By morning, the shoulder that had caused me so much agony was fully repaired.
With no signs of further attack, I was finally discharged.
I hadn't been able to check the news because of the pain, but apparently, the public was in a state of total frenzy.
Everyone serving under Wifey knew that nearly dying was just business as usual for me, but it seemed the Imperial citizens—being total combat amateurs—didn't get the memo.
"The Empire is doomed!!!" "Is the Imperial Army on the brink of collapse?!" "Are you going to let a hero be assassinated without a fight?! You traitors!" People were panicking well beyond the point of mere criticism.
Maybe the pent-up frustrations of life as evacuees had finally hit a breaking point, because riots were breaking out in various regions.
It was an expected turn of events, so it couldn't be helped.
The authorities were rounding up the criminals, and I heard the Empire hoped to settle the unrest through dialogue with the citizens.
In a bizarre twist, the Space Marine recruitment offices were being swamped with applicants.
From delinquent Yankees acting on pure momentum to a flood of former NCOs, the attack at the memorial service and the attempt on my life had clearly tripped a wire with the public.
It was a religious taboo, after all; of course they were furious. A massive wave of people, their resolve hardened to a razor edge, were joining the fray as a force dedicated to the total extermination of the Zork.
The shortage of non-commissioned officers was likely about to solve itself.
The moment I stepped out of the hospital, a swarm of media descended on me.
Where did all these people come from?! Between the reporters doing their jobs and the massive crowd of idle sightseers, it was a madhouse.
"Captain Leo Kamishiro! Give us a comment!"
A microphone was shoved firmly against my cheek.
Hey, stop! Stoooop!
The Imperial Guard tried to pull them back, but there were too many people. The police desperately tried to intervene, but the crowd was simply too thick. It wouldn't have been surprising if a crowd crush had occurred right then and there.
The media no longer seemed to care where they were pointing their equipment. The microphone that had been grinding against my cheek was suddenly shoved into my chest.
Stop the nipple drill!!!
I finally clawed my way through the press and scrambled into the car.
I’m not a criminal, for crying out loud! Why do I have to be treated like one?!
"How did it come to this..."
I tried to catch my breath once inside. Wifey was panting beside me, just as exhausted.
"L-Lord Groom, it seems the p-police are shorthanded..."
"I heard quite a few of them were killed, after all."
Even the police were suffering from a manpower crisis.
"Maybe they should hire some of those idle citizens as temporary staff?"
They were already so short-staffed that they were conscripting graduate students into the force. Boosting the numbers for traffic control shouldn't be an issue.
"I shall give the order to the military. Though I suspect some capable official is likely already drafting such a plan..."
I was driven back to the hotel. The police had this area locked down tight, so we were able to enter smoothly.
Returning to the hotel from the hospital shouldn't have been this much of an ordeal.
The whole Officer Academy crew was waiting to welcome me back once we got inside. One of the boys raised his voice.
"A salute to the Lord Hero who nearly died just by attending a ceremony!"
"Are you looking for a fight?"
Honestly, I didn't have the energy to pick one. My body was fine, but my spirit was drained. My spiritual MP was being shaved away to nothing. I suspected the culprit was the Continuous Healing that was constantly active.
"I mean, in your case, even if we worry, you almost die at the pace of some hardcore death-game! It's your fault for not valuing your life!"
"Urgh... I can't even argue with that!"
I shifted my gaze, looking for help, but Melissa—the one person I could usually rely on—wasn't there. I turned to Ren instead.
"I'm sorry, Leo."
Ah, great. I was totally cornered.
I looked at Wifey, but she looked clearly irritated, her face practically screaming, "Don't you dare ask me for help!"
I decided to change the subject to survive the moment.
"Where’s Melissa? Shouldn't she be arriving soon?"
"Lord Groom, I am told Melissa is being held up at the spaceport."
The expedition ships were backed up. It might take a few days.
"I guess it can't be helped..."
Operational capacity had plummeted due to the labor shortage caused by the Imperial Capital raid. There really was nothing we could do. It was no longer within the realm of what could be solved with simple political power. Even if we tried to pull rank, the ships clogging up the port were also military.
If she used her status as one of Leo Kamishiro's "mistress slots," there might be a chance, but Wifey had strictly forbidden her from doing that.
There were monsters in the media who could manufacture a scandal out of anything. I’d heard there was one ghoul who actually made a scandal out of someone ordering cutlet curry for lunch! They must have been part of the Hamburger Curry faction.
...I was hungry.
Maybe I'd go eat hamburger curry at the restaurant. It was expensive, but still.
What I really wanted was the food from the chain restaurant right outside the gates, but since I couldn't leave, it was off-limits. Whimper!
"Whine, whine. Wifey, I'm a hungry doggy, woof!"
"Fine, let us go to the restaurant..."
The restaurant was open and available for our use. Normally, it would have been open to outside customers, but the exterior entrance had been sealed off.
In the evening, meals were provided here buffet-style. Since we were mostly a bunch of hungry teenagers, the hotel was ensuring they had massive quantities of food. As expected of a first-class establishment.
During the day, it was operating more casually. That was mostly because Wifey used it for her meetings.
The boys and girls sat down at the tables, trying to blend in like they’d been there all along.
"Listen up, everyone! Order whatever you like! I shall put it all on my expense account!"
Wifey’s voice sounded a bit desperate.
Nina-san and Ren joined me at my table. I went with the hamburger curry.
"You know, Leo-kun, the parfaits here are delicious."
Nina-san... you really want one, don't you? I love that about her.
"One hamburger curry and two parfaits. Ren, what about you?"
My mind was already set on the curry. I would defend my hamburger curry to the end.
"I want meat!"
"A steak set with a parfait, then."
She was cute when she was being honest about her desires.
"And for you, Wifey?"
"The Ogura Bean Paste Toast Set."
"No parfait?"
Nina-san's eyes were cold, silently declaring that there was no escaping the calories. The pressure was immense.
"I-I shall order the strawberry one..."
Nina-san... truly a terrifying child.
I really wished this kind of peaceful, lazy life could just go on forever. Honestly.
Just as I was savoring the quiet moment, a roar of voices reached us.
"Long live Leo Kamishiro!!!"
Wait, what?
"Warrior of National Defense! Congratulations on your return, Leo Kamishiro!!!"
Huh?
"Three cheers for the recovery of the Savior of the Empire, Leo Kamishiro!"
"Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!"
Cut it out!
Those gravelly shouts of "Banzai" were loud enough to reach us clearly.
"Lord Groom, you have certainly become a celebrity."
"What is even happening?"
"They are coat-tailing... in short, it is political exploitation. They are likely using your name to collect donations or something similar."
"Is there any benefit for me?"
"None whatsoever. It is merely a nuisance. I shall lodge a formal protest."
Honestly, fighting the Zork was easier than dealing with this."}```