“The building you see over there is the hospital.”
A small building came into view. The parking lot seemed relatively spacious.
“Huh, so there really is a hospital here.”
“Yeah. The son of the industrial physician our association hired... well, she’s a daughter now... anyway, the doctor is there.”
“When exactly was this ‘two generations ago’ you mentioned?”
“Twenty-five years ago. Back then, there was a plan to turn this place into a ski resort. But the Duke at the time collapsed, and his son took over. He turned around and said, ‘I’m canceling the whole thing, and I’m not paying a cent.’”
It was the exact same story I had heard from the steward. That Duke was absolute garbage.
“So, we stayed behind to protest, and the bastard went and locked us in. Fortunately, there was a mine here, so we’ve managed to get by somehow by trading with the military on the outside.”
“I apologize for the unreasonable hardships you’ve endured. I intend to calculate the wages and compensation promised by the former Duke, adjust them for current currency values, and pay them in full.”
Skimping on things like this is a one-way ticket to ruin. I fully intended to pay. It was money that had just fallen into my lap, anyway.
“You... for a noble, you’re surprisingly reasonable.”
“I was a youngest son who studied at the officer academy while getting paid for it. I know the value of a credit.”
“Haha! Well then, the future of this planet is looking bright.”
“On the flip side, I lack proper refinement, so I’m struggling with territorial management. Idiot Sato was off doing god-knows-what behind the scenes. The notice of the change in lordship hasn’t even reached the moronic Duke Army...”
I was starting to get annoyed just thinking about it.
“My subordinates are also people who inherited territories from the Duke Association, so I think it would be a good idea to start marketing to them now. At the moment, my only connections are basically my companions’ family homes.”
“Haha... looks like luck is finally turning my way...”
Roger looked different from Kevin or One-oh-one. But he wasn't like Alexia, either. He felt like a tough, sisterly woman with a strong personality. Though his internal self was likely a middle-aged man over fifty.
“The part facing the main street is the emergency entrance. The front entrance is this way.”
The front entrance seemed to be located down a narrow side street. It wasn't a particularly large building. It was a three-story structure made of reinforced concrete.
When we stepped inside, there was a reception desk, but no one was there.
“Hey, Doctor! I’ve brought His Excellency the Grand Duke!!”
Roger called out in a loud voice, and soon the sound of rapid footsteps approached.
“Roger! Who did you say you brought?!”
“The Grand Duke! He said he defeated Sato and became the lord of this planet!”
“Hey, Roger! About us...”
“He seems to already know.”
“Er, well.”
I held out my hand for a handshake.
“I am Leo Kamishiro. Doctor.”
“I am Nagano. Your Excellency.”
Dr. Nagano was an intellectual-looking woman wearing glasses. She appeared to be another type of female-type Zork.
“Dr. Nagano. Regarding the cause of the feminization... I believe it’s related to the Zork the Empire is currently fighting.”
“Zork?”
“Forgive me... is the network not connected?”
“Yes, we had satellite communication for a few years after being isolated... but for the last twenty years, it’s been completely cut off...”
“How cruel...”
When I showed sympathy, she gave me a look that said, This one seems different from the previous tyrants. I certainly thought the people of the Duke Association were the lowest of the low as lords. I didn't want to be lumped in with them.
“So, Dr. Nagano. He says he wants to meet those people.”
“I understand. I will guide you to the isolation ward.”
I was led to the basement. The isolation ward was sealed off by a heavy, thick door.
“Please, come inside.”
When we entered, there were several women there.
“Doctor, who is that?”
“This is the Grand Duke who has become the new lord. He came to see us.”
“Eh? C-Can we turn back into men?!”
Ah... they asked the most painful question right away.
“Er, I have some unfortunate news... even with our latest technology, returning to being male is... difficult...”
While ordinary surgery existed, it wouldn't return them to their original forms. To begin with, they had been physically rejuvenated. This was a challenge even for our technology. The mechanism itself hadn't even been fully deciphered yet.
“I figured as much,” Dr. Nagano muttered with a heavy sigh.
Of course it was impossible.
“However, I know how to lift the nightmares. There should be an individual communicating with the Zork Network. If we eliminate them...”
At that, Roger and Nagano turned pale.
“The Lieutenant Colonel...!”
“Lieutenant Colonel?”
Someone higher-ranking than me?
“The man who was the officer in charge of the base over there.”
In the Imperial Army, the people with a ‘Colonel’ or ‘Lieutenant’ in their rank were usually the overall heads of a base. In terms of business, they were higher than a store manager—more like a regional manager or a district head for a county or state. In a general corporation, would they be Department Manager class? Though there were more of them in the military than in a typical company.
Well, if you thought of the military as a gargantuan state-owned trading company, the numbers made sense. ...That’s right. Being a department manager in your teens is what’s already weird! No matter how much you ride on your parents’ coattails or if your wife is the president’s daughter, a department manager should be in their thirties at the earliest...
The Lieutenant Colonel would be a Lieutenant Colonel of the Duke Army, not the Imperial Army. Even so, that was a position of great power. On this planet, he was a major authority figure.
“Since he turned into a woman, the people at the base thought it was a contagious disease and kicked him out.”
“So where is he now?”
“He formed an army with the soldiers who were similarly exiled and is reigning over the east side. They’re armed with humanoid heavy machinery and tanks, so we can’t lay a finger on them.”
“Then I’ll just eliminate them.”
“If we could do that, it would be easy... but there are hostages. The women and children who originally lived here.”
“Ugh, that’s just the absolute worst...”
I looked at Melissa. She gave me a bright smile and a thumbs-up. Yeah, it was an infiltration mission, but I had a feeling this was going to be a breeze.
“The rest of you will infiltrate with me. Kevin and Nina, once the hostages are rescued, wipe them out.”
“Understood~!”
Nina replied in a voice so cheerful it sounded like she was going on a picnic. And yet, I felt like I could hear a menacing rumble coming from behind her.
Tatiana tugged on my sleeve.
“What should I do?”
“I’d like to say ‘stay behind,’ but I’m going to make you work. Help Nina with transporting supplies. It’s an important job. Don’t slack off.”
“Got it!”
Since she was being such a good girl, I handed her a chocolate. I feel like... I’m taming these girls with treats, aren't I? Well... whatever.
“Alright, let’s get going.”
“Yeah!”
Reports must have reached them from the base by now anyway. They were probably waiting for us. But they were being naive.
“Everyone, prepare your optical camouflage units and stand by.”
I wondered how things would turn out at first... but the goal was finally in sight. Just wait, One-oh-one. I’ll have you out of there in no time!