Chapter 12 - The Decisive Words and Establishment of Engagement Approval
~Spaceport in Orbit Around the Third Planet of the Betasia Star System~
Sangou continued its standby state, moored at a berth in the spaceport on the satellite orbit of the third planet of the Betasia Star System.
Of course, it wasn't doing nothing.
The third planet of the Betasia Star System was the main planet of the Count's territory, so the number of spaceships and shuttles coming and going was considerable.
The port where Sangou was moored was a spaceport for spaceships with shuttle services to the surface, but there also existed satellites that seemed to be military facilities and spaceports exclusively for warships.
Under such circumstances, from Sangou's perspective, an enormous amount of communication waves for information transmission, including voice communications, were flowing out.
Sangou continued to perceive all of them.
In short, from Sangou's senses, this was a "noisy space region."
In that state, Sangou was paying particular attention to the conversation Rouj was having, casually listening in, while at the berth of the spaceport for spaceships.
To put it bluntly, it was "eavesdropping."
Since it would never be found out, it wasn't a crime, but it was a criminal act.
However, Sangou wasn't doing this out of mere curiosity.
This action was taken because Sangou judged that Rouj's existence "would have a great impact on the future life of the captain, Jin," who was the most important person to Sangou.
Incidentally, this eavesdropping was made possible because the earring-type ultra-miniature handset that Jin had previously given to Rouj and her two sisters was still being worn by Rouj.
But such a detail was trivial.
Well, leaving Sangou's actions aside.
What exactly is this "earring-type ultra-miniature handset" used for eavesdropping?
First of all, it was undoubtedly a loaned item manufactured at Neutral Colony Greta for the purpose of securing an independent means of communication as an insurance measure, and then supplied to Rouj and the others through the captain's hands.
At least, that was Sangou's understanding.
And in fact, Jin, Rouj, and all involved parties had not received a detailed explanation of the handset's functions from Sangou.
What the four of them knew was only that it allowed communication without interference from the Greta side, and that "at best, its range was limited to the space around Greta."
Therefore, both the giver and the receivers believed that "the earring-type ultra-miniature handset can respond when called and can also initiate calls. It's a convenient communication device that won't be jammed by the technology of this world."
But in reality, it was not merely a convenient communication device.
The "ultra-miniature handset" created by Sangou used "Sensory Waves," which others could not handle, for information transmission in communication.
As it was ultra-small, the energy stored inside was minimal.
Converting Sensory Waves into audio and outputting them inevitably consumed a fair amount of energy for the conversion.
Therefore, in continuous call mode, the maximum operating time was limited to about twenty-four hours without resupply.
However, if it merely leaked Sensory Waves, it could operate for about ten days without resupply.
Because its functions were restricted, it couldn't even communicate between handsets and couldn't recharge energy on its own.
Since it didn't have performance worthy of boasting, Sangou didn't bother to explain things like "it can only be recharged by returning to Sangou's interior" or "if completely without resupply, it will self-destruct and disappear about a week after running out of energy."
This was because, as mentioned above, it was an emergency measure created by Sangou as insurance for securing communication means at Greta.
Moreover, since Sangou only considered it as "a loaned supply item," the reason for omitting the detailed explanation was that "it was not manufactured with long-term use in mind."
In short, their recognition of ownership was different.
However, it was not so for Rouj, Rinju, and Ranju.
They considered it a present gifted from Jin as an accessory, and recognized it as "a convenient thing with a telephone-like function, but only for contacting Sangou."
As such, they did not perceive it as "being loaned."
Jin, being a disappointingly pathetic Hero, didn't notice or couldn't notice this difference in perception.
Even if he climbed the stairs of adulthood a little, the reality was that people couldn't change so easily.
There's no doubt about this since a certain anime's red character's younger sister said something similar.
Leaving Jin aside, Sangou had noticed this difference in perception at the point when the captain brought Rouj and the others back from Greta.
If Sangou saw Rouj looking at it lovingly and touching it with her fingers, it was only natural for Sangou to notice that.
But still.
Sangou judged that "there was no particular need to point that out again."
Therefore, it just left it alone.
It just so happened that a situation arose where it could be effectively utilized in the "Betasia Count's office."
In hindsight, it might be said that "leaving it alone was the right call."
However, regarding this matter, a certain incident would occur in the future, so it was only correct "at this point in time" with that condition.
In any case, Sangou continued to grasp the progress of the situation through eavesdropping.
"Well, well, what kind of conversation will it be?"
While thinking such things, Sangou was also preparing in parallel to obtain a ship registration code.
The performance specification declaration form template sent by Betasia Count.
Sangou looked at it and considered.
