We borrowed a briefing room for a meeting.
It was time for Kyoko-chan's new weapon presentation.
For some reason, the usual crew was there, along with Eddie, Isono, and Nakajima.
"Now then, I'll explain the new weaponry," Kyoko-chan said, her energy levels unusually high as she began her briefing.
"While Jesters are the most powerful ability users ever observed, the reality is that their powers are unstable and virtually uncontrollable, dictated entirely by individual talent. Furthermore, when combined with Leo-kun's own reckless personality, stable military operation has remained a significant hurdle."
"Hey, isn't that a bit harsh?" I chimed in.
As soon as the words left my mouth, everyone’s gaze pierced right through me.
Hey, you there! Stop the whispering!
Then, Wifey turned a look of deep, motherly affection toward me.
"Lord Groom. No matter how you look at it, everyone else is right. Just accept it."
So they were right. I’m so sad.
Kyoko-chan continued.
"Therefore, by using weapons to provide assistance and direction to Leo-kun's abilities, we have successfully managed to reproduce the finishing moves that were previously one-off, accidental miracles!"
"Umu. Truly wonderful!"
In other words, I could now intentionally trigger all those personal tricks I’d pulled off when backed into a corner—things like the Death Blaster’s amplification or reality alteration.
Wait, no, that wasn’t quite it.
Since these were reproductions via tools, they only applied to things that could be observed as physical phenomena.
Wait... if that was the case...
"Uh... hey, if we used Tatiana's ability to create a device that could warp anywhere at any time, wouldn't that spark a technological revolution?"
The atmosphere in the room shifted the moment the words left my mouth.
Kyoko-chan's eyes began to gleam with a predatory light, while Wifey and Claire both turned pale.
"R-R-R-Right now! Contact the Technology Development Department this instant!"
"I-I-I-I-I can really make it, right? Right now!?"
Kyoko-chan had gone full mad scientist.
"Wait! Kyoko-chan! Stop for a second! Depending on how that’s used, it could literally destroy the Empire! Wait!"
Chaos. Total chaos.
Even if I was technically the cause!
The Fairy let out a heavy, exasperated sigh.
"Good grief. This is a mess."
Tell me about it.
Consequently, the development of anti-Jester combat equipment became a top priority for the Technology Development Department, right alongside the anti-Zork measures.
I have a bad feeling about this.
Anyway.
Moving on to the casualties from the previous battle.
A large number of soldiers suffered minor injuries after being pummeled by the Military Police and my Imperial Guard. They were treated with nanomachines.
I cut my head on a lid I smashed through while escaping through the ventilation ducts. When I tearfully begged them to spare me from the surgical stapler, they gave me a few stitches instead.
Isono and Nakajima were seriously injured after stabbing themselves in the buttocks with knives. Between the painkillers, nanomachines, and sutures, they were currently recuperating in their room in the "Cat Pose."
The crews on the other ships hadn't been foolish enough to copy Isono and Nakajima, settling for merely cutting their palms. They were treated with nanomachine-infused ointment.
Count Carfman suffered broken ribs during his emergency ejection from his fighter. Man, those really hurt... though I suppose it’s better than being dead.
Otherwise, injuries were limited to a few broken bones on Thomas’s ship and the ships of the other Lords—mostly from people falling over during combat or workers getting caught under shifting cargo.
The damage was almost frighteningly negligible.
Despite how intense the fighting had been, the final result was nothing short of a total victory.
The new weapons were ready in time, and everything seemed to be going our way.
"Also, there's this," Kyoko-chan said, handing me a small device.
It was the kind of gadget you stuck onto a combat suit's helmet.
"What's this?"
"A device that mitigates Zork mental attacks by inflicting minor, controlled pain on the brain."
"...That sounds incredibly ominous."
"Give it a try, Lord Groom."
"Ehh..."
"We've already confirmed it's safe through testing on other soldiers. Now we just need to see how a Jester or other espers react to it."
"I’m not exactly thrilled about this, but understood-ssu."
I attached the device to the helmet they had prepared. Apparently, this was just a prototype, and they planned to build it directly into the helmets eventually.
"Switching it on now," Kyoko-chan said.
The moment she flipped the switch, a roaring sound—like being inside an MRI machine—reverberated directly through my skull.
"Uwooooooooooh! What the hell is thissss!?"
"Umu. It’s just a bit itchy, isn't it? At that level... Lord Groom, what's wrong!?"
My entire field of vision turned a vivid, blood-red.
Then, in the corner of that crimson sight, I saw something.
Thin, glowing lines that looked like cables.
Feeling lightheaded, I followed the lines and stumbled out of the room.
"Leo-kun! Listen to me!" I heard the Fairy's voice.
"Ah... what? I have to... follow the lines..."
"Just listen! What do you see right now?"
"Uh... lines of light... stretching toward that soldier's head..."
I pointed toward a soldier chatting in the common area.
"Kyoko-chan! Turn it off!"
"Right!"
The red vision vanished instantly.
I hurriedly yanked the helmet off.
I'd been feeling a bit nauseous, and it turned out I had a nosebleed. Blood was dripping steadily.
Do I have high blood pressure or something?
My eyes met the soldier the lines of light had been reaching for.
He was a young, small-statured soldier with somewhat androgynous features, though his hair was kept in a standard military buzz cut.
He looked young... maybe a new recruit?
"Ah, sorry. Don't mind me..." I said, waving a hand with a goofy, awkward grin to try and smooth things over.
"U-Uwooooooooooh!"
Wait, what!?
Despite my friendly grin, the guy flew into a blind rage and lunged at me.
"Whoa, why!?"
I sidestepped his charge.
He immediately tried to grab me.
I had no choice but to throw a punch.
The blow caught him square in the jaw, and he collapsed instantly.
Phew. Does anyone have a tissue?
Just then, Wifey and the others caught up to me.
"W-What happened!? Wait, you're bleeding!"
"I honestly don't know myself... Ah, does someone have a tissue?"
Claire did. I took it and wiped away the blood.
The Fairy's voice rang out, sounding incredibly excited.
"L-Leo-kun! This is huge! That person... they're probably a Female-type Zork!"
"Huh?"
Wait... does that mean I actually saw the Zork network?
"W-Wifey..."
"I am stunned that a spy managed to remain hidden... but Lord Groom, you understand what this means, don't you?"
"I do not!" I answered energetically.
I mean it! I really have no idea what’s going on!
"You're being admitted to the Research Sector immediately!"
"Fueeeeeen!"
And so, my Mandatory Leave was triggered.
Me... I really can't stand being bored.