We finally reached Palace-mae Station.
We retreated through the underground passages, away from the crowds of civilians. The soldiers had suffered significant casualties, but apparently, they had managed to rally the moment I joined the fight. That said, the grim reality remained: they were still completely helpless against the battleship-type Zork.
Covered in blood as I stepped off the train, I was met by the sight of soldiers snapping to attention and saluting. I haven’t even been given a formal military rank yet, you know.
Despite my lack of status, they looked at me with expectant eyes. They were really staring.
"Why don't you strike a pose or something?" Kevin whispered, offering a completely unnecessary suggestion in my ear.
Geez! Fine, fine.
I raised my fist into the air.
"Development, Prosperity, Victory!!! Glory to the Empire!"
For the record, I just listed a string of words; I didn't actually promise them victory. I’m a man of principle—I don’t tell lies. As for that last "Glory to the Empire!" bit, it was just a set phrase. It had no real meaning.
But it was a hit. A massive hit.
"Uooooooooh! Leo!!! Leo!!! Leo!!!"
I’d certainly become a popular guy.
Leaving the subway platform, we entered the main underground thoroughfare. There, Major Raymond—now changed into a formal ceremonial uniform—was waiting for us.
"Leo-kun, I've come to pick you up!"
"I'm glad you're safe, sir."
"Yeah, though I ended up losing some skin on my head."
As he spoke, Raymond-san showed me the back of his head. The area had clearly been repaired by nanomachines, leaving a smooth, hairless patch of skin.
...The scalp in that area had been completely torn off. That was terrifying. Seriously, the idea of getting scalped was horrifying.
"Hahaha! If things had gone slightly differently, I would've been dead! I'm not quite ready to become a clone just yet."
"I can't even laugh at that..."
"I owe you two. Tell me whatever you need. I'll lend a hand with anything within my power."
Despite everything he had just been through, Raymond-san was laughing. This man... he really was a genuinely good person. I was glad he survived.
"Ah, right. An official order just came through. I’ve been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel."
"Congratulations, sir. I’m glad your achievements were recognized."
"I wish that were the case, but... keep this between us. Apparently, several server bases where clone information is stored have been destroyed. It seems my predecessor—the previous Lieutenant Colonel—couldn't be resurrected either."
"...Whoa. Uh, what happened to him?"
Based on the flow of the conversation, he must have died in the line of duty.
"He was fighting at the military base where the server was located. He blew up right along with the data... Give me a break! There's no way I’m cut out for high-level command!"
Yikes...
"If anything happens, please let me know. We should cooperate to ensure we both survive this."
"Yeah, you're right!"
I wondered why, but I felt like Raymond-san and I could actually be friends.
"Well then, I'll guide you to Her Highness. Ah, you over there, feel free to take a break."
"Understood! Leo, see ya later~"
I parted ways with Kevin for the time being. Since I was alone with Raymond-san, I decided to ask a question that might have been a bit rude.
"Why is a Lieutenant Colonel acting as a guide?"
Shouldn't he have more 'Lieutenant Colonel-like' things to do? Strategy meetings, perhaps?
"Hahaha! Why am I acting as a guide? Because the only things I’m good at are paperwork and running errands!"
I really wanted to follow his example. My biggest problem was that everyone around me seemed to think I was some kind of combat expert. I wanted to carry myself in a way that ensured people expected absolutely nothing from me.
Following Raymond-san, I entered a section of the palace that looked like a luxury hotel corridor. The guards snapped a salute the moment they saw me.
"As expected of the famous 'Lord Groom.' Even though it's your first time here, you get through on face recognition alone."
"Wait, so it’s my fault and not because of your rank, Lieutenant Colonel?"
"Of course. You're the groom of the Imperial Family, after all. This is the private quarters area for the royals. Normally, this isn't a place someone like me is allowed to enter."
As we walked, we reached a room flanked by guards.
"I have brought Leo Kamishiro," Raymond-san announced.
One of the guards checked inside. A moment later, a maid opened the door.
"Well then, I'll take my leave here. Glory to the Empire!"
Raymond-san gave a cheerful, standard greeting and hurried off.
"Lord Leo. This way, please."
I followed the maid inside. Suddenly, a small, wild beast lunged at me.
"You are alive!!! I was worried about you!"
I thought it was a beast, but it was just my wife. Veronica was dressed in a gown—a brand new one with a daringly low neckline. Apparently, it was one of those 'haute couture' things. For high-ranking nobles and the Imperial Family, these clothes were one-time-use disposables. Durability wasn't a factor.
It was a world I didn't understand. The only thing I did understand was the tremendous effort she had clearly put into pushing up and lifting her flat chest. I could actually observe something resembling cleavage. It was almost tear-inducing.
"It suits you... wait, I'm getting blood on it!"
"I do not care! This is the blood of a hero's victory!"
"I don't feel much like a hero. I don't see how we can win against that battleship-type."
"Kakakakaka! Rest assured. I am having the most powerful cannon on this planet prepared for use."
"Whoa, amazing! Then can I just go to sleep?"
"No. It takes time to fire a single shot, and I do not know if one blast will be enough to destroy the node. You may sleep after you have charged into the opening and destroyed the core."
"In other words, you want me to invade through the hole after the cannon punches one?"
"Inevitably, that is what must happen."
"I'll die! I'll definitely die!"
"Even if you die, it must be done. Failure means death for us regardless."
"...Why? We could just run away."
Escaping was, in fact, one of my backup plans. I’d put it on the shelf for now because the thought of abandoning the Empire to be destroyed by the Zorks sat poorly with my conscience. But if the Empire was going to be that way, I was prepared to cut my losses.
"It is not that simple... Listen, do not let this leak to anyone else."
"What is it? Why the mystery?"
"My right of succession has risen to 7th in the Line of Imperial Succession. Normally, such a jump would be impossible, but it was pushed through as a special wartime exception."
"Why seventh?"
"Partly because the Imperial Family has been decimated by the war... but also because everyone ranked above me holds a formal military position. I, however, lead a private army."
"I have a really bad feeling about this."
"As you should! If you are deemed useless here, execution or assassination is all that awaits us!"
"That's way too extreme!"
"The succession of power has always been thus!"
...Seriously? What a nightmare.
"In other words... as long as we're seen as the 'strongest team' in existence, we're safe?"
"Umu. You must create the Lord Groom's Legend of the Strongest!"
In the 'Veronica Route' of the game, defeating the Queen Zork led to a happy ending. Whether she actually became Empress or not varied by the ending.
...I suppose that was better than just dying to the Queen.
"I guess I have no choice."
Complaining wouldn't change a thing. I had no choice but to keep pushing forward.