Chapter 43 - Conclusion of Derry's Star's Civil War and the Turmoil of the Gialpha Galaxy Empire
~Over the sea of the Gialpha Galaxy, Gialpha Star System Fourth Planet (Gialpha Galaxy Empire, Capital Planet)~
Sangou remained on standby over the capital planet's sea, and had a twenty-meter-class sub-unit, which was often used as a shuttle, orbit the planet, diligently collecting information.
Not only optical things, but also picking up as much of the enormous amount of communication waves flowing out as possible.
Some communication waves, without being hindered by encryption, that is.
Analysis of various information collected in this way was also carried out in parallel.
That, including decryption, was probably something unique to an excessively capable bio-spaceship created by super-science.
Incidentally, Sangou was focusing on such things because the current state of the capital planet could be described as "the extreme of chaos" without exaggeration.
Gialpha Galaxy Empire, His Majesty the Emperor passed away.
Such an excessively huge incident suddenly occurred with no warning whatsoever.
There is no doubt that this was the reason the capital planet fell into a state of "utter chaos".
So why did such a thing happen?
That was because a moment had occurred when an underground organization that could be called "the remnants of the Free Democratic Alliance", which should have disappeared long ago, succeeded in bringing its deadly blade to the emperor of the Gialpha Galaxy Empire, who "harbored a deep-seated grudge".
The course of events is as follows.
First, using the achievement of "suppressing a large-scale self-staged terror attack", a pair from the underground organization successfully gained an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.
Those two had prepared a special liquid explosive inside their own bodies, their bloodstream—one that creates a massive explosion when mixed but is harmless alone—for the audience.
Then, during the audience, they secretly wounded themselves with their own claws in front of the Emperor, causing bleeding.
As a result of daring to perform the act of taking each other's blood into their mouths, a huge explosion occurred on the spot, leading to the killing of the Emperor.
This is a kind of so-called suicide bombing.
Incidentally, the senior vassals who participated in that audience all died along with the Emperor, without exception.
However, despite being in such an extremely dangerous audience venue, only Laura survived.
There were three guard knights who sensed something was wrong from the flow of the two visitors' seemingly incomprehensible bleeding behavior and subsequent series of actions.
Because those three tried to pounce on the two, Laura, who happened to be in the extension of that line, had the impact of the explosion slightly mitigated.
Only she, while suffering near-fatal injuries, miraculously had her life saved.
Of course, that only meant she wasn't instantly killed; if left as she was, she would have died within minutes.
Although the court was in great chaos due to the terror attack, it was sheer fortune for Laura that the woman who had previously received treatment for her hand from Shin aboard Sangou was relatively calm.
Having rushed to the audience chamber immediately upon hearing the explosion, she saw the dying Laura and immediately connected a communication to Silk.
"From this state, the means for Laura-sama to survive. That exists only with treatment on Sangou."
Heavy bleeding with missing body parts, obvious at a single glance.
Even so, was the fact that there were no noticeable major injuries to her face or head due to Laura's luck or fate power?
At any rate, it was a communication to Silk, recalling Sangou from the tragic state of the Imperial Consort.
At the same time, it goes without saying that she also began hemostasis within her ability to suppress the bleeding as much as possible.
This woman's series of actions based on her own judgment ultimately led to Laura's life being saved.
Well, aside from that, where did the story of the civil war on Derry's star go?
Let's look back at that and trace events in chronological order.
The initial training of the crew ended, the three airships were successfully handed over, and actual operation began.
The main purpose of possessing airships was supposed to be military use.
However, when push came to shove, the Rondanur Kingdom was not in a situation to immediately deploy the new airship force into battle.
With that in mind, Derry had started operating them as a means of transporting goods within the kingdom.
And when actually operated in this way, the amount that could be transported and the short required time were, in a good way, completely different from conventional means of transport.
In such circumstances, it becomes a reality that Derry would want to ask Shin to increase the number of ships in possession.
However.
"Since airships cannot be built with only our country's power, it's dangerous to rely entirely on them for transport logistics."
The young but wise Derry understood this point properly.
