070 Drifting Arc 10: Canine and Feline Clans
I'm running late due to poor health. Sorry about that.
Not entirely sure I can trust my own brain right now, so there might be edits later.
Upon returning to Anoi Fortress, all human expedition participants were summoned to the office of Anoi Fortress Commander Sanders.
They were to be honored and rewarded for their contributions to the expedition to Planet Graul.
I'd single-handedly dismantled the command structure, and the mercenaries had efficiently wiped out the remaining ships—apparently leaving the Graul forces utterly stunned.
By the time the Graul fleet had even begun exiting the Dimensional Jump Gate, the enemy fleet had already been destroyed.
The Earth forces had outperformed the Graul fleet in terms of results.
The fact that Earth had only one ship for every ten Graul ships contributed significantly to the high evaluation.
"So basically, the dog bastards from Graul are just incompetent, right?"
Commander Noah of the Caprius fleet sneers.
"Feh. The Caprius cats can't even do basic battle analysis."
Hunter, commander of the Graul fleet, fires back.
"Cut it out. Noah, you're dragging Earth's people into this mess too.
You're the one who fell behind—your overconfidence caused it. Pull yourself together."
Commander Sanders steps in to mediate the spat.
The air thickens instantly. Guess the Dog Clan’s commander at Anoi Fortress really rubs the Cat Clan the wrong way.
After that, the ceremony concludes without incident, and we’re handed our medals.
Imperial Grade 5 Battle Medal. Apparently the lowest tier.
Only I got the one above it—Imperial Grade 4. Probably because I had the most kills—top of the list.
Apparently getting a higher medal means you’re treated like a knight or noble.
Feels like I’m getting absorbed into the Empire more and more from now on.
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Asked Aya some questions at the office today.
“Why don’t dogs and cats get along?”
“Because of how they were made—they’ve been rivals since the start.”
“Since they were made?”
“Yes. From the moment they were created, they were competing to be chosen.”
“(Wait… what?) They were made?”
“They were experimental models. Created to give back strong bodies to the Empire’s people, who grew weak both physically and mentally as civilization advanced.
Several models were developed. The successful ones became the Dog and Cat races.”
“(So that’s it…) So their rivalry still exists even now…”
“Yes.”
This goes deep.
“What’s their status in the Dog and Cat Empire?”
“They’re lords with baron titles, but their subjects are second-class citizens.”
“So there are first-class citizens and others, then?”
“Yes. There’s a hierarchy: imperial family, nobility, knights, first-class citizens, and second-class citizens. Nobles are dukes, marquesses, counts, viscounts, barons, and sub-barons. Knights are divided into upper knights, first-class knights, and second-class knights.”
“What about the ones who don’t make the cut?”
“They become enemies or the poor.”
“So what about us Earthlings?”
“Refugees.”
“What rank do we Earthlings hold in the Empire?”
“That’s a restricted topic. I can’t answer.”
“(Huh? I thought we’d be second-class citizens at worst…) Not treated as the poor, though?”
“Not currently.”
“Huh… (So it’s uncertain what’ll happen in the future, then.)”
Maybe it'd be better to climb the social ladder in the Empire if we can't stay refugees forever.
So I guess I just need to keep racking up battlefield achievements.
“Hey, I heard you can become a knight or even a noble if you get a higher rank medal. So, uh… what’s my current rank, anyway?”
“That’s a restricted matter. I can’t answer.”
“What about you, President Kamizawa?”
“Equivalent to second-class citizen.”
“(Huh? So you can answer that, but not me?) Why can’t you tell me my rank?”
“Because it involves imperial royal secrets. I can’t answer.”
“…So it’s that serious, huh?”
“Is anyone here?!”
I was lazily asking Ayame questions when suddenly the outside erupted in noise.
“Lord Caprius, the Lady Carolina-Nar-Caprius approaches!”
The president, me, and Naho step out—just as an old cat-person in what can only be described as a butler’s outfit announces himself.
Behind the butler stood a carriage, deliberately styled to resemble an antique.
The door of the carriage creaks open.
The girl who stepped down from the carriage was a noblewoman in a pure white dress.
The girl had triangular ears made of the same white hair as her scalp.
The girl opens her mouth—red lipstick (rouge) stark against her all-white body.
"Lord Akira, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Carolina Nal Caprius.
I have come to join you as your wife. Please call me Carrie. It’s a pleasure to be with you for a long time♡
"Yeah?"
Another carriage hurtles toward us at breakneck speed.
The carriage screeches to a halt.
The old dog-man steward scrambles down from the driver's platform.
"Damn it. We're behind schedule! Princess! Hurry up!"
The carriage door creaks open, and a dog-eared girl in a pure white dress steps down.
"Lord Akira, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Marie, Marieanna-Gar-Graul.
I have come to marry you as your wife. Please take care of me for a long time♡
"Ugh—!"
"Lady Mariana is the eldest daughter of the Graul baronial family."
The elderly butler chimes in.
Out of nowhere, two wives showed up at once.