About ten days had passed, and the work had finally settled into a rhythm, allowing me to actually get some sleep.
I had been worried that the Latarnians might lose control and go on a rampage, but it turned out to be a groundless fear. Threatening them by saying they’d be branded as the absolute villains of history if they attempted a massacre here had probably been the right move.
Perhaps it also helped that I had used the Taikyoku Nation’s general contractors as a buffer—the ones widely feared in Lepsitol and Parcion as the "Ghost with No Penis." The sheer terror the Taikyoku Nation inspired was enough to suppress any thoughts of rioting among the planetary residents.
Then, of course, there was the radiant presence of Saint Tatiana.
Tatiana was playing her part to perfection, staying prim and proper at all times. She wore her Saint-style Purehearted Makeup and offered everyone a gentle, beatific smile. However, even from a distance, I could see the muscles in her face twitching. She was clearly overworking facial muscles she didn't normally use.
The moment she returned to the battleship, she would collapse in a heap.
"It’s so hard..." she would groan.
Though she was being treated like a purehearted idol, her true nature was that of a rock girl. Her three-person room was a chaotic mix of anime and game posters alongside intense, hardcore rock band posters. She had even bought a guitar, an amp, and a pair of headphones with her own salary. Having never received a formal musical education, she was currently pouring her soul into practicing covers of anime songs.
I felt for her, but I couldn't really help. I’m a total amateur when it comes to instruments—though I can manage a bit of DJing.
One-oh-one, who insisted on imitating everything she saw, was currently learning the drums from the members of the light music club. Shiyun was already a master of the Taikyoku zither—what the Galactic Empire called the Seven-stringed Zither. Lately, she had become obsessed with the piano, taking lessons from Claire, Wifey, and Ren. Apparently, she was also learning the keyboard from the girls in the light music club.
Melissa was on the bass.
Every one of them was a proper young lady... Oh, that’s right. They were all young ladies from distinguished families.
Wait a second...
Are all my wives actually ultra-high-spec ladies?
I turned to the guys for some solidarity.
"Ah, I took piano lessons when I was a kid, but I was hopeless. My parents gave up after a year," Isono-kyun admitted.
My man. We really are besties.
"An instrument? I can play the violin," Eddy said.
Eddy, you traitor! I was so sure you were one of us!
"I suppose I play the flute. My mother used to do it," Nakajima added.
Nakajima, you damn bastarrrrrrd!
"Well... I grew up in a colony, so..." Kevin muttered, her expression darkening.
Everyone immediately dropped into a kowtow.
"We are so sorry!"
"It’s fine. I don’t mind. You all come from prestigious families, after all," Kevin replied.
Come to think of it, what about Nina-san?
"Shall I sing some opera?" she offered.
When Nina-san started singing, her vocal power was staggering. My very core vibrated from the sound. It was incredible.
Finally, I turned to the most mysterious member of the group. "Rikochi?"
"I can play the sitar and the bansuri. My hometown is very dedicated to preserving traditions. Oh, and the shakuhachi, too. Everyone, from commoners to nobles, has to learn them at the community center."
"Huh. Does that mean it’s mandatory?"
"Yeah, there’s no real way to say no. You know how it is with the neighbors watching. But there aren't any competitions or anything, so it’s more like a hobby. It was fun."
Rikochi’s hometown was still shrouded in mystery. It sounded like an excellent territory that took cultural heritage seriously, though that neighborly "mutual surveillance" was something I remembered from my own family home. Usually, it’s just because people have nothing better to do than gossip.
In my territory, the new residents were the majority now, so that stifling atmosphere had probably aired out. I imagined Rikochi’s place was likely the same.
The homes of almost all my academy classmates were now popular destinations for immigrants. Their families or local militias had risked their lives to protect the residents during the Zork War, and their reputations had skyrocketed as a result. Conversely, the places where the lords had fled were now desolate and abandoned.
Even for the commoner faction, the popularity of the lands they’d been granted was immense. The only exceptions were Kevin, who was the planetary lord of the Female-type Zork, and Ren, whose Mistral Main House was building a paradise for the Beast Race.
One-oh-one’s place was an exception too, I suppose. Her entire territory was designated as a nature park where entry was strictly forbidden. As for Tatiana, there was no way she could handle territory management yet, so she just had a reservation; for now, her land was part of Wifey's Imperial Fief. Even so, people were clamoring to move there.
Meanwhile, the depopulation in the territories held by the rebel Duke Association and their pardoned lackeys was horrific. Their industries had completely collapsed.
Well, that’s just how the world turns.
"Tatiana, cheer up."
I decided to make some crepes. I piled on the whipped cream, added a scoop of ice cream, and drizzled it with chocolate sauce. I topped it off with a generous dusting of chocolate sprinkles.
"One-oh-one... I’m making yours now, just wait."
"Shiyun, stop looking at me with those sparkling eyes, I’ll make yours too..."
In the end, I found myself making crepes for everyone present, with Kevin and Nina-san helping out. Claire lent a hand as well, while the others handled the serving. It was a familiar, cozy scene.
We could afford to take our time with Parcion. There was no need for a blitzkrieg. The same applied to our fight against the Zen God Race. We had the luxury of time to attack slowly and steadily, ensuring we didn't overextend ourselves or deplete our national strength.
Now that Lepsitol was effectively a protectorate of Chronos, we could wait ten years to finish off Parcion if we wanted to. It felt like the board had been set in our favor without me even realizing it, but I suppose that’s the ideal for any military man.
"Oh, that's right, Leo. I just got a message from Amada-kun’s place," Claire said with a bright smile.
"Did something happen?"
"Selene-chan is pregnant."
Boom!
An explosion of joy went off in my head.
That dog Amada! Congratulations, you bastard!
Suddenly, Wifey began to move with a strange, intense determination.
"Lord Groom... let us make one as well."
"Please, try to use words like 'love' and 'romance' first!"
"I love thee beyond the need for words!"
Oh boy... she’s so assertive. My heart skipped a beat.
"It is time I completely solidified my foundation as well," she continued.
"Stop talking about politics!"
"Regardless, I must reward Amada. Selene is like a sister to me. Hmm... perhaps I shall bestow a Duke Title upon him."
At that moment, the Fairy appeared out of nowhere.
"She is my excellent copy, after all!"
And just like that, the after-work party was transformed into a "Congratulations Party for Amada-kun." Alcohol was distributed to the adults. We even sent out celebration sake to the regular soldiers and the Latarnians.
Blessings for everyone!
I suppose the child would be like a nephew or niece to me. I’d have to give them something special when they were born. I decided I’d squeeze a budget out of the Chronos Parliament for it.
I sent a quick message to the Minister: "The wife of Amada from Amada Security is pregnant. Please look after them. Amada's wife is part of my Wifey's family."
At the time, I didn't realize what kind of impact this would have on a galaxy that had been tilting toward the grim and cynical. I was simply too exhausted for my brain to think that far ahead.