But if he says that, it also becomes "relying on airships that cannot be manufactured independently in military terms as well," but he conveniently turns a blind eye to that from an emergency evacuation perspective.
"These airships were provided by Shin-san primarily as a deterrent against the north. Therefore, if war breaks out, they are meant to quickly inflict devastating damage on the enemy side and hasten the end of the war. I must think of them that way."
Derry's thoughts were like this.
Their convenient use for cargo transport was completely a bonus, not their original intended use.
Meanwhile, Mechamyu, who was cooperating with operations and training, finally entered a long vacation from the military preparatory school.
Several days after she started working as a part-time commander.
Finally, that time came.
An incident occurred: an attack.
Through the guidance of traitors within the Rondanur Kingdom, the second ship, which had been on standby on rotation, was initially hijacked.
That was how the war began.
Incidentally, among the traitors at this time were several who had participated in training as reserve personnel for airship operation, and they succeeded in swiftly escaping with the hijacked airship.
An act of betrayal repaying kindness with enmity by those whom Derry had trusted and appointed.
Although it was something done by some, it was also a humiliating situation for Derry.
"I didn't think I had completely earned the trust of my vassals. Still, being betrayed by someone I trusted and promoted is quite emotionally impactful."
Derry conveyed the general situation to Shin and then further revealed his inner thoughts like the above.
That "the only person he could do that with was Shin" is also a difficult part for such a young ruler.
"If things get really bad, don't hesitate to tell me. I'll lend you a proper hand. However, I think you understand, but I'd prefer you to solve it with your current forces, even if there is bloodshed."
There are things people cannot understand without experience.
Shin believed that from his own experience.
And in this case, not only for the side that attacked in the form of "hijacking," but there would also be something like "understanding only gained through experience" for Derry as well.
From Shin's perspective, he was also just observing for now, thinking along those lines.
Well, the enemy using scheming to make Derry's people betray him, hijacking the airship, and starting the war without a declaration of war—only an unhappy future awaits the traitors and the northern forces that instigated the war.
Since Mechamyu was already deployed, that was easily imaginable.
Shin's response at this time was also laid-back because he could make such predictions.
However, it might have been too high a "demand" or rather "expectation" for a child of such a tender age, barely elementary school age.
Also, aside from that, the Hero, who was also a former Japanese anime otaku, muttered something completely unrelated in his heart.
"What was stolen was the second ship, not unit two. But still. There is a connection with 'two'. I wonder if that number has some kind of fateful thing about it?"
It was definitely more peaceful that Shin's inner muttering, which had no effect on the general situation, remained unknown to anyone.
Upon hearing Shin's words, Derry immediately convened a war council with his subordinate generals and leading warriors.
Of course, Shin did not participate in that war council, and it goes without saying that Mechamyu participated as a guest commander.
One of the airships, the second ship, had been taken.
That fact cast a dark shadow over the progress of the war council.
"The overwhelming advantage of the Rondanur Kingdom has collapsed."
That was because all of Derry's vassals who participated in the war council believed the same thing.
However, the gloomy atmosphere became unbearable for Mechamyu, and she ended up easily going rogue.
"You big men are all lined up with your heads hanging, aren't you getting gloomy! We still have two ships left, you know? Can't you come up with even one decent plan?"
What was stolen was only one of three ships.
There was definitely a correct aspect to Mechamyu's argument.
Well, among the people gathered at the war council, there were some who could voice opinions about Mechamyu's statements.
"But, even if you say that..."
"What? Got a problem with that?"
Mechamyu looked at the speaker with a provocative gaze as she said this.
"No. It's not a complaint, it's reality. The attacking side can send troops anywhere in the Rondanur Kingdom, right? In contrast, we have to defend everything. The degree of freedom is completely different."
"Hmm. Then, let me ask. Is it possible to defend everything completely? Sacrifices are part of war! If we're hit, we hit back. If innocent civilians on our side suffer damage, we no longer need to show consideration for the enemy. In that case, let's exterminate them root and branch."
Objectively speaking, Mechamyu's response was nothing but "what a terrible goddess."
