I’m the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire! - Volume 9 Chapter 14

Volume 9 Chapter 14 Bad Situation

Turning back time a little.

A large fleet moves through space.

That large fleet is Rosetta’s Guard.

Rather than gather state-of-the-art equipment like Liam, the fleet is gathered from current leading products.

The twenty thousand and more spaceships bearing the Claudia house’s crest make for a grand spectacle.

Rosetta, looking out at such a scene, sits uncomfortably on her personal seat.

Since she’s soon to be Liam’s wife, her personal seat is lavish to the point of looking like a queen’s throne.

The seat, with an emphasis on function, has decorations applied all over it.

“I wonder if gathering such numbers is all right?”

With Rosetta putting a hand to her cheek in worry, the one able to distract her is the maid outfit-wearing Ciel.

“It’s not a problem! This is also proof that many are willing to follow Rosetta-sama after all!”

Making a disgusted look at Ciel is Rosetta’s support in military affairs, Eulisia.

“It’s within budget, but even so this is way too much.”

Hearing Eulisia’s words, Rosetta naturally begins to feel apologetic.

“Yes, I know. It’s a little too much.”

“It’s not just a little. We possess military strength surpassing some lower count houses.”

Being corrected by Eulisia, Rosetta curls up on herself.

“I wonder if going out on training like this is a good idea?”

It would be a great movement leading the entire fleet this time.

In a sense, this would have the aim of showing off Rosetta’s military prowess.

The one who devised this is Ciel.

“It’s not a problem. We’ll show just how splendid Rosetta-sama’s Guard―― Huh?”

It happens at that time. Ciel cuts her sentence short, looking restlessly around her.

Eulisia folds her arms.

“What is it, suddenly?”

“N-no. I feel like I heard a dog howling.”

Eulisia makes an exasperated face, heaving a small sigh.

“Chino should be taking care of the mansion, though?”

Chino of the dog tribe is working as a maid in the mansion.

Being told that she wasn’t here, Ciel shakes her head.

“That isn’t it! I heard something like an actual dog’s――”

Then, a commotion arises among the operators.

“Rosetta-sama. We’ve received a request for assistance from a lord’s fleet.”

Rosetta corrects her expression.

“Assistance? Which fleet is it?”

“Well, actually, the data exists, but detailed information is not being disclosed.”

“Use my jurisdiction to release it.”

“Yes!”

Doing so and having the released information come to them, the fleet is revealed to be the special fleet that Liam organized.

“This is―― It’s Liam-sama’s fleet!”

“Darling’s!?”

The operator confirms the situation.

“They’ve entered into battle with nobles of the Calvin faction. They’re outnumbered by over sixty times!”

The bridge is in uproar.

Eulisia makes a transmission in a hurry.

The commander manning Rosetta’s mothership barks out an order.

“Quickly send a request for assistance to the home planet!”

Rosetta stands.

“The Guard will head to Darling’s rescue with every ship.”

“Rosetta-sama!?”

In astonishment, the commander moves to persuade Rosetta to return to the home planet right away, but she shakes her head.

“It’s my decision. We’ll head to his rescue!”

The commander having yielded to Rosetta’s resolve, the Guard moves to save Liam.

Ciel contemplates.

(H, huh? Why is Liam being saved by my plan?)

◇

――This is wrong.

I don’t wish to utter my complaints before the large fleet of twenty thousand that appeared.

“I-It’s wrong. Guide, this is wrong!”

Having cut off the communication with Marie, I’m cradling my head within Avid’s cockpit.

“Why has Rosetta come out with this timing! Anyone else would be fine!”

Of all people to be helped by, I didn’t even think it would be Rosetta.

I writhe around for a while, then grip the control sticks tightly.

“If it’s like this then I’ll be taking out my angeeeeer!”

I launch in Avid to vent on the Calvin faction nobles advancing on us.

◇

A pilot speaks of his experience going up against Liam that day.

“I still dream of that day. ――They’re nightmares.”

The pilot had been drifting in space before Liam’s sortie, having been taken out of action.

Set adrift, he’d been watching the battle from afar.

“The cockpit’s monitors were working. I was watching what was going on outside, but no one will probably believe what I have to say about that battlefield. Even I don’t want to.”

Despite there being recorded videos of it, they were said to be falsified.

The sight was that unbelievable.

“Our allies started exploding just an instant after that Avid machine dashed past them. They were engulfed by the explosion after being cut down. Explosions happened right after he passed by almost as if he was leaving a trail.”

The pilot takes a gulp of alcohol.

“The fleet of the count moved to retreat, but the traitor mercenary band cut off their escape and left them with nowhere to run. The fleet even raised a surrender. It even reached my cockpit. ――But, what did you think the Banfield house said?”

To the surrendering fleet of the count’s house, the commander of Liam’s fleet Marie regarded them with cold eyes and said this.

『We won’t accept surrender. You bastards will end here.』

The pilot laughs through his tears.

“Strange story, isn’t it? Even excluding the traitors, we numbered fifty thousand. In spite of that, the enemy had less than half of ours at twenty-four thousand. Despite having double the numbers, we were trampled over. I―― I could only watch as it happened.”

