Chapter 26

Chapter 2 concludes today.

Thank you for accompanying me this far.

Planet Hydra.

This is the home planet of the Banfield family, and it is a planet that values harmony with nature according to the policies of the lord.

From space, it is incredibly beautiful, and tourists often stop to admire it from the spaceport.

On such a planet, there is the mansion of the Earl Banfield.

The vast mansion is as large as a city.

Among its buildings, there is one where the knights work.

In a building that is particular about its exterior, Colonel Claudette Bertrand entered the communications room and was talking to her superior, Christiana, who is on duty in the capital planet.

Christiana, and another knight representing the Banfield family, Marie Marian.

While these two are away from the home planet, their deputies and aides are on standby.

Claudette is one of them.

This time, she is giving a regular report.

"---The situation within the territory is as above. Occasionally, pirates who don't know any better intrude, but otherwise, there are no issues."

After finishing the report, Christiana seemed more tense than usual.

She seemed to be thinking about something, lacking focus.

"Christiana, is there something troubling you?"

"---I have confirmed the report."

Claudette was dismissed, as she was told there was no problem.

Perhaps embarrassed by showing an unimpressive appearance to her subordinate, Christiana cleared her throat and changed the subject.

"More importantly, it seems the development of Atalante was successful."

A pilot who is also related to them completed an important mission.

Claudette, who was once a trainer, does not change her expression but is inwardly pleased.

"They completed a difficult mission. I have already advanced their promotions, so I plan to give the entire unit a vacation."

Emma Roddman achieved a promotion during the Atalante development project.

It wouldn't be right to promote her again just because she succeeded in this mission.

Instead, Claudette planned to give her a vacation to regain her strength.

Christiana nods in agreement.

"There's no need to rush her promotion. For a while, let her focus on leading a squad as a lieutenant."

Sometimes, a sudden promotion can be detrimental to the individual.

While Emma is a top-notch pilot, she is not adept as a knight.

Their plan is to promote her gradually.

However---

"But, I can't give them a vacation."

"Is there a problem?"

---Christiana sighs slightly before explaining.

"I have decided to engage in a serious conflict with the second prince of the empire, Prince Linus. The military will be busy for a while."

Claudette's eyes widen, but if Christiana says so, it must be true, and she resolves herself.

"Indeed, if we are to fight the faction of the second prince, we will be short of personnel."

Claudette realizes that there is no time to give Emma and the others a long vacation.

Christiana gives the next order.

"The former Atalante development team will be sent to the Seventh Weapons Factory for maintenance. They will be assigned to his command there."

Christiana spits out "his" with disdain.

Unlike before, Christiana now appears displeased.

The only person Claudette knows who can evoke such disdain is one person.

Claudette's expression also turns grim.

"---Marie Marian?"

The faction led by Christiana will be in conflict with the faction led by Marie.

"Someone must have tipped her off about the Atalante pilot. Since he nominated them, she gave her permission."

"He is dangerous. The lieutenant might be crushed."

Concerned about her former student's safety, Claudette voices her worry, to which Christiana responds.

"It's already decided. Send the former development team to the Seventh Weapons Factory. They will also receive personnel reinforcements there."

Claudette cannot go against the decision.

"Yes, ma'am!"

She salutes, and Christiana ends the communication.

◇

The former Atalante development team arrived at the Seventh Weapons Factory.

As the Merea was docked, the dispatched Mag and others disembarked from the ship.

At the disembarkation point, Emma and the others were greeting the engineers they had worked with for two years.

Molly was hugging Mag and crying.

"Mag, take care!"

"Molly, I told you I'm older than you, but you still call me Mag."

Mag, looking exasperated but pleased, was a bit reluctant to part ways.

Emma smiled wryly.

"Well, I'll go greet the Seventh. There are also meetings and the reception of optional parts to attend to."

"Emma, you have a tough job too."

Mag and Emma enter the building together.

◇

On their way to their destination, they saw Nias in the corridor.

He was being reprimanded by a superior.

"Are you listening, Nias! You've been acting on your own again, and this time, I won't forgive you. You'll be removed from development for a while!"

The person reprimanding Nias was older and one of the executives of the Seventh.

He was pointing at Nias, who was dressed in an expensive suit and leaning against the wall, sucking on a candy.

Nias turned his face away, looking dissatisfied.

His attitude suggested that he thought this time was being wasted.

Seeing this, Mag spoke to Emma.

