The moment the Minister of Education foamed at the mouth, several other ministers cried out, "Ah! So that's what it means!"
"Indeed. It is still too early to faint... but I suppose the Minister of Education thought Imperial Princess Luna had come to claim her revenge."
Well, she is the person with the most reason to hate the Empire, after all.
Since she holds the reins of the infrastructure, we could plunge into a Humanity's Extinction Scenario as soon as tomorrow.
"Rest easy. Right, Luna?"
"I have my share of personal grievances, but the current Imperial Family is of my own bloodline. I have no interest in committing filicide just over a grudge."
...That’s not right.
Fairy-san is exactly the type to hold a grudge. She’s the type who remembers forever how she lost because someone used a cheap exploit on her. She never forgets a slight.
Manga, games, movies, her favorite idols... The only reason she lets humanity live is because she wants to enjoy the content.
She is an existence that can choose whether humanity lives or dies.
A few more people fainted upon realizing that. Specifically, the Ministers of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and Economy, Trade and Industry—both of whom were completely dependent on the Mother AI—were out.
"S-So then... will Her Imperial Highness be lending us her aid?"
The one asking with a vulgar, smirking face was His Excellency the Minister of Internal Affairs, who had only recently been appointed. This old guy had zero loyalty to the Empire. He didn't have any for Wifey, either. He was a sly old fox who had drifted through life by playing the Duke Association and the Empire against each other.
"Yes, I will lend my aid. I only protect you because the descendants of my clones are here. If that bloodline were to vanish, our cooperation would end then and there."
"...Don't say such things!"
The Minister of Internal Affairs rubbed his hands together with a greasy grin. But the old man had forgotten: Fairy-san was the mistress of all information.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Minister. It's one thing to line your own pockets, but that company you're dealing with... they're remnants of the Duke Association."
"Eh...?"
"You're under arrest!"
The Police Commissioner General and a high-ranking military official lunged at him. A General actually dived off the table. The Minister of Internal Affairs dodged it with rugby skills from his youth, but the Police Commissioner General tackled him from behind.
"Secured!"
And so, the Minister of Internal Affairs was out. At that moment, the Minister of the Environment performed a weeping dogeza.
"I was taking bribes!"
"I don't care about bribes. Prioritize the speed of redevelopment. You, go and restore the National Parks immediately! However, if you are found to be in league with the Duke Association or the Zorks... you know what follows."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Another dogeza. The lunch meeting had turned into a hellscape in a completely unexpected direction.
Wifey continued her explanation.
"In any case, Luna attempted a peace treaty—or rather, a hack—but the connection was severed. To achieve victory, we have no choice but to subjugate the Mother, who is believed to be on Planet Sanctuary."
Even if we accomplished that, the Zorks wouldn't be wiped out completely. It would simply mean the swarm could no longer maintain its organization. Well, it would still be a victory for humanity as a whole.
Thus, the hellish lunch meeting—resulting in numerous faints, one arrest, and one official under dogeza-induced observation—came to an end.
...Despite the expensive food, I couldn't taste a thing.
We rested until evening, then it was time for the evening party. I took another bath, changed into a tuxedo different from the one at noon, and attended. There was a live classical music performance. I secretly wished they'd play anime songs instead.
We appeared while holding hands and waving to the crowd. There was no dancing, however. Why? Because that scoundrel Maro couldn't dance, so he’d had it abolished. Since there wasn't much pushback, the other nobles probably didn't care much for it either.
Wifey was busy talking to a famous actress, leaving me alone. I was hungry. I casually grabbed a small cracker with Lord Caviar resting on top. To be honest, I've never really understood the appeal of caviar's flavor.
...I want a beef bowl.
I grabbed some sushi. Bluefin tuna? It was delicious, but the portion was tiny. I was eating, yet I felt hungrier by the second. I wanted to hit a conveyor belt sushi place on the way home and just go to town on gunkan-maki. Horse mackerel, sardines, even those hamburger ones.
Grumble...
My stomach was screaming.
"Ya, are you Leo Kamishiro?"
A sparkling creature approached me. He looked to be about my age, with a face like a story's protagonist.
"Yes. The Lord Groom of Her Majesty the Pro-Emperor, the scrap of the Marquis House, and your city's nominal Major—Leo Kamishiro."
"...I didn't ask for all that."
I always crush any potential one-upping events beforehand. If someone tries to pick a fight after I've lowered myself that far, I'll just invite them behind the gymnasium.
"I am Duke Raven Hearst."
So it wasn't a one-upping event after all. We shook hands.
"Leo-kun, you're strong, aren't you? I saw the news."
"To be honest, I just happened to survive while acting out of desperation. People only call me a hero because of that. After all, I am the Lord Groom of the Emperor."
"You're quite humble."
"War isn't something one person does alone. But if people need hope, then perhaps excessive propaganda isn't the worst thing."
Motivation is key.
"Haha... I see. You're a bigger man than I’d heard. May I ask you honestly? How do you think this war will end?"
"Are you asking as a soldier? Or would you like an anthropological analysis?"
"Haha... What do you think as a soldier?"
"We win. If we don't, we go extinct."
"And anthropologically?"
"Crossbreeding has already begun. No matter who wins, the genes of both sides will survive through interbreeding. It's the same relationship as Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. It is an unavoidable fate."
"...No... forgive me. No, I apologize. I shouldn't have tested you like that. I wanted to know the caliber of the master I would serve. Raven Hearst! I have been appointed as the Commander of Grand Duke Leo Kamishiro's Personal Guard Knight Order!"
Oh, so he’s an ally.
"I'm sorry... you were so different from the persona I’d heard about that I couldn't help myself."
"What do you mean, 'persona'?"
"I heard you were a Berserker who laughs even in the heat of combat!"
Well, that wasn't entirely wrong. Then Wifey approached.
"Oh, Raven. Well? What do you think of my Lord Groom?"
"I found him to be far more composed than I expected!"
"That's... just how he is, I suppose..."
Wifey let out a long sigh.
"Yes, the Lord Groom is a cool-headed, handsome man, and his personality is equally cool... usually. For some reason, he tends to fall apart quite frequently, though."
She sighed again, looking like she’d truly had enough.
"Fall apart?"
"Oh, you'll see. You'll soon understand the true nature of the Lord Groom's Berserker Legend. Work hard; by the time you're used to it, you'll already be tainted."
Could she please stop talking about me like I’m some kind of virus?
Hmph!
Current victims: several Cabinet Ministers.