Chapter 6 - Beautiful Elf Lady Becomes a Human Sacrifice for a Political Marriage? That Kind of Thing Makes You Want to Smash It, Right?
~Inside Neutral Colony Greta's Spacecraft Port~
Sangou, because it was a bio-spaceship, had not been subjected to weapon sealing, and remained in standby status while docked at a berth for 500-meter-class vessels at Greta Spaceport.
Captain Jin, after finishing communication with Count Betasia (Rouju-papa), spends time discussing the towing of Beta One with Sangou.
From the Count's side, the message was "If it can be reliably handed over at the present time, there is no problem," so no order was given for a companion monitoring ship from the time of departure from Greta.
Therefore, as the first candidate plan resulting from the discussion, there was the method of first having Sangou dive into a suitable asteroid belt.
Creating a situation out of public view in that way, Jin would then take Beta One out of his Storage Space and have Sangou tow it.
Since thinking seriously about this matter was also ridiculous, it was tentatively concluded at the point when such a loose-and-sloppy plan was made.
After all, putting the plan into action was still a little ways off.
Because of that, the actual truth that Jin had resigned himself to thinking, "Well, there's still plenty of time. As time passes, I might come up with a good method!" is a trivial matter.
"Captain. There is a request from Lady Rouju that she wishes to have a private face-to-face conversation with you. How shall we handle it?"
"No, 'how shall we handle it'—there's no need to confirm my answer on that. Wouldn't it be bad to say 'refuse' here? Of course, I don't want to refuse at all! Rather, with Rouju-san, I could even want to talk forever, with all my might!"
"I see. The Captain certainly does love beautiful elf ladies. So, when shall we set the meeting time?"
At this time, Sangou was subtly implying to Jin that "Actually, isn't it true that the Captain's response isn't limited to the eldest sister, Lady Rouju? Wouldn't it be the same if it were the second or third sisters, who are also beautiful elves?"
However, Jin's high obliviousness in such matters meant he didn't even notice this.
As a result, he brushed it off, so nothing became a problem.
"I'm fine anytime. Have Rouju-san set a time convenient for her. Oh, my private room wouldn't be appropriate for the location, right? Could you set up a lounge-like private room next to mine? Have Rouju-san guided there. Can you arrange it like that?"
"Understood. I'll do so."
This was subject to the results of the quarantine-style inspection of Zilfa, who had disembarked ahead of them, and the observation period in isolation.
At the earliest, the remaining time until parting with Rouju and the others was already less than a day.
Jin had no idea at all about the reason why Rouju herself had requested a meeting under conditions where they would meet in person, something that had never happened before.
A man who, until recently, should have been a Hero in a fantasy world defeating the Demon Lord.
Such a man sank into a sea of thought—no, of delusions.
"At this timing, 'just the two of us'—what could the story be? Could it be a confession? Is it a confession? Did I set up some kind of flag?"
With a request that was far beyond anything he had expected from Rouju, Jin was buoyant, allowing his self-serving delusions to expand.
Extremely naturally, there was no one by his side to confront this ultra-super delusional man, who was showing a grinning face all over, with the cruel truth that "Don't worry, Jin! No such flag has been planted!"
Perhaps that was a salvation for Jin at that time.
Time passed a little, and it became ten minutes before the time Rouju had designated.
Jin was already waiting in the private room that Sangou had tastefully arranged, awaiting Rouju's visit.
It wasn't claustrophobic, nor was the room so large that the table and chairs provided made one feel distant from the conversation partner.
If one were to name something lacking in such an exquisitely proportioned lounge space, perhaps it would be "something decorative to please the eye"?
However, Rouju was not a foolish woman who would expect such things from a single-person spaceship not owned by any noble.
Therefore, that part was not a problem at all.
As for Jin, he completely lacked the experiential knowledge to notice what was missing at that "say something" high level.
Thus, in this situation, it could be said "it can't be helped if he can't point anything out."