However, the claim itself is not wrong.
Such radical remarks arise largely because "the world Mechamyu is responsible for is not this one."
In the world she manages, regardless of which faction one is in or where justice lies, it adds a minus to her evaluation without question in relation to lives lost.
But in this case, that is not so.
Because even if lives are lost in retaliation against hostile forces or unavoidable sacrifices among allies, no negative is added to the "virtue" that Mechamyu must accumulate.
And even if she were to incur resentment from some residents of the Rondanur Kingdom.
The goddess was confident she would earn even more gratitude through her contribution to victory.
From Mechamyu's perspective, it was fine to mete out divine punishment immediately to those who opposed her (the goddess).
"Oh my. Is that okay for a goddess?"
At Mechamyu's remark, the Hero couldn't help but mutter to himself.
This was the situation of Shin, who was listening to the audio of the war council via the special Sangou-made communicator given to Derry, through Sangou.
In the end, the plan at the war council was proposed by Mechamyu, who took the lead and decided it.
She also became the vanguard.
Derry, who was merely present there, only approved it—a trivial matter.
With this and that, matters shifted to serious war preparations.
Mechamyu gave orders to replace the gas filling ships one and three from hydrogen to helium.
The goddess entrusted with the vanguard changed into serious-mode attire and fixed her makeup until the work was done.
"What the heck is that?"
Depending on the person, one might think that just by seeing the goddess's peculiar changed appearance.
But for Mechamyu, it was a necessary equipment change.
As a goddess, she possesses the unique ability to apply buffs with her divine power through song to those she recognizes as allies.
However, this "recognition" is tricky; both sides must recognize each other as allies.
Furthermore, in this world, there is no amplifying effect from magic power, so the effect is limited to the range of her natural voice, which is a drawback.
Also, it's a shame that the effect cannot be obtained via communicators.
And while singing, she cannot give instructions with her voice, so she has no choice but to issue commands through actions—is that a charming imperfection?
Having a songstress also serve as a commander might be a bit unreasonable.
Thus, on ship one, where Mechamyu boarded as commander, the pilot's skill received a correction from the buff effect.
The movements of ship one improved dramatically, and attack accuracy also increased.
Such ship one showed brilliant activity in the battlefield.
It easily cornered ship two, which was attacking a castle town under Derry's control in the northern lands, and finally succeeded in sinking it.
Incidentally, Mechamyu herself finally shot a fire arrow at the vital point of ship two, causing it to explode and sink.
That was truly superhuman skill.
She is not human, but a goddess, so that figures.
Without special makeup and provocative attire, she cannot display 100% of her ability.
Even with such restrictions, the goddess is not just for show.
The fact that she is also a useless goddess with some loose screws might be best ignored for now.
Incidentally, the fragments of the airship scattered from this sinking fell onto the castle town. Fortunately, due to early evacuation, there were no human casualties, but the town's buildings suffered extensive damage.
In the post-war reconstruction work, Shin later scolded Mechamyu firmly at a reflection meeting after returning to the imperial capital, saying "Think about the location when you sink it!", but that is just a trivial matter.
And the fact that her part-time pay was reduced by a bit, causing Mechamyu to become teary-eyed, is even more trivial and is a story from a little in the future.
However, Shin, who compensated for that reduction by treating her to a meal and praising her efforts in the war, also has a soft side.
Leaving aside such future stories, the battle continues.
"What's left is mopping up remnants. However, they probably don't know our situation yet, so they should still be marching. I'll take two hundred elites and go around behind the enemy!"
With this declaration, Mechamyu, who also wanted to participate in ground combat, left command of the ship to the first officer.
Next, she herself led two hundred elites on the ground and attacked the supply train at the enemy's rear.
Mechamyu annihilated the supply train, which had poor combat capability, in a short time.
Then, riding that momentum, she even broke through and trampled the main force of the enemy, which was over twenty times larger. Her figure could be described as "truly a war goddess."
Mechamyu also had sufficiently high ability for simple planar command on the surface.
"Hmph! We won."
Shin, watching the battle situation on Sangou's monitor, muttered the line in the classic pose.
