124 Expedition Arc 9 Level Up
Added and revised for emphasis on Akira's deliberate use of a deliberately poor tone in his previous line.
"Then, I'll be heading back right here..."
"Wait."
The enemy was wiped out. The Emperor stopped me from leaving.
"You're stationed at the Imperial Capital. Enemy raids from the Nahyoom are increasing. You're a valuable asset. You'll be working to your full capacity."
"No, I don't even have a place to live!"
"Then I'll provide a daughter. You'll get a proper mansion. You! Go find something suitable and prepare it!"
The Emperor's order triggered movement among what looked like household stewards.
Looks like I'm going to be living in the Imperial Capital. Gotta do something about this.
"I still have to manage my territory and oversee my vassals! Stationing here is impossible!"
"Hmm. Then I'll transfer your domain here and call you over."
"Even that’s a problem! I’ve got attachments to my territory. Fine, I’ll go on a solo assignment!"
I had no say in the matter.
Kyle gently placed a hand on my shoulder, eyes full of sympathy.
Good. At least our relationship didn’t go south.
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Heading toward the storage bay to establish dimensional comms with my domain, I found my Personal Ship wrapped in a cocoon.
If this is a fusion field… what the hell did it absorb?
No way it’s Neahyume. Feels like it’s about to hijack me, honestly!
Just as I started panicking, the fusion field dissolved—fusion complete.
Had this kind of thing happened while I wasn’t looking?
Either way, time to check the neural data.
I climbed into the Personal Ship’s CIC and took the pilot’s seat.
My brain connects to the ship’s neural core. System check. Scanning for anomalies. Clear.
Log check. Whatever happened… seems like a level-up.
I’d only ever realized level-ups after they’d already happened.
Never thought it’d be this big—actually deploying a fusion field.
Two new abilities unlocked with this level-up.
First: Dimensional Radar S-Type. Capable of tracking the precursors and traces of dimensional jumps (warp).
Second: Dimensional Warp Accelerator.
Dimensional jump distance and speed increase dramatically.
Wait—could this mean I can now easily travel between my home star system and here?
I pull a dummy ship out of the Dimensional Storage Vault.
Like leaving a pillow in the bed so no one notices you’re gone.
I keep going, steering the Personal Ship toward the Elysion System, then jump through dimensions—warping straight there.
Out in a flash. Elysion System, arrived.
Feels like teleportation-level speed.
Next, Anoi System. Again, instantaneous.
Once I dock the Personal Ship in the Anoi Fortress hangar, I head straight back to the office—something I haven’t done in ages.
“Back home~”
“Welcome back~ You’re early~”
“…Welcome…”
The office was already bustling—Saya and Miu were there, just by chance, waiting to greet me.
They throw themselves at me, full force.
Awkward. I’ve got something I need to tell them.
“Saya, Miu… and Ayame too—I need to tell you something.”
“Huh?” “…” “What’s this about?”
“Sorry. I’ve been doing too well… and now I’m getting married.”
“““WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!”””
“The emperor’s daughter, so I couldn’t refuse. But since it’s just a fake marriage with three of us, it should be fine, right?”
The air froze. A chill ran down my spine at the killing intent.
“Saya’s been saying she’s serious this whole time, hasn’t she?”
“Akira… you’re gonna die?”
“I don’t really care either way… but if everyone else is serious, then I’ll go with them.”
Saya and Miu’s killing intent was overwhelming. Ayame was just tagging along.
“Since she’s the emperor’s daughter, she has to be the main wife. You okay with that?”
“Even now I’ve got six wives already—Saya won’t care.”
“Miu too.”
“I don’t mind how many wives I have as long as I’m with Akira.”
Right. I hadn’t even talked to the Beastwife Crew yet.
The office and my apartment were right next to each other, so the Beastwife Crew arrived at the office straight away.
“““My lord, welcome home. Nothing is more important than your safe return.”””
“Hey, everyone. I’m back. Got something to tell you….”
I explained the situation about marrying the emperor’s daughter.
“““Congratulations, then.”””
“Huh?”
“““Huh?!”””
“You’re not upset?”
“Becoming the husband of the emperor’s daughter is a great honor for a warrior. I’m truly delighted to be your wife.”
“I feel the same.” “Me too.”
Apparently, it’s considered quite prestigious among noble families.
A miracle—six wives all welcoming the news.
“By the way, what’s the emperor’s daughter like?”
I froze at Ayame’s question.
Completely forgot the crucial detail.
“I haven’t even met her yet!!”
““““““Eeeeeee?!?”””””””
“Apparently we’re supposed to live together in the Imperial Capital now—haven’t even met her yet.”
“Sir… living in the Imperial Capital? What does that mean exactly?”
Carrie caught on sharp as ever.
“Ah, the Emperor issued orders. I’m stationed there permanently now.”
““““““We didn’t hear about this!!””””””
“Gotta come with me.”
“Wait—haven’t even found a place to live yet. How do you know we’ll even be able to live together?”
“But you’ll need protection, right? I’m the perfect fit.”
Saya insisted on coming along.
Jane said she’d be joining as guard too.
“For now, my Personal Ship’s been upgraded—dimensional jump (warp) tech is refined. I can come back often. Just bear with it.”
““Mm.””
“Then I’ll just quietly slip away for today…”
“““Hey! Don’t run off!!”””
“……”
I bolted toward the Imperial Capital.
Once you warp out of the Dimensional Storage Vault, the dummy ship gets stowed inside.
"Alright, now what should I do?"
Just as I was about to step out of my Personal Ship, something shifted behind the pilot seat.
"Wh-who's there?"
"Caught me? Nah, I saw Miu sneaking in."
"Eh? Miu?"
There she was—Jane, hiding Miu behind her back.
"Followed me, huh..."
"Mmm." "Heh."
Jane can be brushed off as bodyguard duty, but what about Miu?
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