077 Drifter Arc 17: Bridal Assault

077.1 Wandering Chapter 17.1 Bride's Journey

Carrie, Marie, and Jane—the three chemomimi wives—arrived at their newly completed home.

The dog-cat feud had been resolved thanks to the beastfolk joining my ranks, so whatever they were sizing up, the new residence was finished at an absurdly fast pace.

The three of them entered the foyer and bowed, fingers touching the ground in three places.

"Master Akira, please remain with us for a long time."

"Y-you too, please. For now, feel free to use whichever room you like."

I ended up bringing my bride in without so much as a proper resolve.

I thought I had plenty of time—wasn’t ready for it at all.

They quickly settled on their rooms and gave orders for the luggage to be brought in.

Behind them, several moving workers stood waiting.

I just stared blankly at the luggage being brought in, lounging on the living room sofa.

Once the moving was done, the workers bowed and vanished just as fast.

What’re they even reading into?

After a while, Marie appeared in the living room, wearing a relaxed robe and an apron.

"Master Akira, have you had dinner yet?"

Marie asked. She’s supposedly good at cooking.

"Not yet. Oh, skip the 'master' thing, please."

"Then I’ll prepare your evening meal, Master Akira."

Nope, not calling me that.

Marie headed to the kitchen.

"Are you tired from the battle this afternoon? Shall I give you a massage?"

Jane appeared, changed into a light robe, and knelt right in front of me, looking up.

"N-no, I’m fine. And drop the honorifics, please."

"Can't do that. May I sit beside you, then?"

"Sure, go ahead."

Jane settled onto my right side, murmured "Excuse me," and leaned into me, draping her arm over my shoulder.

I had no choice but to let it happen.

"Oh, was I last?"

Carrie appeared in a sheer negligee, naturally taking her place to my left and leaning into me, her arm wrapping around my torso.

Her white cat ears twitched, brushing against my cheek.

I froze completely.

"Dinner's ready."

Marie’s voice cut through the stillness.

I stood from the sofa and headed toward the eight-seater dining table.

The table setting prepared for me and my six wives.

The Earth-born wife isn’t here right now—she’s still undercover.

"Master Akira, this way, please."

Marie leads me to the seat at the far end of the long table, directly facing the head.

One place set directly in front of me, two to my right, one to my left.

I brace myself for a seating squabble—some petty aristocratic drama—but then, as if preordained, Carrie sits just to my right, Marie beside her, Jane to my left.

The canine servant steps back slightly, making room.

Which is nice. But also kind of a flex—cat and dog sitting side by side, no hard feelings. A little too deliberate.

I exhale. No fights. Good.

Maybe my message actually did something.

We eat. Then chat. Small talk. Light stuff.

Afterward, Jane takes the lead in clearing the table.

Carrie helps—but she’s clearly not good at it.

“Jane… what’s the status of your family’s little fiefdom?”

"Since we can't just hand an entire planet to a baron, we divide the land among multiple lords. That's what a minor fief is."

"Ah, so there are a bunch of nobles on the same planet. Doesn’t that cause trouble?"

"Yes. Lartel controls it almost entirely, so it's fine."

(Oh, that’s why she’s the representative.)

Jane’s pleased that someone’s showing interest in her home.

Should probably ask the others the same thing.

"Carrie, what about your family’s fiefdom, the Caprius domain?"

"My family rules one planet. But it’s harsh—only the equatorial regions are livable, due to the terrible climate."

"Ah, so it’s frozen over. Empire tech could probably terraform it, huh? Tough break."

"Terraforming costs way more than we can afford."

"One day, I’d like to live on a warm planet."

"Yes♡"

Ah, this isn’t sounding like a promise I made as a prince, is it?

“Marie’s Glauss territory? I saw it during the last expedition. Zigzagging between two moons—kinda neat, huh?”

“Still, the massive gas giant’s reflections and shadows make it unsuitable for habitation.”

“But wouldn’t the resources from that gas giant make us rich?”

“Unfortunately, mining’s possible—but the rights to the gas are controlled by the Empire. No profits there.”

“Huh. One day, I’d like to claim that gas giant as our own.”

“Yes♡”

Ah, this isn’t a royal promise either, okay?

“The bath’s ready♡”

Jane must’ve set it up while we weren’t looking.

Kira and Carrie’s eyes sparkle. Marie shifts awkwardly.

All three of them are clearly expecting something… but no way are we all getting in together.

"Master, please go ahead. We'll follow shortly."

"Ah, well then, I'll take you up on that... (glad they didn’t say we’d be going in together)."

At that moment, I completely misunderstood what "after" meant.

The bath in our new home had been remodeled into a large public bathhouse, like those found in hot spring resorts—designed for many people to use at once.

I figured, even if it was small, it’d be too sad for my wife to have to wait her turn.

Originally, it was just supposed to be a trial marriage, so the three fake idol wives—part of the pretense—were supposed to live here too.

In that case, a small bath would’ve been a waste of time.

Hence, the big bathhouse.

"Ugh... nice hot water, this."

After washing myself, I stepped into the large soaking tub.

Being alone in such a huge bath? Pure luxury.

Truth is, the water supply on that fortress floating in space isn’t exactly limitless.

Yet here it is, poured like water from a faucet into the tub.

Wait—do we even pay for water, like back on Earth?

I mean, space always recycles everything, filters it, turns pee into drinking water, right? So is that what they’re doing here?

Ugh. Started thinking about gross stuff again.

Time to just enjoy the bath.

At that moment, the door from the changing room to the washing area creaked open.