How much of its capabilities should it reveal?
It was a simple but difficult problem.
Let's move the scene to the Betasia Count's office.
In the previous chapter, Rouj hadn't yet told "the part from after leaving Greta until arriving at her father's office."
Aware of that, she casually brought up, "There's something I'd like to confirm."
She believed that was "the best move."
"Hmm. What do you want to know?"
The Count also noticed from Rouj's words that she hadn't yet told him everything.
"(After leaving Greta, is there nothing particularly worth reporting?)"
That thought crossed his mind, so he ended up answering as above.
Perhaps being parent and child made him let his guard down?
Betasia Count might be on the kind-hearted side as a noble.
"Yes. First, I want to confirm Jin's reward. Um, we don't have much money to spare in this house, do we?"
"Ah, the agreement covers up to getting you safely to Greta. That's the reward for the rescue and escort. Honestly, our financial situation is tight, but we've agreed to five billion en, which seems to be within the standard range. Well, 'within range,' but it's on the lower end."
"I see. With our current household, that can't be helped, and since Jin has agreed and is satisfied, I don't think it's something to make an issue of. So, Father. What will you do about the parts we haven't discussed? When you talk with Jin again after we finish here, I think you must have some sort of plan in mind."
"Yes, well. For the post-processing of the twelfth and thirteenth planets, and also for the bridging part, I trusted Jin's assertion that he would 'guarantee' it, based on his track record of exterminating space beasts. That's why I turned down the funding offer from that baron. Therefore, I don't want to upset Jin and have him cut corners or abandon things from now on. But I have nothing to offer immediately."
"Then, what will you do?"
"Shamefully, payment in installments over a long period. We'll negotiate the total amount. Besides that, I'll also give him a 'medal' and 'preferential treatment with various permits within the territory.' If he wishes, maybe 'providing a residence on this planet or a residence at the spaceport.' Of course, it won't be enough."
"Father. Jin is not a person of the Gialpha Galaxy Empire. 'Long-term installment payments' could be seen as synonymous with 'no intention of paying.'"
"Now that you mention it, that's true. I overlooked that. So then, what should we do?"
Betasia Count, Orega, fell into thought, and after a short pause, he looked at his wife, Renju.
Being troubled, he couldn't help but seek help with his eyes.
"Orega, would you like to hear my idea? It's not fully formed yet."
Renju spoke to ease Orega's distress.
"Ah, Renju. This is still just a family discussion. Please go ahead."
"Then. If 'there are no funds for the reward to be given, and installments are impossible because he's not an imperial subject,' then the solution is simple. Why not make Jin an imperial subject?"
"That's right! That option existed. 'Enlistment in the military' would probably be impossible. In that case, for now, appointing him as a deputy governor for the fifteenth planet or something, and then recommending him for a baroncy, would be a reasonable method. However, even suggesting such a proposal that is only convenient for us leaves the problem of 'whether Jin would accept it.' If it's true that he's not originally from the Gialpha Galaxy and wandered in, there's a high possibility he wants to 'return to his own galaxy, to his homeland.' I feel it's not enough to tie him down."
"Yes. That's why my idea remains incomplete, not yet solidified. What should we do about the missing part? If only we could supplement that part with something."
While answering Orega's question, Renju was looking at her daughter, Rouj.
"(Rouj, from here on, you have to do your best yourself!)"
Mothers probably sense many things.
In fact, Renju had noticed since reuniting with her daughters that Rouj occasionally touched an earring of a design she had never seen before.
Renju, being a noblewoman, was sensitive to accessories.
She could state with 100% certainty that it wasn't among Rouj's belongings before she left for Greta.
All things considered, it was reasonable to interpret it as "something given by the male human named Jin."
And while Orega, as the father, might not notice Rouj's subtle changes, Renju, as the mother, did.
However, it did bother Renju a little that her other two daughters were also wearing the same thing.
Well, that aside, Rouj herself noticed the meaning behind her mother's gaze.
For Rouj as well, this was the critical moment.
"Father. Jin's recent feats in exterminating space beasts are more than sufficient to meet the requirements for ennoblement in the Empire, right? With a recommendation from our house, 'unless something extraordinary happens, it's a case that will be approved by His Imperial Majesty,' right?"
"Ah, yes, that's right."
"If so, then. I will marry the man I love, Jin."
Silence fell over the discussion due to the last part of Rouj's statement.
It might be more accurate to say "the atmosphere froze."
Of course, such a situation couldn't last long.
Orega, whose thoughts had stopped, was struck speechless by his daughter's shocking statement.
The head of the Betasia Count Household tentatively absorbed the content of the statement he didn't want to understand.
