123 Expedition Arc 8 Debriefing

Keyboard’s a pain to type on.

I cracked open the meeting room door, heart in my throat, certain I was about to get screamed at.

There was a circular table, and along either side sat a row of Imperial Regular Army generals.

Two seats were empty in front—on the right, Kyle was already seated. Guess we were the ones summoned.

I nodded at Kyle, gave a bow to the generals, and sat in the empty seat.

The emperor’s seat at the far end was still vacant.

After everyone arrived and we waited a while, the emperor emerged from the back door and took his seat.

Flanking him on either side stood tactical aides, tablets in hand.

One of the aides spoke up.

"Conducting post-operation briefing.

The enemy Naihume invasion force has been completely annihilated by the Imperial Army’s main force of one million."

The enemy launched their invasion with a force of twelve capital-class vessels and sixty thousand搭载 ships.

They crossed the galactic arm via dimensional jump (warp), invading the 8H system.

After securing the system, ten capital-class vessels conducted short-range dimensional jumps (warps) to invade the 8G system.

The remaining two capital-class vessels, along with one-tenth of the deployed ships launched from the initial ten capital-class vessels—fifty thousand ships—seized the Dimensional Jump Gate [item] and invaded the 8B system.

Thus, the deployed ships from the ten capital-class vessels that advanced into the 8G system totaled forty-five thousand—nine-tenths of the original force.

The enemy that warped out of the 8G system deployed forty-five thousand ships, engaging our one million ships in battle. They were annihilated, but we also lost twenty percent—two hundred thousand ships.

Meanwhile, the two capital-class vessels and ten thousand搭载 ships, along with the fifty-thousand-ship force conducting a solo invasion, were annihilated by the 8B system’s defense fleet.

The imperial main force pressed forward into the 8H system and cleared out the enemy landing forces.

That concludes it. We hereby declare the complete annihilation of the enemy Niahyūm invasion force."

"Well done, everyone."

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

The generals bowed their heads in acknowledgment of the emperor’s praise.

Then the emperor turned his gaze toward me and Kyle, his voice sharp.

"So, the 8B system was supposed to have a defensive force of twenty thousand ships. How exactly did you wipe out two capital-class vessels and a fleet of one hundred fifty thousand?"

I looked at Kyle. He was trembling.

Kyle had already reported his departure from the 8B system via dimensional comm, and the reserve force of one hundred thousand ships from the 8A system, which had joined up, was well known.

I didn’t expect to wipe out a hundred-and-fifty-thousand-ship fleet with just my single vessel—so naturally, I went with the conventional force concentration.

I didn’t think I could even destroy them, so I can’t really blame Kyle for what he did.

But how the hell am I supposed to explain this to the Emperor?

I was still stuck on that when Kyle finally spoke, slow and deliberate.

“I received reports of two capital-class ships and five thousand enemy vessels advancing toward the 8B system. I judged a two-thousand-ship defense of the system impossible.

Therefore, I concluded that the best course was to join the reserve forces from the 8A system and delay the enemy’s advance on the Imperial Capital by engaging them at the Hub Dimensional Jump Gate. I left the system accordingly.

But no enemy forces appeared in the 8A system. The battle never happened. That’s all.”

Kyle speaks honestly. Then he just leaves it at that—hands me the explanation like I’m supposed to know what to do with it.

Yare yare. Was hoping to pin the glory on Kyle and act all innocent.

Just don’t want him to get the wrong idea—like he did nothing at all.

Wouldn’t want to piss him off and make an enemy of him.

Honestly, I don’t see any way out of this but to come clean.

Even if no one’ll believe me.

“Back in the 8B system, I—Akira—had my Personal Ship stealthed and waited in ambush.

They must’ve figured the system’s defenses had fled, because the flagship-class vessels didn’t send out any escort ships.

Probably wanted to save time on deployment and jump straight into the 8A system via dimensional leap—warp attack.

I saw that as my chance. So I wiped out two flagship-class ships—along with their escort vessels—using my ultimate weapon: the antimatter particle cannon.”

Five hundred thousand escort vessels surrounding the flagship-class mothership were caught in the blast and mostly destroyed.

The remaining enemy forces were eliminated by my Personal Ship. That’s all.

The generals stared at me with suspicious eyes, unimpressed by my odd tone.

I deliberately kept up the disrespectful delivery—trying to improve Kyle’s impression of me.

See? Predictably, no one believes a single ship could wipe out fifteen thousand enemies.

They’re either convinced I let them escape… or that I’m working with the enemy, hiding their position.

Honestly, I don’t care about recognition. This is fine.

But then the operations officer started reading data from their tablet—and the whole situation changed.

“Report from the detachment fleet deployed to the 8B system—Commander Howard, Earl of the 348th Fleet.”

Numerous enemy shipwrecks confirmed in the 8B system. Numerous fragments resembling those of two capital-class vessels have been identified.

Interrogations of system inhabitants also confirm two witnessed flashes of massive explosions in the sky."

Commander Howard, Earl of the 348th Fleet—GJ (good job)!

I hadn’t expected anyone to have dug that deep in the short time it took me to leave the hangar and walk to the conference room, while the Emperor took his seat.

"Are you serious?! Did you *actually* wipe out two enemy capital ships and a fleet of 150,000 vessels… with just one ship?!"

One of the generals shouts.

"Ah, well. It was just luck. A capital ship with every flaw imaginable, fully loaded with carrier vessels, right in front of me. That’s all.

If they’d launched their carriers, I was just gonna stall them for a bit—scratch around a little—then warp out."

The generals stare at me, deadpan.

Huh? Did I say something weird?

Ah—forgot to change my tone!

"Seems only the man himself hasn’t noticed. Akira, you’re the one who’s earned the prize. I’ll give you my daughter as a reward."

"Whaaat?"

"Spouse. Wife. Now I’m your in-law. Means your blood’s tied to mine. Could even shift the imperial succession line, you know."

Awkward. Gotta fix this. This guy’s got that same old Oda-style logic, huh!

If my place in the line of succession went up and Kyle’s went down... things’d get tense.

And what do I tell everyone in True Empire?

"I already have a wife! I can’t take on another daughter—"

"Side wife’s fine. Get your blood into the Empire. And hand over that ultimate weapon."

That’s what this was about all along! Yeah, the antimatter particle cannon—only I can handle it right now.

I’d gone to the trouble of installing it on President Kamizawa’s Personal Ship, but the launch system wouldn’t activate.

Guessing it was DNA-locked—though I suppose if it were my kid, I’d be able to use it.

Smart move, Your Majesty. Even without saying it, you knew the drill with weapons restrictions.

No way out. Refuse now, and I’m finished. No side concubine option either.

“I humbly accept. We’ll get along just fine as wife and husband.”

I surrendered to the Emperor. Though, truth be told, the “wife” role was just a façade to ease noble pressure—so no real risk.

I glanced sideways at Kyle, feeling guilty about this reward, when the Emperor began speaking slowly.

“Kyle… your actions were correct. Imperial Capital defense naturally takes priority over frontier defense. Well done.”

“Thank you.”

Kyle lets out a breath. Looks like I got saved by the Emperor after all.

But not a single word about the second through fourth princes’ performance on the main battlefield.

Fourth Prince getting jealous would be a pain.

Thanks for the rating and bookmarking.

Keeps me writing.