wondered if being thrown into an environment of constant, grueling exercise changed people this much.
“And what about you, Lord Groom?”
I ordered everything that had meat in it: steak, hamburger steak, fried chicken, yakitori... one after another.
“Wifey... look... if I don’t get a massive amount of protein, tomorrow is going to be hell for me...”
“Coming from you, that sounds quite convincing,” she replied.
My bride ordered a hamburger set. The Personal Guard members focused on carbohydrates, ordering things like soba, udon, and curry. As soon as the machines finished cooking, drones delivered the meals to our tables.
“Is the budget really okay?” I asked, just in case.
“Even if you ate through the entire inventory, it wouldn't hurt our coffers one bit. The Empire is footing the bill, after all.”
“Well, in that case, seconds please...”
“Eat your fill!”
Teenage appetites ran wild, as if challenging the very limits of their digestive systems. There was absolutely no need for anyone to tell them to finish their plates.
This was supposed to be a time for eating and resting. However, since this was the muscle-brained Officer Academy, people were already back to exercising like crazy—either doing strength training or jogging through the terminal. The only one properly resting was my bride. If there had been any regular civilian passengers around, this display probably would have caused a social media firestorm.
I eventually joined the runners. The soldiers we passed had expressions that clearly said, Are those guys for real?
Look, we're only running because we don't have a ball to play games with, okay? Even though it’s called an Officer Academy, you start as a non-commissioned officer unless you finish the University Course. Power is might. Muscle is justice.
Hey, you! Soldier! Don't look at us like we're insane! This is just how sailors are! We spend our free time running laps inside the ship! What, you're saying other students won't do it unless they're ordered to? Shut up! I’ve survived this far on pure physical stamina alone!
“Hey, Leo. How far have you actually gotten with Melissa?”
A group of guys surrounded me, talking as we ran.
“Nowhere. You guys know I almost die every single time we're together, right?”
“Well, yeah, but... what about the Princess?”
“We’re a normal newlywed couple. Why?”
“...I hate you. I hate you so much.”
“Look, it’s because you idiots got carried away with that 'Ugly Ranking' contest! You’ve chased away every potential romance flag you ever had. You didn’t just piss off Melissa; the other girls are fuming, too.”
“Guh! But that’s just how guys are!”
“I can understand the sentiment, but the girls aren't going to be that considerate of your feelings.”
It wasn't even a matter of whether lookism was bad or not. They had simply managed to provoke the entire female population of the school.
“Anyway, just give up on the girls in our year. You’ve already passed the point of no return.”
“By the way... what about Claire?”
“Nothing's happened.”
No flags were being raised there either.
“And Ren?”
“My bride and I became her younger brother’s legal guardians.”
I was the head of a Marquis House, and my bride was an Imperial Princess. We were both still green, but together, we had become Lord Marma’s patrons. There was a chance the Empire might reject the arrangement, but given that it was wartime, we could probably push it through in the chaos.
“Which means Ren is going to end up as your second or third wife, then.”
“'Hand over your sister'—what era of villainous noble are you supposed to be?”
Incidentally, they’d been jabbing me in the ribs with their elbows for a while now. I was finally starting to get annoyed, so I delivered a solid punch to one of their midsections.
“Guh! You bastard!”
And just like that, four of them lunged at me at once. Guarding the back of my head, I drove an elbow into the guy in front of me.
“Gyaba?!”
Using him as a human shield, I landed a kick on the guy to the side.
“Gaha!”
Two left. As they tried to grab me, I slipped past them smoothly. I seized one by the collar and slammed him into the wall.
“Oof?!”
The last one just stood there with a blank, moronic expression on his face.
“Eh...?”
“Are you ready?”
“Ah, yes.”
I grabbed his head and drove my knee into his stomach.
“Gofu?!”
Victory was mine.
“N-No way... he’s become a total monster...”
“Shut up!”
Just as I thought about heading back, security arrived.
“You lot! Quiet down!”
“Please, just throw these guys in the brig already!” I huffed, still annoyed.
“You’re coming, too!”
“Wait, what?”
I was promptly hauled away. In handcuffs.
And that brings us to the present. Before me stood a livid bride, a sighing Claire, a guffawing Melissa, and a shifty-eyed Ren.
“Lord Groom, do you have something to say? Like 'I'm sorry'?”
“I'm sorry. We were just messing around and it... turned into a bit of a fistfight.”
“Leo, I’m sure the boys were the ones who started it, but...”
I love Claire-san. She pampers me so much.
“Well, it’s those idiots, so they probably just got jealous and picked a fight,” Melissa added.
Melissa gets it!
“The boys in our year aren't exactly the brightest...”
Ren! You’re the best!
“But you still beat them to a pulp using that overwhelming strength you're so proud of, didn't you?”
My bride... she understood me perfectly.
“Fine. You can stay in the interrogation room until we depart tomorrow.”
“Ehhh...”
“The port soldiers saw the whole thing! I can't just hush this up!”
“Point taken.”
It was decided that I would be locked away in an interrogation room.
And this would be the part where the airport gets attacked... Haha, yeah, right... as if.