Following the defeat of Latarnia, the Imperial Army underwent a massive organizational reshuffle.
The upper echelons of the military were now largely composed of bureaucrats and administrative staff. This was a direct consequence of the [Generals] and [Field-grade Officers] on the front lines dying in droves.
Furthermore, with the destruction of the Duke Association, there was a severe shortage of high-ranking lords. As a result, the time for promotion had finally come even for me, Eddie Anheim.
Colonel Eddie Anheim. And Senior Marquis Eddie Anheim.
The title "Senior" had suddenly sprouted out of nowhere. Apparently, it carried the meaning of, "You are now being treated as a Relative of the Imperial Family."
It gave me a headache. Moreover, I was now a Colonel. No, I had expected this much.
Evidently, the previous Colonel had left the military due to reaching retirement age. Supposedly, he was going to return to his territory and devote himself to its reconstruction. It was such a perfect reason that I couldn't voice a single complaint.
And so, I was appointed to fill that vacant seat—or rather, because there were so many holes that they had to move up the schedule to plug the gaps. When I protested to the military, a document arrived with content that basically said, "Well, everyone else is dead, so what do you want us to do?" written in very polite language.
I really wanted to punch someone. To top it off, several planets that once belonged to the Duke Association were added to my territory. Seriously, Empire? Get it together!
Anyway, I was currently spying on Leo by order of the military. Of course, the moment the order was given, I told Veronica-chan. It was only natural; I chose whom I pledged my loyalty to.
I had no intention of betraying either His Imperial Majesty or Leo. When I told her, Veronica-chan commanded, "It matters not. Continue the assignment, but submit copies of every report to me as well."
The official military order was to perform an "evaluation of Jester abilities." I was told to observe Leo, Alyssa, and Tatiana. Since even I didn't understand what those abilities were, there was no way I could explain them to others. Therefore, I sought help from an expert in such matters: my fiancée, Minerva.
"Eddie, I'm heading your way." She said that, but... how?
Minerva arrived about two weeks later. After the previous conflict, she had retired from the military and was now a University Student. Her scholarship was apparently a special case due to the victory in the Zork War, which shortened her contract period. It seemed she was receiving the full amount.
Before the scholarship was finalized, I had asked her, "Should I pay your tuition?" but she told me, "I don't need it." It was moments like that when I realized my own immaturity. Was I... maybe a little creepy?
However, regarding that university, almost no lectures were being held due to the aftermath of the Zork War. The construction of the universities in the Imperial Capital simply hadn't kept pace. So, it seemed Minerva had some free time. I was happy she was coming.
I went to pick Minerva up at the Ogre God Nation Spaceport. When I arrived in my military uniform, for some reason, people kept mobbing me for autographs.
"It's someone from that Saint's group!" Was I just a footnote attached to Tatiana-chan? Well, I suppose that was how it was.
As I signed as requested, the ship from the Empire arrived. It was a Cargo-Passenger Ship where half of what it carried was cargo and half was passengers. Travel to outer space was only permitted for those with special authorization—employees of trading companies, staff from Leo and Claire's company, families of us military personnel, and their guards. A fiancée fell under the family category.
The ship arrived. The transfer of supplies for the escort destroyers began immediately.
"Salute Colonel Anheim!" When you reached a certain rank, these useless greetings started getting sandwiched into every interaction. Being a Major felt much more relaxed. From Lieutenant Colonel and up, you were in the class of a Base General Manager, so this sort of thing always happened.
When I returned the salute, the workers went back to their tasks. I mean, really. I only came here to pick up Minerva.
"My Lord! The preparations for your reception are complete, I say!" Suematsu-san and the other Anheim Knight Order Elite had also come along. They were my guards. And...
"Colonel, sir! Material transport is complete!" Edge saluted. Actually, picking up Minerva this time also served as Ship-handling Practical Training for Edge and Alyssa. Apparently, they couldn't be promoted unless they did this.
"Everyone, we depart in one hour. At ease until then." Now then, I'll join up with Minerva and grab some food.
Minerva stepped off the ship. "It's been a while, Eddie." Since she was no longer in the military, she didn't call me by rank.
"Yeah, it has. You look well." "School won't start no matter how much time passes, so I was bored to tears. I'm glad you called." "You really saved me. I couldn't have handled it alone. Well, shall we move?" "Move? To the lounge?" "Well, about that..."
Guided by the Ogre God Nation staff, we were shown to a V.I.P. room. The guards were eating in a separate room in shifts.
"V... V.I.P.? You're joking, right...?" "I'm a Colonel now."
I also thought a chain restaurant at the spaceport would be better, but it seemed things didn't work that way once you became a Colonel. Leo, who ate the same things as the General Soldiers and worked in the Dining Hall, was the abnormal one.
"I shall bring your meal now," the waitress told us. "What's for dinner?" "A course meal from a sushi restaurant in the Empire." "It's a three-star place... Oh, this person! He's the one they featured on the national broadcast!" Minerva exclaimed, looking at the man pictured on the menu. Was he really such a grand person?
"Is that so?" I guess that was what happened since this was a venue used for trading company meetings.
I called the waitress over. "Excuse me. Please add this and this to the courses for my subordinates." Since they were the athletic type, they would be starving if they only ate the standard course. I couldn't serve them alcohol, of course, but I intended to at least fill their bellies.
Minerva looked surprised. "...You're getting used to this, aren't you?" "I am a Base General Manager, after all. Do you want to order a drink? The ban's been lifted for you, right?" "Eh, is it okay?" "It's fine. I can't drink, though..." "Why not?" "If my blood alcohol exceeds a certain level, I'm set to be reported automatically..."
To explain... during the Strawberry Incident, some idiots from the military academy crowd had drunk Piggett's Strawberry Wine without permission. They were caught while drunk and sent straight to the Reflection Room. Veronica-chan was furious. "There are no replacements for you lot! You fools!!!" she had screamed.
"As usual, I catch a glimpse of the darkness..." "Well, let's just say it means she's that worried about us." "I guess so. That's a better way to look at it for my mental health. Um, then, I'd like to try this."
And so, we ordered. I had tea. How sad.
The appetizers arrived. It didn't look like the style where a sushi chef prepared it right in front of you. Was it like this because secret talks were often held in this room? I wasn't sure.
"Oh, this is delicious!" Minerva smiled as she ate a vinegared dish. I didn't even know the names of the dishes, but I knew they tasted good.
Ah, I had come a long way thanks to Leo. My self from a year ago wouldn't have believed me if I told him I'd be eating high-end sushi with my fiancée in outer space. I was truly happy. As I savored that happiness, I bit into a small whelk. Man, this was good.
But I had no way of knowing. I didn't know a crisis was already descending upon the Ogre God Nation Spaceport. I had no idea those Ghoul idiots had already appeared here.