Then he turned his thoughts and managed to force out words.
"Wait. How did it come to this? How did it become that? We just managed to avoid that humiliating political marriage with the baron's house! And now you're talking about 'political marriage' again? This just changes the partner! No, wait. Rouj, did you just say 'love'? Doesn't 'love' mean it's not a political marriage? But the partner is a human, you know? You're not drunk on a spirit of self-sacrifice, are you? And besides, would Jin even accept something like this?"
Orega was at the height of confusion from the sudden, extreme turn of events.
And as for "what about Rinju and Ranju in this situation?"
"(Ah. She finally said it.)"
Each of them swallowed the urge to say those words aloud.
The two of them were now very interested in how things would unfold.
And what about the mother, Renju?
"(I thought so.)"
She also swallowed her true feelings but showed an expression of understanding.
"Father. This is not self-sacrifice. I love Jin. Even though he is a 'human.' And Jin has accepted me. As a daughter of a noble house, I have no choice but to consider 'the interests of the house as a priority.' Even so, my personal desire is 'to marry Jin.' I also believe that 'will lead to the benefit of our house.'"
"No, but still, even so..."
"Father. This matter must be decided 'now.' What will happen if this feat of exterminating space beasts becomes known to others? Those who 'want to get their hands on Jin and Sangou' will surely appear one after another. If that happens, they will definitely move to bring Jin into their fold. Not only other houses, but perhaps even the imperial family."
Rouj's prediction was correct regarding other noble houses and the imperial family.
But there was also a perspective she had overlooked.
Rouj was the eldest daughter of the Betasia Count Household, which had no male heir.
Compared to the second daughter and after, her 'responsibility,' or rather her 'position,' was heavier.
However, the conditions for Rinju and Ranju, the second and third daughters, were different.
What does that mean?
If Rouj could not marry Jin, the ones who would move first to secure Jin were Rinju and Ranju.
Of course, in that case, whether it would 'succeed' was a completely different story.
Orega fell silent with a sullen expression at the shocking content of the discussion.
Before such a father, Rouj finally played her strongest, greatest trump card.
The finishing blow.
A bombshell statement.
Rouj flung it into the private discussion.
She, who was head-over-heels for Jin, could no longer stop.
Jin's fate might have been decided at this stage.
"I am no longer in a position to marry any other man. Please make your decision, Father."
This statement delivered a shock far greater than the surprise of 'Rouj marrying Jin' that had come before.
Orega accurately grasped the meaning of those words.
At that moment, the head of the Betasia Count Household had probably completely forgotten his position as the head of a noble house and was merely a single father.
The expression vanished from Orega's face.
And then, he walked straight toward the door.
"I'm going to go punch him once!"
As he put his hand on the door, Orega declared.
At that moment, his wife and daughters had not been slow to react to those words and the unexpected action.
It was just that his movements were abnormally fast, creating a situation where no one else had time to stop him.
Orega started running.
Through this turn of events, Rouj's plan was splendidly achieved.
Moreover, she also succeeded in dodging the wrath of the head of the Betasia Count Household.
However, it could also be said that "the target of his anger had merely shifted to Jin," but such details were trivial.
Jin saw Orega open the door violently with an angry expression.
In that instant, Jin, who had plenty of reasons to feel guilty, could deduce why the handsome elven man's face was twisted in anger.
Therefore, he focused his mind to absolutely not fight back, and lowered the strength of his raw physical body to its limit.
Thus, without dodging at all, he neatly caught Rouj's father's flying fist with his face.
Jin understood Orega's feelings, so he allowed himself to be punched properly.
However, immediately after being punched, he used healing magic to instantly and completely heal it.
This kind of pathetic Hero-like response might be a point of contention depending on the observer.
After all sorts of this and that, Jin ended up having dinner with the members of the Betasia Count Household, sharing the same table.
Orega's anger still continued.
"(I haven't forgiven this, and I haven't accepted it yet!)"
That thought was plainly visible on Orega's face.
In contrast, his wife Renju was all smiles.
Rouj and her two sisters followed their mother's example.
Finding the situation unpleasant, Jin tried to change the atmosphere by chatting casually about various things from his perspective up to now.
However, his story included parts that the Betasia Count Household could not simply ignore, which was probably a bit of a problem.
Jin casually slipped in things like "I annihilated all the bandits in the asteroid belt! Tee-hee!"
Upon hearing that, Orega and Renju naturally reacted with, "Huh? What are you saying so lightly?"
Also, the three sisters found themselves thinking, "When did you do something like that?"
From the sisters' perspective, the thought "the ship they were on was in combat, and yet you didn't let us notice it at all! What the heck!" was perfectly understandable.
