The wedding invitation finally arrived.
It was printed on paper of such obviously high quality that it caught the eye of everyone at the academy. A truly extravagant item.
Since we could get properly dressed up once we reached our destination, we headed for Isono’s planet wearing our military uniforms.
At that bastard Isono’s insistent demand, the Planet Isono Main House served as both a national military fortress and a military colony. The primary source of income for its residents was the military and its related industries. Even if the lord did nothing at all, he could count on a permanent stream of rental income.
Many of the inhabitants enlisted in the military themselves. Even after being discharged, they had no trouble finding work; the planet was teeming with restaurants catering to soldiers, defense contractors, and various transport companies. There were also large-scale home appliance retailers, electrical contractors, and a variety of educational businesses aimed at military families—specifically, private cram schools for children, sports clubs, music classes, and even numerous yoga classes for spouses.
Famous supermarkets from the Imperial Capital were located at every station, alongside many stores from our own Kamishiro Group. It was a somewhat awkward metropolis that could best be described as a ‘Mini Imperial Capital.’ Unlike Claire’s territory, the overall atmosphere was distinctly cyberpunk.
Because the Emperor was visiting, the welcome we received was grand, albeit in a different way than at Claire’s. The reception at the spaceport was already overwhelming.
‘Salute the Emperor!’
We were immediately surrounded by soldiers.
‘Fire!’
The soldiers discharged blank rounds into the sky in greeting.
Muscle, muscle, and more muscle... It was a sea of machos who looked capable of carrying out missions in the harshest environments imaginable. I didn't know what to do; we were the least soldier-like people here.
A welcoming trumpet blared. Wifey stepped onto the tarmac in her military dress uniform.
‘My thanks to you all!’
‘Sir, yes sir!’
A military marching band began to play as they led the procession. We traveled in a fleet of open-top cars. Fireworks were launched into the air, and fighter jets screamed overhead. National broadcasting vehicles recorded every moment.
The scale of this was on a completely different level. Wifey had glossed over her own wedding and had never held an official ceremony. I realized this was essentially the Imperial Government applying pressure, saying, ‘It’s about time you two held an official Imperial wedding. You got that?’
Everything was both flashy and solemn. They were flaunting their authority, demonstrating to the public that ‘this is what a wedding for a powerful member of the Kamishiro clan looks like.’ Tanks, self-propelled guns, and even anti-aircraft guns joined the motorcade. It was a full-blown military parade.
I wondered how the average person felt about this, but apparently, the locals viewed it as a festival. I heard that until yesterday, the road to the Lord’s Mansion—the ceremony venue—had been lined with a massive number of stalls and kitchen cars. They were gone for now, but they were supposed to return once the parade ended.
I mean, the wedding isn't even until tomorrow... Are we doing this all over again then? Ah, apparently so.
After a slow, two-hour procession, we finally arrived at the Lord’s Mansion. We were to stay here tonight. As soon as we entered the building, we were once again surrounded by machos. It was a literal siege of muscular middle-aged men!
‘Your Imperial Majesty, Brigadier General Kamishiro, I am Katsuo’s Father.’
A bald man in a military uniform bowed to me. From the neck down, he was pure macho. His chest was incredible.
A young woman stood beside him—likely his sister—holding a child’s hand. Next to her was another macho man wearing glasses, probably her groom. The physical pressure from all the muscle was intense. Further back stood a woman in a kimono, who I assumed was the mother.
‘I’m sure my idiot son has caused you a great deal of trouble.’
I didn’t know how to respond. I wanted to deny it, but the words wouldn’t come. I mean, he is competent, but... I managed to squeeze out a reply with sheer willpower.
‘N-no, Isono has been a great help to...’
‘...I understand.’
You understand?! He had a look on his face like he’d swallowed a bitter bug—a face that suggested he had a lot of complicated feelings about his son.
‘...I didn’t intend to spoil him. I simply don’t know why he turned out the way he did.’
‘N-no, he really is competent.’
That wasn’t a lie. That bastard Isono is undoubtedly talented. He’s a top-tier ace pilot for the Empire. A hero of the Zork War. The man responsible for the success of the exchange event with outer space... Wait, why is it that only the people close to Isono have such an abnormally low opinion of him?
Lady Hanazawa’s side was also full of military types. Their chests looked like they were about to burst through their clothes. The muscle pressure here was just as intense. As expected of a daughter from a military faction.
‘Lord Groom, look. That’s Chairman Hanazawa, who runs gyms across the entire Empire... So they were relatives after all,’ Wifey remarked, looking impressed.
Then Claire spotted someone too. ‘Hey, Leo, that’s the President of Mizushima. You know, the sports equipment and protein company.’
So House Hanazawa was a clan that dominated the Empire’s muscle industry. I wondered if their children would be born as the chosen ones of muscle... the Messiahs of the Muscle World. I didn’t even know what I was saying anymore.
‘Come to think of it, they consulted me about expanding into outer space. Since they’re to be Isono’s relatives now, I suppose I’ll have to give them favorable treatment.’
Protein is going to cross the galaxy! ...Well, I guess that’s fine.
‘Are they going to build a soccer field or something?’ I asked.
Soccer was a popular sport in outer space. Currently, soldiers who used to be in their former soccer clubs were teaching it. Even so, it was a massive success, and getting into a practice session required a reservation and a lottery. The pro-wrestling classes were also a huge hit, with tickets becoming platinum-tier items. Meanwhile, Katori-sensei was still busy running away from swordsmanship seminars, claiming that playing with us was her priority.
‘It seems they’re serious about entering the market. There’s a plan in the works to dispatch former professionals.’
‘Whoa...’
I hadn’t expected the topic of outer space to come up at Isono’s wedding of all places.
Anyway, I went to drop off my luggage. Wifey and I had separate rooms; she was in the Imperial Family-exclusive room. The Lord’s Mansion was a newly built high-rise. Apparently, there was an underground parking lot just for Isono’s sports cars. That guy really knows how to spend money... unlike most of the Kamishiro clan, whose wealth just keeps growing. It was a little annoying, so I found myself half-hoping for a flood to submerge the underground parking lot.
I was staying in a room for high-ranking officers. High-ranking officials from the Space Marines and their families were staying on the same floor. I had no idea what kind of face to make if I ran into them, but I was going to head out regardless.
In the hallway, I saw a poster that said ‘Kawagon Currently Appearing.’ Was this a targeted attack? Did they really go to the trouble of this petty harassment?!
Just as I changed into a jersey and tried to head outside, Raven-kun came running up to me.
‘My Lord! Where are you going?!’
I’d been caught.
‘Oh, I was just thinking of buying something from the stalls.’
‘Please, don’t! I will have someone go buy it for you immediately!’
I got scolded. ‘Alright, could you just pick up some random things? Get enough for everyone too. Sorry for making you do errands...’
‘Understood!’
Then One-oh-one appeared. ‘I want cotton candy, sir!’
‘...Please, if you would.’
‘Sir, yes sir!’
Wifey... Leo is a sinful man. I’ve turned the Knights into my errand boys.
I really want a chocolate-covered banana.