“Back—just came in, darling~”

Three wives, all naked, barged in. Six swellings, a real feast for the eyes.

I made sure to keep my gaze down. Yes, absolutely.

“S-Sorry, I’m leaving now!”

I bolted. Not ready for that yet.

After bathing, each of us returned to our own rooms and went to sleep.

I entered my private room and fell asleep on the single bed I’d been using before.

When I woke up, my right side felt heavy.

A white-haired head rested on my right arm, a soft, warm swell pressing against my right side.

My chest was wrapped in an arm, my right thigh entwined with a leg.

Turning my face to the right, I saw a beautiful cat-eared girl sleeping beside me. Carrie.

"Could it be... did I actually do it? I ask myself, no memory at all."

Carrie stirs awake.

"Good morning ♡, Akira-sama. You’re so unfair, leaving me with 'no, stop' before falling asleep last night ♡"

"Huh?"

"Say what?"

My virtue seems intact.

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077.2 Drifting Arc 17.2 Assault

Enemy forces appeared in the Graul Sector. Emergency deployment was ordered.

While the Graul forces and volunteers were preparing to respond to the emergency, signs of a transfer appeared at the Anoi Planet's Dimensional Jump Gate.

Right—Prince said we couldn’t communicate through the Gate, that we’d have to use a relay ship. But that was a total lie.

The Graul Sector had been linked via hyperspace comms all along.

If the Prince lied about not being able to contact his sister… then she’s in real danger.

That hyperspace signal had warned of enemy forces approaching the Graul Sector—so we’d gathered for emergency deployment. But now we’ve been told the fleet has already left.

They’d scanned the Graul Sector with powerful sensors, passed through the Dimensional Jump Gate, and vanished.

And apparently… the fleet just now arriving in front of us is the same one.

We were集结ing to use the Dimensional Jump Gate, and right as we did, the enemy fleet emerged from the gate—now in a chaotic melee, on the verge of collision.

“Railgun’s too close—risk hitting our own. Counter with missiles and beams!”

I bark orders to the Graul Dominion Fleet and the Earth Volunteer Army.

“Your Highness! We shall protect you, no matter the cost!”

Hunter, commander of the Graul Dominion Fleet, growls.

Who the hell is the ‘Your Highness’?

From behind, the Capreese Dominion Fleet and the Minor Territories Coalition launch in emergency response.

“Not today, heir! You’re not dying before your successor’s even born!”

What the hell is Noah even saying?

But we’re stuck—enemy fleet tangled up with the Graul Dominion Fleet plus Earth Volunteer Army. Can’t even move.

Numbers: 1,500 to 1,100—deadlock. Both sides locked in a mudbath of mutual destruction.

Eventually, it’ll end. But both sides’ll take a beating.

If Caprius’s force and the mixed small territories army of two thousand join in, we’ll outnumber them—but then we’ll be stuck in place. No good.

Any good ideas…? I ponder.

Wait—got it!

“Graul Dominion Fleet and Earth Volunteer Army, jump through the Dimensional Jump Gate!

Reverse course in the subdimension, reemerge from the gate behind the enemy.

Caprius’s force and the small territories mixed army, attack in unison the moment we enter the Dimensional Jump Gate!”

“‘‘‘Understood!’’’”

My command, and the entire army moves.

Timing’s sent via hyperdimensional communication—built into the Wide-Area Communication Device Model S from the start.

Funny how assumptions work. Features you think are useless? Never used before. Not even once.

Coordinate the timing of the breach and the re-entry via the Anoi Fortress, using hyperdimensional communication.

"Good. Breach complete. Caprius Dominion Fleet, combined forces of minor domains—open fire!"

"Understood!"

I confirmed the dimensional jump gate (gate) breach completion for the Graul Dominion Fleet and the Earth Allied Forces through the Tactical Weapon Integration Control System, then sent a hyperdimensional transmission to the Anoi Fortress.

I calculated the timing for the combined fire of the Caprius Dominion Fleet and the minor domain coalition, then issued the cease-fire order.

"Caprius Dominion Fleet, combined forces of minor domains—cease fire!"

"Got it. Cease attack. Evade!"

"Graul Dominion Fleet, Earth Allied Forces—prepare for re-entry. Three... two... one... re-entry initiated. Destroy enemy ships one by one."

"Understood. All forces re-entering!"

We burst out of the Dimensional Jump Gate into the Anoi Sector, taking the enemy from behind.

But the enemy fleet takes an unexpected action.

Enemy fleet is inbound!

What?!

The enemy fleet entered the Dimensional Jump Gate—right as we broke into their star domain.

And just left like that.

"President, isn't this enemy different from the others? I can sense intelligence in its movements."

They said the Graul Sector was scanned with powerful sensors. Could they have done the same thing in the Anoi Sector?

"Commander Sanders, did the enemy ship scan through the star system?"

Yes, it's been searched.

I synced with Commander Sanders and confirmed the search was active.

Seems like they were looking for something in the Anoi Sector—right here—and the Graul Sector.

"Akira! Ayame’s ship—!"

Suddenly, Nahoko’s voice crackled through the comms.

Looks like Ayame’s vessel took damage.

"Seems they made contact with an enemy ship during re-entry."

"Is Ayame hurt?"

"Nothing serious."

"Ah, good. The ship can be repaired."

Countered a trick with a trick. What the hell even is this enemy?

May 24, 2018 — revised and expanded.

Originally came across as Ayame being in a worrying situation while making out with her wife, so I split it into two parts and reordered the sequence for clarity.

This happened on a different day.

To keep the bookmark placement consistent, I’m posting this as episode 077, two parts combined.