Still, mixed with surprise and exasperation, the atmosphere changed.
He succeeded in changing the mood in a positive direction.
Sensing that, Jin brought up a serious conversation, seizing the moment.
"Father-in-law. Please give me Rouj-san's hand in marriage."
The decisive words.
Now there was no turning back.
Jin had properly said what needed to be said from the man's side.
"I don't want to! I don't want to allow Rouj to marry Jin! But it's also true that I don't know what Rouj would do to me if I refused. So I acknowledge it. I acknowledge it. However, there are conditions."
Having been elevated to seventh heaven by Jin's marriage proposal, Rouj glared sharply at her biological father at the beginning of the head of the Betasia Count Household's words.
It was probably a wise decision for the father, sensing that immediately, to switch his following words to affirmative ones.
"Thank you very much. And what are these 'conditions'?"
"I cannot marry off Rouj, a daughter of a Count's house, to a commoner without rank or title. Therefore, this house will recommend Jin for enfeoffment as a Baron of the Gialpha Galaxy Empire. You will accept the title of Baron! Once that is accomplished, I will approve the marriage. Additionally, in addition to the previously determined reward, all of this will be considered the reward for everything up to today, including the matter of the twelfth and thirteenth planets going forward. Is that acceptable? Until Jin's ennoblement is decided, this is only a provisional engagement, not a marriage!"
The condition Orega presented was that Jin would hold at least the minimum title worthy of marrying Rouj.
However, there was no way Jin had anticipated being told to "become a noble" all of a sudden.
Also, though he had mostly given up, deep down Jin still had some feeling of wanting to "return to Japan."
But still.
In reality, comparing the return to Japan, which he "didn't know if he could return to—in fact, the possibility was so hopeless it was almost nonexistent," with marriage to Rouj, an ultra-beautiful elven woman.
Which was the better choice?
Such a question produced an instantaneous answer without even needing thought.
And if he couldn't return to Japan, settling down somewhere was not a bad option at all.
However, even though Jin had completely fallen for Rouj's charms.
Nevertheless, he still applied a slight brake.
"(I have to at least confirm the duties of a noble.)"
Honestly, Jin wanted to reduce the uncertain factors.
So Jin firmly asked about that part only.
"I can't give an immediate answer without knowledge of the duties involved in becoming a Baron. However, I do feel inclined to accept the proposal. Could you inform me of the duties and rights?"
With Jin's statement, Rouj was somewhat deflated.
Expecting an immediate affirmative answer to the series of proposals from her father.
Rouj understood intellectually that it was "an unreasonable demand."
But still.
"(I wished he had said yes right away.)"
It was natural for a woman's heart to have such feelings.
Jin roughly learned from Rouj's father about the duties and rights of a Baron in the Gialpha Galaxy Empire.
In the flow of that conversation, he noticed there were two options: "legal robe" and "territorial lord."
Well, Orega's preference was "preferably a planet owner."
"Even if Jin chooses 'legal robe,' it's fine for him to 'work as a civil or military official within the Betasia Count Household.'"
Since Orega didn't want Jin to take Rouj and leave the Betasia Star System, he also mentioned the second-best option.
Incidentally, with "legal robe," there was no difference in the pension part compared to "territorial lord," but generally, for the same title, a "legal robe" noble was treated one rank lower than a "territorial lord" noble.
Jin wanted to choose the option with as few obligations as possible.
Therefore, it was a one-choice selection: legal robe.
The duties and rights of a legal robe Baron, when weighed against the existence of Rouj, were well within Jin's tolerance.
Thus, the Hero banished from a fantasy world was decided to receive a recommendation for ennoblement in the Gialpha Galaxy Empire.
Of course, there was no way a muscle-brained, pathetic Hero could handle being a civil official, so it was a foregone conclusion that he was assigned as a military official.
Through this progression of events, the engagement was finally effectively decided.
If so, it was time for that thing in the Storage Space to make an appearance.
Jin had Rouj come to his side and gave her a mithril ring.
"This is a custom from where I came from, given to one's fiancée. It seems there's no such custom in this galaxy, but please allow me to present it according to my ways."
"Thank you. Jin, I love you."
A ring without wrapping, in its bare state.
However, the ring made of mithril, which didn't exist in this world, emitted a mysterious and captivating luster, standing out compared to gold, silver, or platinum.
And even though the ring was bare, Jin placing it directly onto Rouj's finger managed to cover up the unnaturalness of it being unwrapped.
Despite being a pathetic Hero, Jin was strong in luck in these kinds of aspects.