As for Sangou, she was simply thinking, "Depending on the topic and atmosphere between the two, I'll just add whatever seems necessary as we go."
Incidentally, a sub-unit that also served as a waiter, controlled by Sangou, was standing by in the corner of the room, and the tea poured into a heat-retaining teacup and the accompanying sweets were sitting on the table.
From Sangou's perspective, preparations were complete.
Although there was less than ten minutes remaining until Rouju's visit, Jin had nothing to do in the meantime and was at a loss.
It would be an exaggeration to call it an "agenda," but despite the situation being a face-to-face discussion, the content of what they were supposed to talk about had not been communicated beforehand.
Since Jin couldn't think about that point now, he had to turn his thoughts elsewhere.
While letting his gaze wander around the room, especially centered on the table, Jin vaguely thought about "where and how should I live after handing over Beta One?"
Without any particular purpose, if he continued living on Sangou, as long as he could procure things like asteroids, comets, debris, and stellar energy, a completely self-sufficient life could be established, requiring not even money.
Additionally, inside Jin's Storage Space, an enormous amount of supplies from his time as a Hero was stored, and moreover, his magic power recovered in an instant no matter how much he used it.
Thanks to that, he could use magic freely, so even if he were thrown out into empty space naked, as long as he could maintain a shield spell, he could survive.
The food and drink items stored in the Storage Space were so abundant that if Jin alone consumed them, it might be impossible to exhaust them all even after tens of thousands of years.
No, ten thousand years might be an exaggeration, but it was certain that he possessed a vast quantity of supplies.
Furthermore, even if he didn't have those, as long as he had magic power, Jin could create any amount of water with magic.
And, though he would absolutely never do it unless pushed to the extreme, if limited to meat, he could even do the desperate act of cutting off his own limbs as food and repairing the missing parts with healing magic, if he felt like it.
As long as one had magic power, there were few things that could not be done with magic.
And that magic power, in Jin's case, could be "instantly recovered."
Jin possessed various spells that he had been forced to learn due to being subjected to a lone Hero's life in the Louvre Empire.
Although he was not even thanked for defeating the Demon Lord and suffered the terrible fate of being "exiled to a different world" in a way that was no joke, he had come to possess the highest-level abilities for survival.
Perhaps that was the only silver lining in the misfortune.
The "Origin of Dragon Vein," which was fused into him by something seeming like a god just before he was thrown into the space-time where he met Sangou, was that powerful, producing infinite magic power. It was truly an extraordinary item.
Having digressed a bit, let's return to the main story.
Anyway, Jin, bored while waiting for Rouju, thought.
"Once I take care of the current matter, should I do some transport business or mercenary work for fun? But even if I earn money, what would I do with it? Not just 'live carefree and happy.' I want something more... a clear long-term goal, a purpose."
Jin found his thoughts progressing as he was at a loss.
Without a goal, a life of just earning money would likely become dry and tedious.
There are probably people in the world who "enjoy the mere increase in their bank account balance."
But Jin was not that type.
While thinking like this, Jin realized a serious, lonely reality.
His thought process was centered on a future life plan based on being a loner.
Well, strictly speaking, he could argue that "since he is currently acting with Sangou, he is not a loner."
Getting a girlfriend.
Getting married.
Being blessed with a warm family with children.
Jin realized that he hadn't even an iota of such thoughts, which a man should normally have.
"Alright! First, I'll get a girlfriend! Or rather, I want a wife! Not 2D, but specifically 3D. This is absolute!"
Just as he inadvertently spoke that monologue out loud, with impeccable timing, the lounge door opened and Rouju entered.
Jin had fully allowed Rouju to hear a remark that should never have been overheard by others.
As expected of a disappointing Hero.
His title is no lie.
This is the pinnacle of his thoroughly living up to his reputation.
"Um. Well. Captain Jin?"
Rouju's face was bright red.
The beautiful elf woman was in a state of "What should I do in this situation?" and wore a confused expression.
