The palace was ablaze.
"W-well... this sort of thing is common during a change of rule," Saria, now an Alpha Male, said with a twitchy smile.
"Your house is on fire, you know."
"The way you put it! Besides, I’ve been living in the boys’ dormitory at the Battle Dome. I don't need a house that huge!"
The former Great King, standing beside the fuming Saria, let out a booming laugh.
"My son! You must become a man of greater capacity!"
"I want to live a compact life!"
My sense of kinship with Saria was overwhelming.
I, too, was a member of the "compact living" faction.
Even if I went back to the Empire, I’d rather live in an apartment building than a palace. I wanted a space with as little clutter as possible. Not that anyone around me would allow it.
"Hahaha! Compact, you say? Do not speak of such trivial things! It is fine. If the palace burns, we simply rebuild it even bigger!"
"I told you I don't want it!"
The conversation with Saria’s papa remained at a total impasse.
"By the way, my son."
"I have nothing but a terrible feeling about this, but what is it?"
"What will you do about the Inner Palace?"
"...Leo-san, would it be alright if I sought asylum?"
"I refuse! I am also a man burdened by a harem! I’ll listen to your troubles, at least!"
"...They’re challengers."
"Huh?"
"Every single wifey candidate is a martial artist who tries to defeat me!"
I placed a hand on Saria’s shoulder.
"Give up."
"You’re so annoyiiiiiing! Stop making that face!"
"Well, I can’t do anything about it. It’s your culture, right?"
The Great King laughed.
"Nonsense! All you need is absolute power! If you have that, you will surely find true love!"
"I’m complaining because I can only see a future where I die before I find love!"
Apparently, in the Ogre God Nation, even romance was a battlefield.
"I have to pin them down with overwhelming power like you do, Leo-san."
"Hm? Wait... does that refer to Shar?"
"Of course it does! An Ogre God Nation girl falling that head-over-heels... I’ve never seen anything like it before!"
"O-oh."
"Please take responsibility properly, okay? Otherwise, she’ll end her own life."
That’s heavy!
"Could you have told me that a bit sooner?"
"Well, that was before I knew you had monster-like strength, Leo-san."
...How did it come to this?
Saria, who had been teasing me moments ago, fell silent. I see—he was about to be in the same position as me.
Serves you right! From the bottom of my heart, serves you right!
"Let’s talk about the Proone."
"Right..."
Saria’s papa turned serious as well.
"What’s the difference in war potential?"
"The Proone multiply as individuals. In terms of pure numbers, they are overwhelmingly superior."
Like a mystery crayfish? Or maybe closer to a planaria? That’s troublesome.
"How many humanoid fighters do they have?"
"Significantly fewer than us. They can’t develop their own, so they only have the ones they’ve purchased. However, they should have a decent fleet of battleships and other equipment."
I see, I see. It was going to be an all-out war from here on, so I had to stay sharp.
"Let’s give it our all, then."
Night fell.
In the usual dining hall, I broached the subject with Melissa.
"Please let me feel your breasts!"
"Okay."
Whoops. An unexpected affirmation. Everyone else immediately panicked.
"Wait, Melissa! Don't be hasty! This idiot isn't thinking at all!"
Isono rushed in to interfere. Seriously, this guy!
"Hey, what’s the big deal? It’s just her chest. She’s going to be my wife anyway."
But this time, Nakajima didn't side with him.
You see, Nakajima...
Footage of his struggle against the Proone had been broadcast, and duel challenges from Ogre God Race women were flooding in. This had given him a massive ego boost.
"Hmph. Making such a fuss over a pair of breasts. You pathetic virgin."
"Hey! You betrayed me!"
Meanwhile, Isono’s popularity had plummeted after that miserable match. Even the girls on the ship were keeping their distance and whispering about him. His fiancée had even sent him a message saying, "I’ll pummel you later." He was completely henpecked.
It seemed Nakajima, like Eddie, had been forgiven by the girls.
"Isono... a warrior needs love."
"You’re so annoyiiiiiing! I didn't even do anything wrong!"
You need to show a bit more respect for your partner. That’s what’s important.
While I was wearing a face full of benevolence, One-oh-one and her group arrived.
"Major! I want attention, sir!"
"Look at you, so energetic! Good girl!"
I gave her some chocolate. My partner Tatiana and Shar were there too. It seemed they had become friends. I handed chocolate to them as well.
"How are things, Shar? Getting used to it here?"
"Yes. These two have been very kind to me."
"Just so you know... One-oh-one is the current Zork Queen, and Tatiana is a Jester like me. Don't go picking fights with them. Those two are among the strongest on this ship."
"I would never do that to friends."
"Good."
The Ogre God girls seemed to get along well with each other.
"I’ve already suffered a total defeat against One-oh-one’s steward..."
"Ah, that old man is strong, isn't he?"
This world was supposed to be a heroic space opera where boys and girls were the stars, but the older men had abnormally high combat power. That was the part that felt realistic. I wouldn't want to fight that steward either.
"Wait, then what about Tatiana?"
Shar’s eyes took on a distant look.
"Don't you think a flash grenade followed by a hand axe is foul play?"
"Tatiana is a battle-hardened soldier, after all."
She had survived by staying by our side. Naturally, her stats were at end-game levels. Even if you could beat her in a sword fight, her overall tactical strength was higher.
"Charging in behind a personal shield... she has way too much guts!"
That was a tactic beaten into her by Huma-san. The terror of an Imperial NCO is the real deal!
I patted Shar’s shoulder.
"It was just a bad match-up. We’ve been on the front lines for a long time."
"Uuu... I couldn't do anything..."
"Hang in there!"
As I comforted Shar, I realized something. I had completely forgotten about the deal to feel Melissa’s breasts.