On the other hand, the three women other than Rouj—Renju, Rinju, and Ranju—had their eyes captured by the sight.
The mysterious luster of mithril, something they had never seen before.
The three of them were completely captivated by it.
"(How nice, how lovely. I want one like that too.)"
Each of the three murmured the exact same words in their hearts.
Perhaps it's universal in any world that women desire jewelry.
The next morning, Jin left the Count's residence to handle the matter of the thirteenth planet.
Accompanying him were two people: Rouj and Zilfa.
There was quite a lot of fuss about deciding who would accompany him.
There was a huge amount of argument about it, but in the end, these two were chosen.
Jin leaving alone was not permitted; confirmation of the results of Jin's actions on the thirteenth planet was necessary, and someone capable of that was required to accompany him.
On the other hand, Jin didn't want to let too many unknown people onto Sangou.
After various other things, they settled on these two.
Incidentally, the twelfth planet was omitted from the destination because it was decided, with confirmation from Sangou via Rouj's earring, that one-tenth of the three trillion en worth of resources Jin currently had in his Storage Space would be contributed to the Betasia Count Household.
To be blunt, it was "in lieu of a bride price."
What Jin provided would be used to help rebuild the finances of the Betasia Count Household.
Because of that, the plan for Jin to extract metal resources from the depths of the twelfth planet to bridge the gap until mining operations could resume had become unnecessary.
Regarding the series of rewards, roughly, only "ennoblement as a Baron" and "awarding of a medal" were confirmed; the monetary part was effectively zero.
This "effectively zero" meant "once accepted, but the same amount is returned as part of the bride price."
Of course, it was also confirmed that "after Jin is ennobled as a Baron, Rouj will marry Jin."
Incidentally, besides contributing the aforementioned one-tenth of the resources, Jin intended to provide some further assistance as a betrothal gift.
But he planned to discuss that leisurely with Sangou first, so he said nothing at this stage.
At first glance, it might seem to others that Jin was bearing too much of the burden.
However, if asked, Jin would give a different answer.
"An ultra-beautiful woman like Rouj! Having a beautiful elven lady as my wife is way too happy! I wouldn't hesitate to give away all three trillion en I have! Heck, can I buy her just by paying three trillion en? Of course not."
He would inevitably reply with such words.
Values differ from person to person.
Maybe that's fine.
From the shuttle airport on the ground, they boarded the sub-unit, and with the three of them on board, it smoothly launched.
"Hey, what's that craft going to do without a booster?"
"That ultra-small shuttle, did anyone service it after it landed? There's no way it can return to space without any maintenance."
Aside from the two comments above, various other things were said, but no matter how much the airport staff shouted, for Sangou, which managed the sub-unit's operations, it was trivial.
Like a vertical takeoff aircraft, it went straight up into the sky.
That twenty-meter-class sub-unit in such a state.
Even if many people shouted "What is that!" upon seeing it, to Sangou, that too was trivial.
Exiting into space with the twenty-meter-class sub-unit, it entered the port for shuttle spaceships.
And then, the sub-unit entered Sangou's hangar.
When it did, Jin realized something.
"(When we went down to the surface using the sub-unit as a shuttle. If we had taken Sangou out of the spaceport and then descended using the sub-unit from space, wouldn't it have been easier?)"
He had realized it only now, but.
Considering all the trouble up to the return voyage, that was probably true.
It even meant that "the mooring fees for Sangou at the spaceport were wasted."
Well, about that, since the fees were covered by Rouj's father, it was fine.
Also, Jin hadn't realized it yet, but there was also the option of "if it was okay for Sangou's atmospheric performance to be revealed, having Sangou land in the middle of a sufficiently deep sea, then using the sub-unit to fly to and from the Count's residence."
Thus, the Hero Jin managed to successfully obtain the tacit approval from the Betasia Count and his wife to take Rouj as his wife.
The discussion about the reward for the series of matters was also largely settled, and Jin, who knew he could earn money by attacking bandits and such, saw value in Rouj that couldn't be exchanged for money, so he conceded quite a bit on points he should have insisted on.
Being valued so highly probably caused his future wife's affection to skyrocket, which was certainly not a trivial matter.
No one is thinking about what would happen if Jin fails to become a Baron for some reason, but is it really okay?
Will the restoration work on the thirteenth planet be completed smoothly?
No one knows the future, though.
The Hero had been firmly saddled with a watchdog named "Zilfa" by Rouj's father to prevent him from getting too lovey-dovey with Rouj.
Having already done the deed, with his fiancée Rouj by his side, Jin felt like complaining, "My current situation is like having delicious food I've already tasted placed in front of me, but being told I can't eat it. Isn't this a form of torture?"