"Please, Sangou. Kichou would be fine too. I want you to follow up with 'Yeah'."
That Shin was earnestly thinking about such trivial things was a secret only he knew.
Of course, Sangou or Kichou did not say the lines Shin secretly wished for.
That aside.
During the war, Miu, who was serving as Derry's guard, also had her moment to shine.
Because assassins were sent to kill Derry multiple times.
However, no matter how well-trained and skilled the assassins were, they could not possibly match Miu, a beastperson whose physical abilities and keen senses were far too different from ordinary humans.
Moreover, Miu, by using her innate ability to transform into a beast and not taking human form, would make the attackers let their guard down and then take them down. She had become a perfect assassin attractor, not a G.
Since Miu, looking like a large mountain cat, pretended to sleep, she objectively appeared to be nothing more than "a stuffed animal," so that was only natural.
Following that flow, after the eighth assassin taken down by Miu was displayed with his head exposed, there were no more people willing to take on the assassination of Derry.
However, by that time, the side issuing the requests might have already been completely spent.
Seven days passed since Mechamyu set out as the vanguard.
At that point, the war resembling a northern rebellion had completely ended.
At that stage, it goes without saying that Derry still had to deal with rewards for meritorious service and instructions for reconstruction work in war-damaged areas.
However, Mechamyu, who was first in merit, had no use for land in the Rondanur Kingdom.
Therefore, it was decided that a shrine to worship her as the war goddess would be built.
Moreover, with the bonus of a guarantee to hold an annual festival.
From the goddess's perspective, "absolutely perfect" was the only word for it.
For Mechamyu, who was a goddess and moreover in re-training with her power restricted as a form of punishment, this was an irreplaceable reward.
Thus, the civil war of the Rondanur Kingdom ended.
The side that started the war against Derry was completely defeated, and the families including their main figures were "all eradicated to the root."
Additionally, regarding the six people staying at the Asada Marquis's residence who were related to the Rondanur Kingdom, it was separately decided that they would continue to stay there for five years after the war.
Rouj and others doted on Derry's younger brother and sister, and there were also aspects that opposed the separation, and the children themselves were at an age where they wanted a mother's warmth, so it probably worked out well.
In addition, the four guards and caretakers also casually expressed their desire to remain.
Since the Asada Marquis's residence in the Gialpha Galaxy Empire, with its advanced mechanical civilization, was more comfortable and attractive than returning to live in the Rondanur Kingdom, they had no reason to oppose "staying for five years."
However, if one were to insist, there was the issue of "personal marriage timing" for those four.
Also, Shin, Sangou, and Kichou started work on building a fourth ship to replace the lost second ship.
The completed fourth ship was lent to Derry.
Subsequently, after cooperating in and engaging in reconstruction work, they returned to the imperial capital with Mechamyu.
The goddess had intended this as a small side job, but it led to an unexpected huge profit, so she was pleased in many ways.
However, she does not know that upon arriving at the imperial capital, a lecture from Shin about the choice of battlefield and a reduction in her part-time pay as a penalty for compensation await her.
It would be a brief moment of happiness.
"There was no chance for the captain to appear, was there?"
"Yeah. Well, I don't particularly like war. So it's better when there's no need for me to step in."
"I wanted to breathe some fire~"
"Yes, yes. There will be things like exterminating space beasts or hunting bandits when we get back to the imperial capital. I'll count on you then, Kichou."
Thus, Shin, having somehow sorted various things out, would spend about ten years without encountering any major incidents.
However, during that time, Mechamyu would cause various small troubles, and it was natural that he would be relied upon like a certain cat-type robot, though.
Well, everything including this was probably part of "enjoying student life."
Incidentally, regarding the absorption of knowledge in subsequent academics, including the military preparatory school, he naturally relied on Sangou, which goes without saying.
But Shin did not yet know at this time that such peaceful days would continue for a while, and that a shocking incident would occur beyond that.
That incident's occurrence would connect to the situation of Sangou at the beginning.
Now, let's return the story to the scene of the case involving Laura, who was in a near-death state.