Rouju stood frozen, having taken a few steps into the room through the open door.
Jin, for his part, had messed up and was panicking.
Nevertheless, he managed to get his mouth moving.
"For now, please have a seat. Sit down."
Jin succeeded in squeezing out the minimum necessary words.
Whip his uncooperative mind, which followed, and somehow or other manage to get his thoughts running.
Thus, two plans were produced.
The first plan was the "Let's somehow pretend it didn't happen" strategy.
The second plan was the "Did I say something?" oblivious act strategy.
Such strategies could never succeed.
They couldn't, but the fact that he didn't realize this is likely the part that makes Jin a disappointing Hero.
"Ah. Yes. Then, excuse me."
Rouju pulled out a chair soundlessly and sat in the seat opposite Jin.
Was it because she was a Count's daughter?
Or because she was an elf?
It wasn't certain, but from Jin's eyes, the flow of Rouju's movements seemed very graceful.
In short, Rouju had a naturally overflowing radiance and a refinement that seeped from her whole body.
Fortunately, Jin was captivated by that aspect of Rouju, which allowed him to regain some composure.
Perhaps luck still remained for the disappointing Hero.
"Thank you for making time for me on this occasion."
Rouju, sensing from the atmosphere that Jin had calmed down slightly, began in that way.
"No. I have nothing urgent to do and am free, so no problem at all. Rather, I'm happy to be able to meet and talk directly with Rouju-san."
"Is that so? Then I'm glad. I'm also happy to be able to talk with you, Captain."
"Guh! 'Glad to be able to talk' and stuff! If you say that, I'll misunderstand! This is enough to make me fall in love!"
Jin's mind was completely in a bad state.
However, Jin succeeded in keeping his expression and attitude at a level that wouldn't be noticed by Rouju.
"Then, it's good for both of us. So, to get straight to the point, what is it you wished to talk about?"
"I haven't told you before about the reason we had to come to this neutral colony, 'Greta.' It's related to that reason. Two of the three of us will return to the Betasia Star System once their business is done. But the Beta One, which should have been used for the return trip, is lost. You will head to the Betasia Star System to tow Beta One from now on, won't you, Captain? We would like to have those two board this Sangou as your companions, traveling with you."
"Hmm. That depends on the 'time' needed for the two who are returning to be confirmed. As for allowing them to board and travel with us, there's no problem."
"In that case—"
"Now, now, calm down. The story isn't over yet."
"Yes."
"There is naturally a deadline for when I need to tow Beta One to the Count's place. Also, if we continue to stay in this port, the docking fees will keep piling up. However, I'm supposed to receive a considerable amount from your father, and I also plan to do 'material purchasing and supply operations,' so I'll need time for that. So, as long as the docking schedule doesn't become unreasonably extended, I'll accept that request. I'm not going to be stingy and say 'pay me for the passenger fare' either."
Jin wanted to show off a good side to Rouju.
Therefore, he smoothly conveyed his intention to accept the request, but Jin's inner thoughts were completely different.
"Crap! This was a request that would have been hard to refuse anyway, and I agreed impulsively because I wanted to look good in front of Rouju-san. But there's a problem! A big problem! If I have the two Count's daughters as companions, when I pretend to go retrieve Beta One and then take it out of my Storage Space, won't they notice?"
Having given his consent to Rouju, Jin was now thinking, "Well, if that's the case, what should I do?"
Honestly, he wanted to say "I'd like to refuse if possible" because there were things that would be bad if revealed.
But even so, when going to the same destination at the same time, he couldn't very well say, "Take a different ship! I don't care!"
"Thank you. I've been indebted to you all this time, and now I'm making such a presumptuous request. I'm really sorry."
"No, no. It's fine. I'll be in a position to rely on your father for things like ship registration and permits in the future. This much is no problem at all. By the way, regarding that matter of 'one stays, two return,' may I ask for the details?"
"Ah. Yes. Well, to put it simply, it's a 'marriage interview.' With the son of a baron's family from the neighboring star system."