The pilot is asked for the reason the battle occurred.

“The reason we fought? Orders from above. There’s no way I would know something like that. ――But, the rumors did flow down to us. It seems like the count’s idiot son captured Liam’s master. Look here, it’s that Issen-ryu. Furious at that, Liam came marching in. Absurd, isn’t it?”

Everyone denied the rumors.

It’s unthinkable that the Count Banfield at that time, an eminent noble of even the vast Empire, would expressly do something like march into the frontier.

There should most likely be other reasons for it―― The pilot seems to think as much.

“The light of explosions shone from our allies’ ships. In comparison, I couldn’t see any of that from our enemies. Our fleet was a paper tiger, but I certainly never expected them to be that weak. They got conceited about being able to win as long as they had the numbers.”

The pilot’s hands shake as he recalls the scene from that time.

“There are terrific knights in the Banfield house. I’ve heard such rumors. But, I couldn’t actually believe them until I had seen the real thing in battle. That bunch, their strength is substantial. However, the most fearsome thing about them is their fascination with battle. People that aren’t even afraid of dying are the most terrifying. The Named that came out in the middle was especially terrible. It was Chengshi. That woman, in the past she’d go around going wild on both friend and foe. She, working obediently as Liam’s loyal retainer? Can you believe it?”

After that time, Liam achieved victory from a disadvantageous situation.

The pilot is asked if he hadn’t known about their strength.

“If we believed so, we wouldn’t have challenged them from the start, would we? I thought it was just idle gossip on the battlefield. That they were only somewhat strong and the rumors had been exaggerated. Even so, we had sixty times the number. Despite being fairly cautious and gathering up the numbers, we were trampled over.”

The pilot is then asked about Liam.

“Liam? For the people of the Banfield house, he’s unmistakably a benevolent lord. I’m envious to the point of tears. Our lord was a terrible man, you see.”

Was a terrible man―― Past tense.

What might have happened?

“――He died. After we survivors returned to the territory, the count and his successor candidates were already dead. The rumor is that they were silenced to keep their mouths shut, but we have no idea what actually happened. But, the way they died was considerably hideous.”

More questions are about to be asked, but the pilot gets up from his seat.

“That’s enough, isn’t it. I don’t want to remember any more of this. I’ve decided never again to get involved with the Banfield house or Liam. I’ve seen various things on the battlefield but―― They’re true monsters.”

◇

The battle having ended, I left the cleanup to my subordinates and relaxed aboard my ship―― Not.

As soon as the battle ends, Marie attends to my medical treatment while crying.

“Liam-sama’s precious body is―― is―― This Marie is ashamed of her own worthlessness. Please accept my death as an apology.”

“Are you a dumbass? Never mind that, continue treating me.”

Even if I say that, Marie with her overflowing devotion is wilfully thinking ‘The Liam-sama that bestows forgiveness on me is magnificent!’ in her mind.

Her wonderful corporate slave nature is nauseating.

Since I was a corporate slave for a time in my previous life, I dislike things like that.

Simple workers are the best in the world.

Having no expectations, I reward them as much as they’ve worked.

With this, it’s good. This is good.

Having finished with the first aid, I redress myself and sit formally in seiza on the tatami I prepared.

Riho and Fuuka are already seated as such, and Ellen too follows after me.

The ones in front of us are Master and his family.

“Master, it’s wonderful that you’re safe.”

I lower my head, then Riho and Fuuka lower theirs as well.

Ellen seems somewhat reluctant for some reason though―― it won’t do not to scold her later.

Master Yasushi laughs.

“Ahahaha―― I’m thankful for your help.”

What a magnanimous master.

However, we have something that we’re bothered by.

The first to speak is Fuuka.

“Master! Why were ya captured by that Original Issen-ryu bunch! If it’s Master, those small fries would be done in with one stroke!”

――That’s right. Why exactly had Master been captured?

And then, Riho gets anxious about Master’s person.

“Also what do you mean you can’t fight!? Why can’t such a strong Master do so!”

Adding on to their two questions, I add on one more.

“Master, it’s a shame but the instructor of the Original Issen-ryu has escaped. I had believed he would be together with the governor, but even with Kukri and his group’s help, we haven’t grasped his location.”

Master folds his arms and closes his eyes hearing our questions.

And, the one I’m even more curious about is that gigantic octopus.

“Also, that monster. It held a grudge against the Issen-ryu. Did something happen?”

It should be the first time I saw it.

In spite of that, it knew all about us. No, it knew about the Issen-ryu.

The gigantic octopus that was openly hostile, claiming that the Issen-ryu cannot be allowed to exist.

Master Yasushi opens his eyes and answers our questions.

“It seems that the time has come to tell you everything.”

Master begins to tell us of the secrets behind the Issen-ryu.

Bryan (*´ω｀*) “With ‘I’m the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire! vol. 2’ getting good reviews, this Bryan, too, has peace of mind for now. Please enjoy Liam-sama’s activities in both the printed edition and web edition, and from now on as well.”

Sapling-chan ( ゜∀゜) “Please check out ‘The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs, vol. 7’ going on sale next month too!”