"Good. The treatment arrived in time. You. Thank you."
"No. I wouldn't feel good if Laura-sama died either. So it's really good that it was in time to save you. If it had been another minute, no, even thirty seconds later, even I probably couldn't have saved you. But this, I'm afraid someone might say 'he kidnapped the Imperial Consort.' When Laura-sama regains consciousness, please properly handle that part for me, Silk."
These were words exchanged between Shin and Silk, but of course, they didn't happen suddenly like this.
An emergency contact came to Silk, and hearing it, Shin immediately performed a teleportation to the audience chamber of the court.
Then, upon seeing Laura bearing injuries as close to fatal as possible, Shin first cast a sustained recovery spell to provide minimal life-prolonging treatment.
Next, without obtaining anyone's permission, he instantly threw Laura into the shadows and teleported to his home.
"It would be bad if others saw a situation where Laura's clothes are in tatters but her body is perfectly healthy after I completely heal her with magic here."
This was also a response based on Shin, who rushed over, making an instant judgment.
Even for the woman who contacted Shin via Silk, since she assumed treatment aboard Sangou, that was the correct decision.
However, what she had expected was not Shin coming, but the appearance of the group of sub-units that had transported Laura before.
"So this is what Silk-san meant when she said 'I'll send someone to pick you up soon, but don't be surprised at anything that happens.'"
The woman who contacted Silk muttered inwardly like this, but she was relieved that the vanished Imperial Consort seemed to be in a situation where she could be taken to Sangou and receive treatment.
Of course, that was merely her misconception.
However, since it was certain that Laura would receive special treatment, there was no problem in that regard.
In the current situation, saving the Imperial Consort's life should be the highest priority, and her actions and judgment, even if there were procedural issues, were by no means wrong.
Thus, Laura, brought to the Asada Marquis's residence, first received sleep magic from Shin as an anesthetic, followed by Perfect Heal.
Laura's treatment was complete, and she changed into a healthy body as if the near-death state had been a lie.
Of course, the pitiful state of her clothes remained, and there was also dirt from bleeding.
So even if another person saw the current state, they would not doubt the fact that Laura had suffered severe injuries.
Confirming Laura's complete recovery, Silk contacted the woman who had urgently contacted her earlier.
"Laura-sama's treatment is complete. Her life has been saved, and the repair of missing body parts is also perfect."
Silk reported that Laura was safe.
This was an event occurring less than ten minutes after Shin had taken Laura.
"Where is this?"
Laura woke up in that state.
"Hey, Silk. This is the Asada Marquis's residence, right? What on earth happened? I remember the flash, the explosion sound, and the belated severe pain, but..."
"Laura-sama was caught in the terrorist attack at the audience chamber of the court and was in a near-fatal serious condition until just now. A woman who judged that 'normally, she wouldn't survive this' made an emergency contact to me. Thanks to that, Shin was able to teleport and take Laura-sama away. That's how the treatment was in time."
"What I did was a 'rescue'! Don't call it 'taking away'!"
Shin thought that about Silk's explanation, but he did not interrupt, reading the atmosphere.
On the other hand, Laura, upon hearing Silk's explanation, could immediately infer the tragic situation: "the Crown Prince and other princes with inheritance rights had participated in the audience, so they had all died."
Therefore, Laura decided to return to the court and take command.
And she wished for Shin to remain at her side as her guard.
"I will accept the escort duty for the time being. However, I think a female escort is also necessary. May I bring Miu along?"
"Of course. I would definitely like to ask for that."
From here, it becomes a kind of digression, but let's also touch on the story of Derry and Miu up to the present.
Ten years have passed since the civil war in the Rondanur Kingdom. Currently, Derry has become a fine adult.
And with the kingdom's situation stabilizing, Miu was relieved of her duty as a guard.
Recently, that beastwoman had returned to Shin's side.
Actually, a little before that, Miu had been wished by Derry: "Miu-san, I want you to be my queen."
However, even though Miu felt happy about Derry's almost confession-like request, she had reasons on her side that made it impossible for her to accept becoming the queen of the Rondanur Kingdom.