An answer from Rouju that was far beyond what Jin had expected.
One of the beautiful three sisters would have a marriage interview.
And the fact that the number returning would decrease by one meant that the one staying in Greta would marry the interview partner, which was easy to imagine.
In the end, one of the three sisters would definitely become someone else's wife.
That being "confirmed" was nothing less than a nightmare for Jin at the moment.
Moreover, there was something about Rouju's story that bothered Jin as well.
"Huh? Marriage interview? Opponent is a baron's son? Wait, if my memory is correct, the noble hierarchy goes Count, Viscount, Baron, right? Wouldn't it be strange to marry into a noble family two ranks lower? Isn't that impossible?"
Comparing with his scarce knowledge, Jin was confused.
Even though he couldn't assert "I liked her first," he still wanted to clear up his confused mind.
Therefore, Jin asked Rouju.
"Ah— may I ask? Is it normal for a noblewoman to marry into a family two ranks below? Also, from what you said just now, the partner might not necessarily be the heir?"
"No. It is not normal. Also, the partner is the eldest son, so that part is fine."
"I see. If the partner is the eldest son, I'm relieved on that point. But the difference in rank. So it's not normal after all."
Jin also felt a strong sense of discomfort with the word "only" in Rouju's phrase "that part only."
However, it was also true that one of the points that had been bothering him was resolved by asking.
And since he somehow understood that Rouju's story had more to it, he put the discomfort aside for now.
Because now, he should listen to Rouju's story.
"Yes. It's embarrassing to say, but the Betasia Count Household is currently in a difficult situation. The twelfth planet, which has traditionally been our main mining planet, and the thirteenth planet, our food production planet, have been invaded by space beasts. There is no prospect of exterminating those space beasts, and we are at the stage where planetary-scale attacks are being considered for their removal. Currently, the supply of food and mineral resources within the territory, and trade through exports, are in a very poor state. And the baron's family of this marriage interview is very wealthy. Their domain, a single star and eight moons, is only that of a baron, but the amount of rare minerals they mine is among the top in the Gialpha Galaxy Empire."
Rouju's words stopped.
She was sincerely responding to Jin's casual inquiry.
Precisely because of that, Jin also came to face reality sincerely.
"So what is this? A political marriage to extract financial support with a human sacrifice? Wait a minute. Is it that even in such a situation, Rouju's father intends to pay me a reward? That's a world of difference from the foolish royals and stupid nobles of the Louvre Empire. Their attitude is completely different!"
Jin thought such things.
At this stage, Jin's anger, who hated injustice and conversely loved to follow through properly, gradually began to rise.
To Jin, who remained silent, Rouju, realizing there were still things she hadn't explained, spoke further.
"This marriage interview is a 'political marriage' as a premise. And a 'political marriage' is also a duty for noble children. So, since it has the purpose of saving my own house's difficulties, it can't be helped. However, I never imagined until just the other day that I would be having a marriage interview with the son of a human baron's family. Also, having my position as a wife pre-announced and being placed in the status of 'fifth wife,' essentially a concubine, is indeed sad."
By the time he had heard up to here, Jin's anger reached its peak.
Rouju was speaking calmly, and her expression showed no emotion.
There was no emotion visible, but from the revealed content, it was easy to imagine she must be quite displeased.
Moreover, even though it was "the other side's choice."
Probably Rouju was resolved to act so that "she would be chosen so that her younger sisters wouldn't be chosen."
At least, that was how it came across to Jin.
If that was the case, then.
What Jin must do as a Hero was decided.
The future life he had been casually thinking about just moments ago was no longer even in the corner of his mind.
"Sangou! A moment?"
"Yes. What is it, Captain?"
"You understood everything in that story, right? One confirmation. If I go full speed to the two relevant planets in the Betasia Star System, without caring about appearances. With Sangou's performance, we can reach the thirteenth planet in about five hours, and we can reach the twelfth planet with an additional two hours from there, right?"