"Looks like Nias is being scolded again."

Nias, known as the Mad Genius, had always been arrogant.

A solitary genius who silences those around him with his overwhelming abilities---that's how Emma evaluates him.

"Nias is difficult to deal with, isn't he?"

Mag, surprised for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Indeed, he is. But, there are people even you can't handle."

"Really?"

"When you first came here, a few years ago, you were more approachable, but you still had problems with interpersonal relationships. The upper management made you work as a salesperson to learn communication skills."

Mag, folding his arms, reminisced, but Emma found it hard to believe.

"Seeing him pouting at the executives, I can't believe it."

"Well, his personality is as bad as his abilities---no, worse."

It's understandable that Mag would say Nias has a bad personality.

As they were talking, Nias's terminal beeped.

It seemed to be an important call, as Nias flinched.

The executive, understanding who was calling, reluctantly let Nias go.

"A customer is calling. I doubt it will do you any good, but try not to be rude."

After he left, Nias looked around frantically.

His arrogant attitude vanished, and he entered a nearby room, trying to comb his hair with his fingers.

His face was flushed as he entered the room.

Emma was surprised.

Whoever it was, Nias, who never changed his attitude, was acting so differently.

"Nias can make such a face?"

Mag was laughing.

"We've seen it many times. But, you'll be surprised when you find out who it is."

"Do I know this person?"

"Well, you probably do. It would be strange if you didn't."

Emma tilted her head, and Mag thought for a moment.

Then, he made a mischievous face.

"It would be more fun to keep it a secret."

"Please tell me! I want to know who Nias is afraid of!"

Ignoring Emma's curiosity, Mag started walking.

"I can't reveal the identity of an important customer. You'll find out eventually."

◇

At the Seventh Weapons Factory's dock.

A group of space warships from the capital planet had docked.

The group, including a large transport ship, gave the crew a brief break upon arrival.

Among them was a young knight.

He was leading a group of subordinate knights.

The young knight stopped at the port and looked up at a warship.

Inside the cylindrical dock, the ceiling on the opposite side revealed the light carrier Merea.

A new knight, suspicious of his superior's behavior, asked what was wrong.

"Captain Russell, is something the matter?"

The young knight's name is Russell.

As an elite knight, he is a contemporary of Emma's.

After graduating from the knight school, he was immediately chosen to guard the lord residing in the capital planet.

He is here to lead a mobile knight squad.

"No, nothing's wrong."

Russell started walking, and his subordinates followed.

The mobile knight squad led by Russell consists entirely of knights.

His two subordinates are also knights, and the assigned mechs are the Nevan, the mainstay of the Banfield family.

One of the subordinates brought up a topic.

"By the way, I heard a rumor. It seems the team that developed the new model will also be joining this mission."

The other subordinate joined in.

"Apparently, it's an ace-dedicated Nevan. I wonder if we'll get one too."

The knights, who have a somewhat arrogant attitude, are all elite knights who graduated from the Banfield family's knight school with excellent grades.

Russell himself has been promoted to major.

However, his knight rank is still C.

He is considered to have insufficient combat experience, and his rank has not been upgraded.

(I will make it clear who is superior. I can't let myself lose to the underachiever Emma Roddman.)

Out of pride as an elite knight, Russell is strongly aware of Emma.

He ranks higher in terms of position but is inferior in terms of knight rank.

This is something Russell cannot accept.

His pride as an elite and his stubbornness prevent him from acknowledging Emma.

Liam (#・∀・) "Nias, I always tell him to take action within five calls when I call. If it wasn't him, he would be executed for ignoring my orders."

Tenchou (´ー｀) "Sir, it's time for the promotion. 'The World of Otome Games is Harsh for the Weak' is now available in volumes 1-10 from GC Novels."

Tenchou ( ´ー｀) "Also, the main story of this side story, 'I Am the Corrupt Lord of an Interstellar Nation!' is available in volumes 1-5 from Overlap Bunko. Please enjoy the book version as well."

Liam ( ・∀・)? "By the way, when will the main story resume? I want to read more about Tenchou's exploits. However, any explicit scenes are absolutely forbidden! Showing Tenchou's skin is not allowed."

Tenchou (；´ー｀) "…It's your story, sir. I won't be the one doing the exploits."

【From the Author】

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The next update is not set, but I hope to release Chapter 13 of 'I Am the Corrupt Lord of an Interstellar Nation!' by the end of the year.

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