Aoi was staring at me.
In any other situation, I would have been heart-thumping over such a "lucky pervert" cliché. But unfortunately for her, I’d already witnessed an old man from the Duke Association turn into a woman and the Grand Chamberlain follow suit.
At this point, I felt no excitement whatsoever.
I was purely, deeply suspicious. If she turned out to be as impossible to communicate with as Sariel, I was planning to make a break for it immediately.
"Jester. Do you know the difference in ideologies between our Republic and the Empire?"
"Ideology... You mean like how there are a suspiciously high number of people of Japanese ethnicity in the upper class?"
Technically, House Kamishiro was of Japanese ethnicity as well, though I couldn't shake the suspicion that we’d just started claiming that at some point down the line. For instance, Isono was the eldest son of Count House Isono (his sister’s husband had actually succeeded the headship, though), and his father was an Army Colonel. Then there was Nakajima, who belonged to Marquis House Nakajima.
"That tendency is certainly a part of it, but the fundamental difference is whether or not one adheres to Evolutionism."
"Evolutionism?"
"Yes. Our Republic advocated for applying artificial evolution to humanity to reach for outer space. Conversely, the Empire insisted on the protection of the human genome and governance by natural humans."
"I’m a Grand Duke now, but I’m literally the descendant of an artificially produced Esper."
"Indeed—something that shouldn't be permitted in the original Empire. As the ages passed, both the Republic and the Empire forgot the reason they originally parted ways. In particular, the people of the Republic transformed so drastically that they forgot they were even human to begin with."
"What happened to them?"
"Colonization of outer space... It sounds noble when phrased that way, but we were driven into the void by the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the 'Peace Warrior.' It was there that we discovered the alien ruins."
"Wait, that’s a total horror-movie death flag!"
"Precisely. I opposed the leadership when they proposed further evolution based on the technology found within those ruins. As a result, I was exiled and sealed on this planet. Since then, they have continued their evolution without me."
I just realized something: unlike Sariel, I could actually have a back-and-forth conversation with Aoi.
Sariel, seriously, you need to take notes! I was genuinely terrified back then!
"...So, does that mean you're still human, Aoi?"
"If you can still call this human."
Aoi snapped her fingers.
Suddenly, the structure we’d thought was a house—the space that had seemed so vast to me just moments ago—began to shift. The walls turned to cold metal.
This wasn't a home; it was a prison... no, a research lab. In the center of the room where I stood was a round, sealed tank. Inside it, a brain was floating.
"Leo-kun! Are you alive?! I finally reconnected with you!"
The Fairy’s voice rattled off over the comms.
"Yeah, sorry. Hey, Fairy. What do you make of that?"
"...To be honest, it makes me feel sick. My main body looks just like that."
I see. So it wasn't a spatial teleportation after all, but a large-scale hallucination.
Then, a voice echoed directly into my mind.
"Jester, I have a request. Please destroy my life support unit. I am tired of existing."
The Fairy immediately screamed in response.
"I absolutely hate it when people talk like that! You! Don't you dare give up!"
Nice one, Fairy!
"Leo-kun! We’re taking her back with us! That's fine, right? Veronica-chan!"
The Fairy forcibly patched into Wifey’s terminal.
"Ah, yes—er, right. Is the Lord Groom safe? Wait, no, I cannot follow this conversation at all! Someone explain!"
I figured as much. Even I was bewildered.
"Hey, Leo! Are you alive?!"
Eddie and the others arrived at the scene.
Well, it looked like I had some explaining to do. On the bright side, I actually resolved things peacefully this time. Aren't I incredible? Someone please praise me!
Afterward, Aoi informed us that since this was a place of exile, there were no enemies nearby. True to her word, nothing showed up on the sensors, so Wifey finally landed. We sealed the area around Aoi and set up a life support system for our own use. This allowed Wifey to talk to Aoi face-to-face without needing her combat suit.
I really worked hard for this! Mainly in my capacity as a Humanoid Heavy Machinery operator!
The summit began under the watchful eyes of Wifey, my other wives, and the Personal Guard, including Eddie and Piggett.
"You are Aoi, then? I am the Emperor of the Galactic Empire, Veronica."
"I am Aoi Friedman, former Commander-in-Chief of the Galactic Republic Army."
A projection of Aoi—completely naked and likely another hallucination—appeared. For some reason, Wifey immediately covered my eyes. Claire then took over for her.
I can't see her large breasts anymore...
"If you do anything unnecessary, I’ll put you in a joint lock," Claire whispered.
My Masochist Circuit started doing a little dance, cheering, "Put me in a joint lock!" but since she was clearly not joking, I restrained myself.
"I feel for your plight, but I shall have your unit moved to my ship. My sister, Luna, is opposed to this kind of treatment."
"No, I am simply relieved to know someone like me exists. In the end, it seems both the Empire and the Republic arrived at the same destination..."
"Even if we chose different paths, we are still the same humans. It is only natural that we would end up in similar places."
Veronica paused. "Now then... uh... regarding the Jester."
"As I thought... you noticed. Yes, the Republic’s weapon designed to counter the Jester is complete."
"Eh?" Wifey let out a confused little squeak. How cute.
"Eh?" Claire made a similar sound. Also cute.
"Ehhh?!" Eddie let out a deep, manly shout. Not cute. Do-over.
"Oh... did you... not know?"
"Well, I only wanted to ask if all Jesters were like the Lord Groom..."
"A-ah, I see. Regarding him being like Lord Leo... in what sense?"
They were so flustered that the conversation was veering off-track. Well, whatever. I’d just watch. This was entertaining.
"Well... you know. Whether they turn absolutely everything into a joke. I mean, neither Tatiana nor Alyssa possess that specific... quality."
"Ah, I see. That relates back to our earlier discussion, so let me explain. The Jester possesses a powerful Reality Alteration Ability. They are referred to as the Jester because of their trickster nature. However, that isn't a reference to comedy; rather, it is theorized that a Jester multiplies their power by bringing 'hope' to third parties."
"Hope... So, the fact that the Lord Groom turns despair into laughter is..."
"Entirely due to his own personal character."
So you’re saying I just have the soul of a comedian?! It’s all my fault?!
"And as for the Republic’s modified human, the 'Diabolo'... they convert despair into power. They grow stronger by spreading death, destruction, and slaughter."
Great, something truly monstrous just showed up. That sounds way more dangerous than a Zork Mother.
"...Are those the ones who devastated our Imperial Capital and corrupted the nobility and the bureaucracy?"
"Likely."
"Lord Groom, we are going to crush them. Aoi! You shall join us! I do not care if you were a Republic citizen; I do not discriminate!"
"...I understand. I propose we start by defeating the Zork Mother—specifically, an individual created from one of my clones that has undergone further evolution."
And just like that, Aoi became an ally.
...Still, to think the fact that my powers are so ridiculous is just my personality...
I give up. I stared blankly into the distance.