"Yes. That is possible under the condition that we can devote all energy to movement, with no occupants aboard."
"Um. Captain. What exactly is this story about—"
"Rouju. Be quiet for a while."
"Ah, yes."
"Sangou, that 'no occupants'—can I consider it as 'I alone am the exception'?"
"Yes. Since there is no precedent for doing this, I cannot say it is 'certain.' But if you will permit a guess, I can tell you. Based on my knowledge of the Captain's current abilities, I will calculate the probability using estimated values. The probability of the Captain not being able to withstand the voyage and dying is one in a hundred million. I predict that the Captain can almost certainly endure it."
As expected of a Hero.
No matter how disappointing or broken he may be, his basic physical performance is completely different from an ordinary person.
Moreover, when Sangou calculated Jin's abilities numerically, she naturally included a margin rather than pushing the absolute limit.
That is, if she were to calculate at the absolute razor's edge, the danger level would shift by at least four orders of magnitude.
Of course, in that case, the direction in which the orders of magnitude would move is not toward a worse direction.
"Hmm. Then it's one hundred percent safe. I haven't yet given my all."
Jin, intending to make a solid cool face, tried to say something somewhat cool!
But unfortunately, such things probably only suit handsome men with facial features above a certain standard.
And since Jin's face was at best mediocre, he was in a position where he should know it's "forced."
Of course, the fact that there was no one nearby to point this out was both lucky and unlucky for the Hero Jin, but that's a trivial detail.
"Captain. Are you going to do it?"
Sangou, as if understanding everything, asked Jin.
Receiving that, Jin also realized that his intention had been accurately conveyed to Sangou.
"It's only been a short relationship, but bio-spaceships are amazing. As expected of my partner! The greatest organic AI!"
While praising his partner internally, Jin declares what must be clearly declared.
"Yeah. I'm going to slay them. I intend to slay them all!"
"Captain? What exactly do you intend to do?"
Rouju, who had been silent until now, finally couldn't hold back and asked.
After all, since it was Rouju's story that had started the exchange between Sangou and Jin, she had the right to speak to resolve her arising doubts.
"It's just a story about 'going for a little walk with Sangou and causing a little ruckus.' Of course, after disembarking Rouju and the others at Greta."
He clearly answered "slay them" to Sangou's question, and then Jin also readily answered Rouju's question.
When what needs to be done is clear, and when it's a matter that stimulates his motivation.
The Hero Jin can exhibit his abilities at the highest level.
And that also affects his intuition.
Jin also spoke about the imagination he had just come up with by intuition, incidentally, to Rouju.
"And also. I have no evidence for this, but about the thieves who attacked Beta One. I think it was instigated by the baron's family—the marriage interview partners for you all."
"Eh!"
Hearing this completely unexpected speculation, Rouju froze in surprise.
"I checked the pilot of the thieves' small ship, and it was a human male. Probably, I think it's a 'hit.'"
This was just a feeling for Jin, a complete guess.
However, a Hero's intuition should not be underestimated.
In fact, that guess was spot on.
Without paying the support money that should have been paid, the thieves' hand would be used to obtain all three beautiful sisters.
Then, the son of that baron's family would do whatever he wanted to Rouju and the others, eventually turning the Count's house into a puppet and effectively controlling the Betasia Star System.
That was the plan on the baron's side.
However, neither Jin nor Rouju could know that it was "the truth."
"Rouju. A question. After disembarking from Sangou, how much leeway time is there until that disgusting 'marriage interview' begins?"
"Having it immediately on the same day as landing is hardly possible, so at minimum, there will be a day's gap. Probably, I think the information that we were subject to strict quarantine will have been conveyed to the other side as well. So, I doubt they would choose the shortest possible time."
At minimum, one day.
In other words, within twenty-four hours.
Considering that as the limit and acting would be the sure way.
"Time-wise, it might be a bit tight. But I'm a Hero! If I give it my all, I can do it."