She had absolutely no confidence in being able to support the king as queen.
First of all, there was a considerable age difference.
Additionally,
If a child were born, it would inevitably be born as a cat tribe, not the same human race as Derry, which was also too problematic.
Miu judged that.
Therefore, she firmly refused Derry's offer.
Of course, it goes without saying that Miu's love for Shin has not cooled.
Incidentally, Derry, who had no intention of breaking his relationship with Shin at all, had frankly told Shin about his painful feelings before confessing to Miu.
Shin and Miu are not in a formal marriage.
Therefore, there was little he could say, but still, having been consulted, Shin did what he could to convey the necessary facts properly.
For Shin, he had no choice but to face this issue sincerely, given the already built-up entanglements.
"It depends on her feelings, so I won't approve or oppose. And about the result, well. No matter how it turns out, I won't get angry over it."
Shin gave a clear answer to Derry.
Shin, having been skillfully maneuvered by Rouj, ended up having a relationship with Derry's older sister, Cornet.
Because of that, there was also the aspect that "he was not in a position to say anything," and he certainly had entanglements that forced him to face it sincerely.
At any rate, through this series of events, Derry's confession to his first love failed, ending in heartbreak.
Although one could say "the approach itself was simply reckless" towards Miu, who was Shin's private concubine.
Well, let's stop here about the story of Miu, who has returned, and Derry, who was rejected, and return to dealing with the situation of the Emperor's passing.
Laura took off her tattered clothes and received a full-body cleansing magic from Shin, who was considerate.
Meanwhile, Silk quickly prepared a change of clothes of a quality that would not be out of place for Laura to wear.
In that flow, Laura, having prepared herself in the shortest possible time, asked Shin to return to the court.
Next, Laura worked hard to confirm the current situation.
Many civil officials were dead or injured, and the core of the court's civil officials, including the Prime Minister, had been completely destroyed—a subtly painful blow.
In that state, she could not entrust intermediate judgment and management to anyone.
Therefore, Laura ended up having to process an enormous amount of information alone.
Also, the next Imperial Consort she wanted to rely on had also died.
Hence, there was no one in the court Laura could trust to entrust matters to.
"This is impossible. Former Marquis Asada. Please attach Silk as my assistant. I beg you."
Having Silk, who was currently only the concubine of the former Marquis Asada and had no official position or achievements, work as the Imperial Consort's assistant.
That was normally a forbidden move that was absolutely impossible, an outrageous act that should not be done.
However, for Laura, who was now about to be crushed by the enormous amount of information she had to process, beggars couldn't be choosers.
Incidentally, Laura addressed Shin as "Former Marquis Asada" because Shin had previously transferred the headship of the Asada Marquis family to his son Nobunaga.
In other words, Silk was not a concubine of the current head.
As time had passed, generational change had properly occurred.
Thus, the Hero Shin observed the situation in the Rondanur Kingdom, which had escalated into war following the hijacking of the second airship. Thanks to Mechamyu's beyond-expectations efforts, he succeeded in having no combat role during the war.
However, he had no choice but to engage in post-war reconstruction work, considering Mechamyu's blunders on the battlefield.
After the war in the Rondanur Kingdom ended, about ten years of peaceful time without major incidents continued, but perhaps it is the destiny of a Hero that things never stay that way.
The Gialpha Galaxy Empire, where Shin had his residence, faced a situation where it lost its Emperor due to a terrorist attack.
However, perhaps it was also the influence of the Hero's fate power that at least the Imperial Consort Laura's life could be saved through magic.
Is there any problem with Shin responding to Laura's request, which was originally a forbidden move, to attach Silk as her assistant?
No one knows the future.
Due to Rouj's intention not to sever ties with the two children she had cared for and who were attached to her, Shin had ended up marrying Derry's older sister anyway, and because he also had a purpose to see Miu, he frequently visited the Rondanur Kingdom. As a result, he ended up being consulted by Derry before his proposal to Miu.
It will depend on Rouj and others' thoughts, but Shin muttered, "I wonder if I have to properly sort out my relationship with Miu soon."