The liberation of Chronos was becoming so routine that the procedure had been manualized. Even we were starting to get a bit sloppy.
“Electromagnetic Fence, dropping!”
This was a weapon co-developed by the Imperial Army and Kyoko-chan. Although it was billed as a new weapon, it was essentially a combination of an Electric Fence and an Electric Bug Zapper with the output cranked up.
In the end, electricity was simply effective. You could create useful items just by repurposing tools that already existed. The only real challenge had been figuring out how to keep the fences from getting clogged. After testing various methods, we decided to handle the buildup by roasting everything with plasma.
Kyoko-chan was already an executive in the Technology Development Department. However, her personality made her entirely unfit for management. I wanted her to be able to do whatever she liked in a position without any actual responsibility.
When we pitched the device to Latarnia and the Taikyoku Nation, they purchased a substantial quantity. They were stocking up in case a Locust outbreak occurred within their own borders. It was a design that could be easily imitated, but it was one of those “it’s so simple the idea never occurred to us” situations. I intended to treat it as a product for a single season only.
We dropped these devices in containers from satellite orbit. Just before they hit the surface, the corners of the containers were blown off to release the contents without damaging the fences. Once the fences pierced the ground, they deployed anchors to fix themselves in place. The idea was that they only needed to hold out until the barrier was fully deployed. Besides, if one failed, we could just drop another.
The devices were composed of existing parts. They were cheap, fast to produce, and highly effective.
Ha ha ha!
Once the fences were set, we and Tatiana descended. There was an argument to be made that remote-controlled Automated Electric Turrets would suffice, but any accident involving Tatiana was strictly unacceptable. There was no replacing our little sister.
The Taikyoku Nation was also serious about protecting her. That was a good thing.
Latarnia... you don't need to start warming up! Your equipment is weak against the Locusts anyway!
The Locusts swarmed us, but most of them were electrocuted by the Electromagnetic Fence and fell to the ground.
Hyah-hah!
The Automated Electric Turrets were also briskly picking off the Locusts. Cleaning Robots collected the bodies and performed plasma incineration!
Locusts are for disinfection!!!
Tatiana’s machine had also undergone an equipment change. The Floating Batteries were swapped for an Electromagnetic Fence and Electric Turrets. The fuel efficiency had suffered a bit, but we managed by adding an Expansion Energy Pack to the back. She stabbed the so-called Magical Stick into the ground and activated the barrier.
“Uoooooooh!”
I wanted to tell them not to make such foul sounds. It was the Fate of the Jester to become the comic relief... I reconsidered and kept my mouth shut.
But I couldn't hold back forever. Once the barrier activated, the Locusts stopped moving.
“Tatiana... say ‘Solve-it-nyan♪’ in a cute voice.”
“Die.”
Apparently, Tatiana usually spoke in a low voice on purpose. It seemed she could perfectly mimic the voice of a heroine from a little girl’s anime if she wanted to. After all, she had been doing anime mimicry just the other day.
“Claire-oneechan! Big Brother Leo is bullying me!”
Ah! Right now! She just used the cute voice!
“Leo! You mustn't bully her! Don't worry, Tatiana-chan. Big Sister will give this bad brother a punishment.”
“Mama... I love you... (I'm begging for my life).”
“Cracking sounds”
After that farce was over and we returned, I was put in a Cobra Twist in the Dining Hall. It hurts, nyan!
Latarnia National Broadcasting was airing an interview with a Chronosian.
“Long live the Saint!”
The Chronosians were praising Tatiana. She, meanwhile, was making a disgusted face. The rescued Chronosians revered her like a god. There were conspiracy theories claiming Tatiana was the cause of everything, but that didn't hold much water while those people were being protected in the underground facilities of the Latarnia Bank or the Kamishiro Group.
The Chronosians understood this, so those voices were quiet. Instead, there was a loud roar of resentment toward their own government, which had ceased to function while doing nothing to help. There were simply too many victims... I didn't think the Ghouls or the Zen God Race would be forgiven even after a thousand years.
I was working on paperwork in the Dining Hall. I read and approved a document regarding the effectiveness of the Electromagnetic Fence. Then, while reading the Strategic Officer’s report, I hammered the anti-Locust tactics into my head.
Next, I read the latest version of the Locust Dissection Report...
A proposal to create Locusts within the Empire and incorporate them into our tactics? I’ll fucking kill you. Rejected.
I issued a surveillance order for the idiot who submitted such a disrespectful report. Then the translated versions of the Locust ecology reports arrived in various languages, so I checked and approved those.
Just when I thought I could take a breather, the Locust Tactical Plan resurrected itself like a zombie, slipped into the middle of another document. I’ll kill you. Rejected.
Furthermore, the Annexation Plan for Latarnia and the Taikyoku Nation was hidden inside yet another file. ...Do these people have a death wish? There was a sense that their cognition was distorted despite being otherwise sane, given that they hadn't added the Ogre God Nation to their list of annexation targets. Nothing good would come of this in the long term. Rejected!
Listen here! This expedition is for the peace and security of the Empire, not for territorial expansion! Why do I have to battle with bureaucrats of all people?!
Then, finally, that document arrived.
【Tatiana's Clone Project: ~Gacha Until a Jester is Pulled~】
“Ugaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!”
“Ah, Leo broke! Ren-chan! Carbohydrates! Give him carbohydrates!”
“Yes, Dear. Here is a roasted sweet potato.”
“Ogyah!”
Chomp chomp. So sweet~♪
My SAN points were restored. Now I was truly angry. I reported it to Wifey. I reported it to Amada as well. This had finally crossed the line!
I hadn't forgiven them for making a clone of me without permission, either! I only endured it because we were in the middle of the Extermination War!
‘It’s for the sake of the Empire, so the person themselves will surely be pleased.’
Like hell they would! I’ll fucking kill you!!!
These things are built on a relationship of trust! It’s because the country is trustworthy that the citizens are willing to endure a bit of irrationality! If you start betraying your own comrades, the citizens won't follow you!
I was so enraged that I shared the file with everyone present—excluding the Younger Group, of course.
Claire crushed a metal cup with a sickening crunch. Melissa’s expression shifted into an intense, frightening smile. Ren remained expressionless, but her hands were trembling. Eddie and Minerva-chan were visibly fuming.
A low, menacing rumble seemed to emanate from the Isono Couple and the Nakajima Couple. Kevin was huffing and puffing. Nina-san... Lady Nina muttered, “We must exterminate the pests.”
For some reason, Fairy-san wouldn't respond, claiming to be “currently under maintenance.”
Wifey was clearly smiling. Then she said one thing.
“So, what shall we do, everyone?”
And so, another evil was removed from the Empire. Just because you have patriotism doesn't mean everything is permitted!
...Don't mistake the objective. We aren't great because we are the rulers.