This was not a situation where he should give Rouju additional unease right now.
Therefore, Jin did not share all of his thoughts at this time.
It was an unfounded confidence for Jin, but considering his past track record, it wasn't entirely wrong.
"Rouju. Listen carefully. After you disembark, within one day, I'll go and exterminate the 'space beasts' on those two planets I heard about earlier. And also, about the mineral resources. Later, but I'll take out and prepare the necessary amount from the deep parts with Sangou until mining can be resumed. And for food production. Also later, but I'll manage it using greening and growth promotion."
For Rouju, what Jin said was a pipe-dream level, very manly statement.
His face is at best mediocre, but even so, the content of what Jin said is "entrust everything to me"!
Even if this turned out to be just a lie spoken in this moment.
Rouju would be happy with Jin's "now," with his "spirit."
The eldest sister of the Betasia Count Household found it not unpleasant at all that Jin had dropped the "san" and was now calling her by her given name alone.
"So, wait until I return and give you good news! I'll destroy that disgusting marriage interview! Got it?"
"Is such a thing truly possible?"
Rouju attempted to ask tentatively.
But in her heart, she already felt that "such things are trivial."
And there was not no glimmer of hope.
Even if it were truly one in ten thousand, or even one in a hundred million, Sangou's performance, which she only learned after boarding, stood out even compared to the best warships of the Gialpha Galaxy Empire.
"Yeah. It's possible. Because I'm a 'Hero'!"
"Pfft! Nowadays, calling someone a 'Hero' is something only children who enjoy fairytales would believe. But Jin. I believe in you. Rescue me once more. No, rescue all three of us sisters."
The conversation with Rouju ended with this development.
It had become an unexpected turn of events for Jin, but because that part was serious and heavy, he hoped the impression of his initial blunder would be considerably diminished.
Jin decided to believe that "Rouju's memory of my blunder must have been blown away."
As a foundation for the future, Jin had Sangou contact Sebas.
In order to communicate with Count Betasia, and so that when they returned to Greta once more after departing, they would have a ship capable of relaying communication in space stand by, so they could make contact without waiting to enter port.
Of course, once the extermination of the space beasts was completed, they would also contact the Count immediately.
Therefore, information should reach Sebas and the others through that route as well, but Jin's measure was "erring on the side of caution."
As a final insurance, he gave the three sisters a Sangou-made ultra-miniature sub-unit that only had communication functions.
This was a miniature sub-unit, mimicking the shape of an earring, created by Sangou.
Incidentally, because it was so extremely small, the range it could communicate was limited to the space around Greta.
And while completely unrelated here, for Jin, these earrings became his first gift to a woman.
Even if it was essentially like a standard-issue item, even if it was a product of Sangou's production that cost no money, no matter what anyone said, it was still a gift.
By giving accessories to Rouju and the others for the first time, Jin made his debut in giving gifts to women.
Thus, Hero Jin concluded his intense discussion with Rouju aboard the docked Sangou, and succeeded in grasping the crisis situation facing the three sisters and the Betacia Count's territory.
Having learned that the beautiful elf three sisters would become unhappy, he could not just turn a blind eye.
Jin resolved to act to move the situation within the scope of his power.
Against the formidable space beasts that the Betacia Count Household was struggling to exterminate and had to consider planetary destruction, can Jin and Sangou achieve the mission of complete extermination within twenty-four hours?
Can they truly crush the marriage interviews of Rouju and the others?
No one knows the future, but.
The Hero who had achieved the defeat of the Demon King in the summoned other world, who had thoroughly shown Rouju a terrible blunder that could only be described as "an unforgivable slip-up,"
Inside his heart, Jin earnestly spoke to the Rouju in his own delusions, "But after that, I told a lot of impressive, strong content stories. I told them plenty, so it's okay, right? That blunder of my first bad impression should be overwritten and fading. Your Hero believes that. So please! Forget it! You'll forget it, right?"