So, here were the results of the investigation.
To begin with, the reason Raven-kun had been late was a large-scale battle. He had run into resistance from an enemy force—well, a force of such scale it was practically an army.
"How terrifying..."
"Your Majesty was the one who crushed a quarter of them single-handedly, though..."
Raven-kun said this with a perfectly straight face.
"Ho... but there weren't even any humanoid fighters, so it was quite easy, you know?"
"He’s saying that if there had been humanoid fighters, the battle would have been even shorter because Leo would have gone on a total rampage," Kevin chimed in with a retort.
I’m not actually that much of a barbarian... little old me...
"They were crying that they couldn't see your movements... that it was cheating..."
"It’s not that they couldn't see them."
I was just moving in a way that their brains couldn't process because they weren't used to it. In martial arts and combat, there are plenty of "first-time-kill" techniques. The most famous is the shout used to focus one's spirit. Against an opponent seeing it for the first time, there's a high probability it'll freeze their movements. It’s the same thing. It wasn't that I was invisible; I just moved so their brains couldn't recognize the input. But it’s hard to explain. Better to change the subject.
"So—what were you looking for in the end?"
"Your Majesty, it seems it was ruins," Raven-kun replied.
"Ruins again...?"
"They say there are ruins buried underground," Kevin added, dropping a bombshell.
I had nothing but a bad feeling about this.
"What about the soil contamination?"
"It looks like seepage from the ruins."
"What about the locals?"
"They’re almost the same race as the Magellanics. It’s already known that the Taikyoku Nation, Chronos, and Magellan are all essentially the same race. It seems that contamination has caused differences in their physical characteristics. It’s like how the Beast Race was created by an accident. Either way, we’ll have to get some specialized doctors to help."
"Won't you do, Kevin?"
"Please don't demand that much from an intern who just got his license. I've already contacted an Officer Academy Faculty of Medicine Professor. Could you wait a bit for a reply?"
Just then, a notification sound rang out.
"Ah, Professor. It's Kevin. Yes, the Magellanics on a planet with no outside contact have undergone mutations similar to the Beast Race due to pollutants. Eh, you're coming right now?"
It seemed the professor was quite motivated.
"Leo, the specialized professor is bringing an Anthropology and Biology Professor Team with him."
"Are they really that eager?"
"Well, it's a rare symptom, and it's a field with a lot of potential for development..."
I mean, I'd heard that back during the Locust-B-Gone incident, corporate researchers fought over positions just to get a chance to go to outer space. But would a professor who had established a stable position in the Imperial Capital really come all the way out here? Apparently, they were being hounded by various departments saying, "Please, let us investigate."
The Faculty of Letters Professor had even sent a massive team covering not just literature, but anthropology, religion, history, and philosophy. Currently, they were busy translating documents and writing explanations. It felt like they were doing a total cultural sweep. The researchers were practically skipping as they headed for outer space.
The number of researchers had really increased... and since an invitation to outer space was treated like a platinum ticket, Kevin was the one stuck on the front lines writing report after report. I felt like he was becoming a bit overworked.
Even though half of my intent for this trip was a picnic-like mood, it had turned into work yet again.
"Anyway, we need to excavate the ruins and prevent the spread of pollutants, right?"
"Leo, your job ends here."
That’s a shame, de-gozaru.
As for the contamination, I had Kevin give me a shot of the chemical contamination protection medicine he brought. It was an old medicine used for soldiers and settlers. Everyone was working so hard. If possible, I'd like to live the rest of my life in a pampered environment.
Now then, time to head over to the members of the Wan-wan Squad.
As I approached, everyone ran toward me.
"King! King! King!"
"Has everyone eaten yet?"
"Wan-wan-wan-wooo!"
With the update to the translators, I was now able to have normal conversations with the Wan-wan Squad. Man, their dialect was so thick that it had been hard to talk to them unless they spoke slowly.
"Alright, time for your health checkups. They say there’s poison leaking underground, and it’s affecting all of you."
"Th-then... what about the village?"
"You'll probably have to move temporarily to a place that isn't affected. My vassals will help you build a new village, so don't worry."
"Wan-wan-wooo!"
"Let’s start with a meal."
I prepared the food. I had food and alcohol airlifted in—though I couldn't drink yet myself. I'd let them have a grand, rowdy party with drinking and singing. When I asked the locals about food, it seemed their diet centered around grilled meat. So, I grilled meat.
Yakiniku made of Chronos Pork and onions. I served it with vegetables and Planet Kamishiro-produced frozen tortillas on the side.
"Is spicy okay?"
Apparently, they were fine with it. I added some spicy sauce.
"Here, dig in."
"Our King was a chef!?"
"You're making me blush."
"Leo, they probably aren't praising you," Kevin noted.
"Wha...t..."
While we were eating, the rest of the guys arrived.
"We’ve suppressed the northern hemisphere!" Isono announced as he plopped himself down. His helmet was frozen over.
"It was a fairly large-scale military operation," Eddy added. He was a mess of mud and snow. Nakajima had collapsed right there on the spot, having reached the limit of her physical strength.
"King, who are they?" a Beagle-like warrior asked me.
"The big shots of Chronos."
Then, Isono said with a look of distaste, "I'm the vassal of that guy in the floral apron over there."
"Don't call me 'floral apron'! This thing has a lot of pockets, it's convenient!"
"As expected, the King is... a great King?"
"That's right. After all, he's the King of a great nation that unites the planets in this area. Oh, looks like Ren has arrived. Someone of a similar race to you guys is here."
Ren arrived along with some members of the Beast Race. Her combat suit was covered in weathered sand; it looked like she had been fighting in a desert region.
"Danna-sama. Good grief, I was fighting non-stop at the enemy base... Hm?"
Ren’s eyes met those of the locals. Every single villager dropped to their knees.
"We submit to you..."
They prostrated themselves before her.
"Yo, Beast Species Queen!"
Ren had a face that looked like she had completely given up on resisting the title. And so, Ren’s band of followers grew once more.
Now, regarding the situation on this planet: they had been conducting geological surveys in the bases I crushed, as well as on the plains, in the heavy snow regions, and in the deserts. Since it couldn't be helped, I interrogated the captured men in a tent. First, I thought I’d have Athlete Kichikusho-no-suke do his best.
Outside, the locals, who were now full after eating with Ren, were playing a game of hitting a scarecrow with throwing knives.
"If you lie, you'll be the target."
When I said that, the prisoners cried out and gleefully spilled everything. I heard that the Ozen Alliance possesses ruins where they can control locusts. Apparently, they can create things other than locusts through genetic modification. With that, they planned to destroy the capital and take it back.
Humph.
"Let me borrow that for a second."
Saying that, I hurled a sword at the target. It thudded deep into the wood. I looked at Athlete Kichikusho-no-suke with a smile.
"Is there anything else you want to tell me?"
"W-we're scheduled to rendezvous with Ozen in seven days!"
"Alright, everyone, it's time for war."
I clapped my hands as I gathered everyone. They've got some nerve looking down on me.