Enemy forces were almost entirely suppressed, ensuring the Galactic Empire’s peace.
While many hurdles remained—such as the Enthronement Issue of Shiyun—the initial objectives had been achieved.
Consequently, while maintaining the presence of the Area Army and Foreign Affairs bureaucrats, we—and specifically Wifey—were set to make a triumphant return.
I was taking Shiyun with me, too.
The warp gates had been thoroughly analyzed and were undergoing massive repairs.
Honestly, it was like an economic bubble, even if it technically wasn't one.
In the chaos of the Imperial Capital Reconstruction Construction Rush, land readjustment projects were in full swing.
Since this was happening across the entire Empire, the surge in demand was staggering.
Everything from demolition to the waste treatment industry was being flooded with work.
There was construction everywhere.
The general contractors were rolling in it!
Inflation occurred, of course, but it actually helped correct the hellish price disparity between the local planets and the Imperial Capital.
We had managed to avoid a bubble collapse thanks to Maro’s terrible governance.
It was such an unexpected turn of events that I’ll refrain from further comment.
Even I didn’t get it.
Before heading to the gate, we visited the spaceport constructed by the Battle Dome.
It was a massive facility attached to the Battle Dome colony.
Wifey’s and Thomas’s fleets were taking turns resupplying there.
Since Ghouls had managed to infiltrate us previously, every single ship was undergoing a simultaneous all-ship washing.
We couldn’t risk bringing Ghouls back to the Empire.
That said, Tatiana’s Saint Barrier Device had already been installed across the fleet.
Furthermore, we’d set up branch shrines for Zashiki-warashi-chan on every vessel.
They ranged from simple Kamidana-style altars to full-blown shrines.
I’d like to see any of them try to get in now!
I-I’m not afraid of some Ghouls!!! (Though they're actually scarier than Zork.)
As for the religious side of things, I had the former Shinto priests who had ended up in the army working at full capacity.
The man in charge lamented, "I never thought I’d be acting as a Shinto priest even after joining the military..."
Sorry about that!
Once we were back in the Empire, I planned to recruit more Shinto priests as civilian employees.
Since we already had civilian employee monks, it should be fine.
Wait, who would be their commanding officer?
Naturally, that would be you.
Welcome to the rank of Second Lieutenant! (I made my best despicable face.)
Anyway, we stayed at the Battle Dome for a while.
When I entered the newly built lodging facility, I spotted an older man I didn't recognize in the lobby.
Hm. One look told me he was upper-class.
He wasn't an Ogre God Nation person, a Latarnian, or a Taikyoku Nation person.
He belonged to a race I’d never seen before.
He had an air of elegance about him.
He wasn't "new money"; he was the kind of man born into wealth.
He occupied a dimension that Big Brother Sam and I could never hope to reach.
In that case, the solution was simple.
"Wifey! If you please!!!"
Ora ora ora ora ora!
This right here is the highest-ranking noble in our country!!!
Then, for some reason, Saria—who had tagged along for the tour of the Empire—let out a surprised cry.
"Wait, Chairman?! What are you doing here?"
"Chairman?"
"Ah, this is Mr. Berger, the Battle Dome Chairman. He’s one of the Ancient People."
"Berger here. Your Excellency the Grand Duke, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"Um... what exactly are the Ancient People?"
Mr. Berger gave a gentle smile.
"They are the strongest race that built a great empire in this galaxy in the distant past. One theory suggests they were the ones who created these gates."
"The ones who scatter technology around just for fun?"
"That is a different faction. Most of us have lost the majority of our technology. Our nation is long gone; we are simply ordinary people who happen to live a very long time."
"Um, why was the technology lost?"
I mean, the Fairies were long-lived too, but they’d done their best to preserve as much of their tech as possible.
Still smiling, Mr. Berger answered.
"It is because most of those currently surviving were in sales or administrative staff."
What incredible persuasiveness!!!
I see... just because you live for ages doesn't mean you're a technician...
You can probably preserve your own work and culture to a degree, but anything outside your expertise would be a struggle...
"Besides, while I have lived for a thousand years, I can only vividly recall the last fifteen... maybe ten years. As for remembering exactly what I ate for a meal, that only goes back to about last week. Hahaha!"
The Fairies had mentioned before that their memories get hazy once they go back more than a few years.
It seemed even long-lived races had limits to their storage capacity.
I only have memories of playing on the backs of animals when I was a kid.
The things I could remember properly only started after Zork’s attack...
Yeah, memories really weren't reliable at all!
Long-lived races weren't that different from us, after all.
"So, Mr. Chairman, what brings you here?"
"Well, I have come to offer my retirement greetings to Great King Saria and discuss the handover."
"Huh? Retirement?"
Saria let out a strangled yelp.
"Yes. Now that the issues with Proone, the Ghouls, and the Pirate Guild have settled down, I felt it was time to step down. I intend to leave the Battle Dome to Great King Saria and set out on a journey. Your Excellency the Grand Duke, I have come to request passage on your ship to the Galactic Empire."
"Sure thing. I’ll have a room prepared for you."
"I am deeply grateful."
Saria panicked.
"Wait, wait, wait! Me? The Chairman? I haven't heard a word about this!"
"That is because I haven't told you yet. However, the Battle Dome is effectively a trading company of the Ogre God Nation. If the Great King takes over, everything should settle into place smoothly. I’ve been wanting to go on a trip for the first time in several hundred years, you see."
He was completely in the mindset of someone going on an overseas vacation after retiring.
Well, whatever happens, happens~♪
"Isn't that great, Saria? Your dream of rising through the ranks as a merchant has come true."
"I didn't want to rise up in this kind of context!"
"I thought I was going to be an army lawyer, yet here I am as the Emperor’s groom."
"In your case, the dream of being a lawyer is the one that’s a total error in logic!!!"
Saria hissed at me!
"Then why not leave the role of Great King to someone else? Like your Dad or Kirti-chan."
"I can't do that either."
Oh?
"I’m being hailed as the strongest Great King in history for solving the Proone issue... the Ghoul issue... the Pirate Guild... and even the Taikyoku Nation problem. Even though Leo-san was the one who actually did it all..."
It seemed Saria’s domestic popularity was becoming absolute.
Well, from the perspective of the bureaucrats running the country, they’d naturally credit all the domestic news to Saria. I’d do the exact same thing if I were a bureaucrat.
"Yeah, just give up♪ Saria, you were just born under that kind of star."
"Almost all of this is your fault, Leo-kun!!!"
And so, the legend of the 'Strongest Great King in History' was born in the Ogre God Nation.
But you know, I think to myself...
If I hadn't met Saria at the very beginning, I would have been playing on Nightmare Mode.
And during the Proone and Taikyoku Nation incidents, if Saria hadn't been there, the operations wouldn't have even been possible.
We wouldn't have been able to pull off half our schemes without him.
The majority of my 'incidents' would have been impossible without Saria as an accomplice.
In other words, it’s all Saria’s fault!
Everything started with Saria!
I looked Saria in the eye.
"Saria-kyun, we’re Besties."
"You're plotting something again, aren't you?"
With Mr. Berger joining our ranks, our fun homecoming began.