I was lying face down in a sphinx pose.
That was my current state.
Specifically, a state where my hips were hiked up in the air.
This was the current appearance of Major Leo Kamishiro.
It hurt far too much to lay my butt down.
I’d performed a five-point landing in my machine.
The limbs of the Massacre Night were bent backward, its torso was crumpled, and it was completely out of commission.
As for me, I had suffered severe internal bruising and heavy injuries from the impact of the fall. I couldn't move at all.
Furthermore, the cockpit door was mangled and wouldn't open.
To top it off, the EMP had caused the nanomachines inside my body to cease functioning.
By the time I was rescued with a beam cutter, I was practically at death's door.
Was I better off than usual since I hadn't broken any bones?
Hardly. The damage had reached my internal organs so uniformly that I was pissing blood every day.
I was only able to joke about it because new nanomachines were currently busy repairing my body!
"Honestly, Leo, you're far too reckless with your life."
Kevin, who had finally obtained not just a medic qualification but even a nursing qualification, changed my nutritional IV drip.
Apparently, if you earned a nursing qualification and worked as a military officer for one year, you could obtain an advanced qualification with the title of "Management" as a special exception.
In the civilian world, you supposedly had to work for five years, gain experience as a "Chief," and pass a strict association review.
However, through military exceptions, you could obtain it without question.
Well, battlefields were constantly overflowing with the dead and injured, after all.
They also handled the advanced management of medicine and supplies, and the amount of paperwork they did was—no joke—lethal.
"Once the war is over, I think I might actually enter the military university's faculty of medicine."
It was wonderful to see him have dreams and goals...
"I'll seriously support you. Just take good care of me when I need surgery on my embarrassing parts."
"I’m going to hit you."
"Yes, sir, I'll be a good boy."
"Take this if the pain gets bad."
I received some pain relief, so I tried to sit up.
My side screamed!
The inside of my abs burned!
The back of my solar plexus cramped!
The depths of my ribs followed suit and seized up!
"Mogeruaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
"Ah, geez, right after I told you!"
Despite the agony, I took the medicine and resumed the sphinx pose.
I decided to be a good boy this time.
"Alright, I'm heading out."
"Okay."
Since I didn't feel like I could sleep, I checked the news.
The results of the recent battle were being reported on a massive scale.
We had captured a planet, after all.
Once Sariel was defeated, the Zork that had been running rampant on the surrounding planets all ceased their activities simultaneously.
Because of this, the Empire succeeded in recapturing the neighboring planets as well.
The citizens were ecstatic over this long-awaited, grand victory.
The Imperial economy was seeing positive growth.
Not only the various industries supplying the military, but even sake brewers and restaurants were recording record-breaking sales. Demand for tourism and leisure was skyrocketing.
The birth rate, which had bottomed out, was recovering rapidly.
There was even a baby boom on the horizon.
I suppose only a winning war was permissible in this world.
Military volunteers were increasing like crazy.
Job openings in the construction industry were plentiful, and the ripple effect was spreading to manufacturing and service sectors.
The measures against unemployment in the Imperial Capital were proving successful.
Wifey was being hailed as a wise ruler, though she herself claimed, "I was just lucky."
The primary concern now was likely the shortage of goods and inflation due to the sudden surge in demand, but it was predicted that there would be a grace period of over ten years before they reached the point of building investment apartments where no one lived or resorts where no one went.
For now, the majority of the Imperial Capital was still a ruin.
After the reconstruction of the Imperial Capital would come the regional cities.
After the regional cities, it would be the infrastructure development of towns and villages.
With flood control projects and land readjustment also on the agenda, this boom could probably last half a century, let alone ten years.
It seemed national funds were also being poured into environmental protection and the preservation of native species.
At any rate, with luck on its side, the domestic administration was moving in a positive direction.
As I was pondering such things, a timer went off.
Time to take my temperature.
I selected the thermometer from the augmented reality menu.
Normally, an old-fashioned thermometer would have been fine, but for the sake of my butt's current crisis, I entrusted everything to the nanomachines.
My temperature was in the 38°C range. A bit of a fever.
I hoped it wasn't an infection.
Then, Eddie entered the cottage where I was resting.
"Yo, Leo, I brought an ice pack."
"Thanks!"
I positioned it so I could plunge my face into it.
It was cold and felt amazing.
Naturally, that idiot Eddie took a photo of me in this state.
"What are you doing?"
"Veronica-chan and the others asked for updates. They said you're like a wild animal and wouldn't show your weakened state. Alright, sent."
Sad Kawagon.
"By the way, we found out from Sariel's remains that Planet Shinagawa really was a planet of gold, no joke. It seems the lord's House Shinagawa hadn't even bothered to investigate it properly."
They hadn't investigated because they hated the idea of paying taxes on a hidden gold mine... or rather, they didn't have the funds to pay, so they chose ignorance.
It was true that the initial costs of such an operation were astronomical.
If they got it running, they should have been able to pay it off in a little over ten years, and barring bad luck, it would have become a stable pillar of income that never ran dry.
However, on a planet with surplus land, the reality was that taking agriculture seriously was often the better bet.
On a planetary scale, agriculture was incredibly stable, after all...
"Veronica-chan said it's a major issue. She's going to review the system. Though it doesn't look like she has any intention of arresting Old Man Shinagawa."
Currently, most of the blame for everything could be dumped on Maro.
In fact, Maro, who had been neglecting politics and administration entirely, was the root of all evil.
We had to make the most of this bonus time.
"So, Eddie. When's the next sortie?"
"We can't move until you're healed, Lord Major."
I figured as much!
"The journalist lady also asked for an interview. I turned her down, though."
"Hm? It's fine, really. I'm bored anyway."
"In that pathetic state?"
Come to think of it, I was currently in a caterpillar state with my butt thrust into the air.
At this rate, I could play the real life escape game: "Ranpo's caterpillar play."
Let’s avoid exposing myself to such public shame by doing an interview like this. Yeah.
"Good point! Tell her I'll take the interview once I'm discharged."
"Roger that, Lord Major. Take care of yourself. Seriously, don't move!"
"Got it."
Eddie left.
I was bored.
It couldn't be helped.
I decided to do some movement training in preparation for the real life escape game.
Oops, I'd been in a weird posture for too long and now only my butt would move.
I had to shake it left and right to get the blood flowing.
Heave-ho, heave-ho. Wiggle, wiggle.
"Lord Groom, I have come!"
Wiggle, wiggle.
My pajama bottoms slipped off.
Wifey immediately looked away.
"...Um... I apologize for intruding."
"N-No, you're wrong! I was just struggling because I couldn't move!"
"N-No, well, I am of the principle that I respect my Lord Groom's... personal interests."
"I’m telling you, you're wrong! Or rather, help me! I'm seriously numb and can't move!"
"Ah—right, yes..."
"Believe meeeee!"
Today, as always, my dark history was proceeding as scheduled.