Kevin and Claire administered emergency aid.
They injected nanomachines, fitted an oxygen mask, started a nutrient IV, and secured her to the stretcher with straps.
From here on, every second counted.
We loaded the woman onto the stretcher and raced back to the parked vehicles.
Several of us boys, myself included, took up the stretcher and sprinted down the mountain path at full speed.
Though it had taken us over an hour to hike up, we reached the rendezvous point in mere minutes.
A helicopter was waiting there—a massive military model capable of hauling armored vehicles.
I expected the Duke Territory's emergency squad, but Piggett himself was at the controls.
"Lord Groom! Get her in!"
The boys, the Personal Guard, and I loaded her into the heli.
"Lord Groom, stay with her and keep up the healing!"
"I don't even know how!"
"You're the Lord Groom! You can do it!"
Pien.
His level of trust was terrifying. I couldn't afford to screw this up!
I took the woman’s hand.
Suddenly, my intuition flared. I felt like I could pull it off.
"Somehow Healing!"
The effectiveness remained a mystery.
Claire and Kevin climbed aboard as well. A professional nurse was already on the heli, and the two of them acted as her assistants.
The ECG showed no irregularities.
"Early-stage cold sleep carries a high risk of cardiac arrest... yes, administering the nanomachines was exactly the right call."
The nurse praised Claire and Kevin.
Their experience points were through the roof, mostly from taking care of me since I nearly died every other day.
The heli banked, carrying us toward the hospital.
Ah, I'd accidentally brought Tatiana's gear along with us. Oh well. It was mostly military survival equipment anyway.
After handing the woman over to the hospital staff, we were left with nothing to do but wait.
For some reason, I was led to a VIP room.
Shortly after, a woman in her forties wearing a suit appeared.
"Your Excellency. Welcome. I am Jacqueline, the Administrative Director of this facility."
"I'm Leo Kamishiro."
"This hospital's primary purpose is the treatment and research of the Duke House's members."
Right, I knew that. It was the Duke House exclusive hospital.
It also served as a research institute where staff could pursue their own projects in their downtime. Apparently, it was a dream destination for university researchers.
Still, I wondered why the Administrative Director had come to greet me personally...
"Alexia's treatment!!!"
She must have meant the treatment for the feminized Alexia.
"Only a health checkup, so far... We found high blood pressure, diabetes, angina, arrhythmia, AGA... and various other issues."
"Wouldn't he have just died normally if left alone?"
That old guy’s insides were a total wreck.
"However, after the feminization, every one of those conditions vanished. It was as if she had been physically reborn."
"Why wasn't this reported to the Empire?"
"Because we are retainers of the Duke House."
In other words, the Duke's interests took priority over the Empire's.
The reporting obligation fell on the Duke; as for the staff, they could just play dumb.
There was no point in forcing them into impossible positions. If I tried, I’d probably just get a knife in the back later—or a manufactured scandal.
I was always kind when it came to my own self-preservation. If things ever got too dangerous, I'd be the first to abandon my territory and flee in the middle of the night.
So, I didn't press the matter. Besides, they had likely already been interrogated and cleared anyway.
"I understand. I will report this to Her Highness, but I am also a man of the military. I won't make things difficult for you."
"We are truly grateful for your understanding."
I leaned into my role as a "civil official" to show empathy.
Investigation closed.
If a coup or an assassination ever made things truly dire, I might need their help. I didn't want them slacking off on me when the time came.
Once the Administrative Director left, a doctor entered.
"Your Excellency, I am Isono, the physician in charge. This is Nakajima, the head nurse."
"Nice to meet you."
My humble greeting seemed to take them by surprise.
"I'm a soldier, after all."
"O-Oh... I see..."
"So, is there an update?"
"Ah, yes! The patient has regained consciousness."
"Can I see her?"
"Yes, of course."
"Then take me there now."
I listened to the explanation as we walked down the corridor. Claire, Kevin, and Piggett followed close behind.
"The patient has green hair, so we suspected Chlorella Treatment, but that doesn't seem to be the case."
Then what was it?
"...To be honest, it appears to be a completely unknown technology."
"It'll be faster to ask her directly."
"Well, the thing is..."
The thing was what?
We entered the room. Her body had already been sanitized; the area was sterile.
"Are you awake?"
I didn't let it show for a second that I'd seen her naked. I maintained my best stiff-collared soldier act.
"A soldier! Where... where am I!?"
She sounded younger than I'd expected. Around my age, maybe?
"You're in the hospital of the Planet Kamishiro Main House. I am Major Leo Kamishiro."
"M-Major! I... I am Experimental Subject 101 of the Republic Experimental Subject Unit!"
And there it was. Yet another inhuman project I'd known nothing about. Seriously, humanity, what is wrong with you?!
"Experimental Subject Unit?"
"Yes! Part of the Outer Space Exploration Type New Humanity Artificial Experiment—Project Zork!"
Clack, clack, clack... Ping!
"Whaaaaaaaaat?!"
Piggett was the first to scream.
"Pieh!"
No wonder she was terrified.
"U-Um, Major... is this... the Republic?"
"This is the Empire."
"Pieh! T-The enemy?! Why am I in enemy territory?!"
"The Republic was destroyed hundreds of years ago."
"H-Hundreds of years?!"
"Actually, there aren't even any records of it left..."
"Pieeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!!! ...thump."
And she fainted. The info dump was too much for her.
I left the rest to the doctor. Piggett arranged for guards from the Personal Guard to keep watch.
When I left the ward and returned to the VIP room, my brothers-in-law and Wifey were waiting.
"Lord Groom! What happened?!"
"Ah, yeah... I might have found the root of the Zork..."
If I recalled correctly, the Zork Mother—the final boss of the "good end"—was supposed to be on Planet Sanctuary.
If that was true, was this girl the Zork Mother?
That pathetic girl? No way. That... that couldn't be it.
But then, who was she?
And more importantly... her chest was about as big as Kevin's.
I looked at Kevin.
Wait. Kevin was making a strange face too.
"Kevin? Doesn't she kind of look like you?"
As soon as I said it, Kevin's expression shifted to one of pure confusion.
Hmmmmmmmm?"}