Ch.271Queen Aurore (1)

I was beaten soundly in front of everyone.

“Sonia, that’s enough! People are watching!”

“I’m disciplining you precisely because everyone is watching. Do you know how much trouble I go through because of you, young master?”

Her spicy slaps were different from before, making my head spin.

But I felt good.

Because the Sonia I knew had returned.

I didn’t understand what had happened, but now that she was back, I could take a few more hits with a smile.

At some point, Sonia stopped punching and placed both hands on my shoulders.

“Young master needs more punishment.”

Smooch.

That sound came from around my lips. Sonia had kissed me.

My mind went completely blank.

And for good reason—everyone was watching.

“W-what…?”

Not just Rustila Kersil and Ireh Hazlen, but even the other knights who were struggling with Aether depletion were shocked and dumbfounded.

Clatter.

Rustila even dropped the Plasma Sword she was holding.

There’s a time and place for displays of affection between lovers, but Sonia seemed completely unconcerned as she entwined her soft tongue with mine.

And of course, that’s when the doctors arrived.

“Honey, I’m here! Honey… what?”

Zernya von und zu Trisha Adelbein, who had been hurrying at the front, stopped in her tracks. Our eyes met.

Her expression cooled, and then she asked in a chilling voice.

“…What are you two doing?”

I had a bad feeling.

This was definitely trouble.

***

After the medical team arrived, I helped my parents gather the casualties.

Rustila used her remaining Aether to restore dignity to the bodies. In a solemn atmosphere, the victims were moved to the morgue.

“Two hundred and seventeen people died.”

After the somber moment, we dealt with the traces left by the aliens.

Technicians repaired damaged parts of the ship, while doctors were busy tending to the surviving knights.

And I, being a physicist with little to offer in this situation, was bombarded with questions from technicians and knights who had been at the scene.

“Commander Rheinland, we have many questions for you. First, about the identity of that android…”

Here it comes.

The fact that Sonia was an avatar must never be revealed. No matter how well I explained it, she’d end up in a laboratory, or worse, a disposal facility.

So I deliberately played dumb.

“I don’t really know.”

“You don’t know?”

“Yes, I believe it was an error that occurred after being attacked by the alien. Some knights saw her being hit by the alien’s tentacles and flying away. I think she temporarily went berserk from the impact.”

“I see. When we return, we should have her examined at the government level…”

“Government level? That’s all taxpayer money, isn’t it? Sonia is my android, so I’ll have her examined at my own expense.”

“…Of course.”

This is hard. Much harder than defending a dissertation.

“Besides, don’t we have more important matters? With so many casualties, we need to decide quickly whether to take time for repairs… or continue moving forward.”

“The generals are already communicating with headquarters to determine our next move. It’s not something that commanders like yourself or technicians like us can decide.”

The technician said with a bitter smile.

“By the way, about that kiss with the android earlier…”

Ah.

“…Many people are curious about that. As an engineer, I’m more interested in how an android could drive away an alien, but others… well, since a married man was publicly involved like that… it can’t be helped, I suppose.”

A scandal, as they say.

Due to the kiss Sonia planted at the end, Zernya became furious, and almost all other issues were overshadowed.

“It was just erratic behavior from the android.”

“That’s why some find it even more interesting. What exactly happened between the commander and his personal android, why was she wearing a maid outfit… things like that.”

“Well.”

In a different sense, I had a mountain of explaining to do.

Fortunately, suspicions about Sonia being an avatar had subsided. Instead, I was now suspected of having an affair with a robot while having two beautiful wives.

Another damned love triangle.

“Son.”

“Ah, Father?”

“What on earth is going on? That’s not what the android was purchased for, was it?”

Now even my parents were suspicious about my relationship with Sonia. This would be a problem even after the war ended.

“Never mind. I can’t scold you at such a critical time. Let’s talk about this in detail after this is over.”

“…Yes.”

At least I survived thanks to Sonia.

I sighed and entered my room. There, Rustila and Zernya were interrogating Sonia.

“Ah, so your memory has returned. And does that give you the right to touch my husband?”

“Zernya, he’s not just your husband. He’s our husband.”

“Well… fine. Our husband. Anyway, what you did was adultery. It’s a challenge against us.”

Zernya snapped sharply. Regardless, Sonia poured wine into a glass with a serene face.

“Didn’t I tell you before? If you want to try anything with Eidel, become human first. How dare you, a robot, try to tarnish my husband’s career?”

“It’s not tarnishing. I had my reasons.”

“What? I can’t believe this.”

“In any case, didn’t young master Eidel survive thanks to me? Have a drink.”

“Why you!”

Zernya grabbed Sonia by the collar and shook her vigorously.

“Zernya, calm down.”

“Do I look calm right now?!”

“You have a baby inside you. What if something goes wrong and affects it?”

“Hah…”

“Take a rest. And thank you for working hard taking care of the patients.”

I barely managed to calm Zernya down. She still looked uncomfortable. Rustila was also upset, though she didn’t say anything. Sonia spoke.

“I kissed young master Eidel to divert attention. While there might be some issues with the young master’s reputation, his personal safety will be even more secure.”

Just then, Ireh opened the door and entered. She glanced at us and spoke.

“I’ve been monitoring the mood on the ship, and it’s actually worked out well. Almost no one is curious about how Sonia fought the alien to a standstill because of that kiss with Eidel earlier.”

Zernya rested her chin on her hand and retorted grumpily.

“Do you think the knights are stupid? They’re just not bringing it up because the current situation is more urgent.”

“Anyway, only the three of us know this fact, besides Eidel and Sonia. Since we’re on the same ship, we have no choice but to protect Sonia until the end.”

“…I know.”

Rustila and Zernya sighed simultaneously.

“Hey, tin can. This is your final warning. If you touch my husband without permission, I might really call someone to take you to the disposal facility. Understand?”

“So if I get permission, I can kiss him as much as I want?”

“Are you trying to fight with me right now?”

“It’s just a simple question.”

“Do you think I’d give permission?”

“I saved the young master’s life twice when Miss Zernya wasn’t around…”

Zernya was at a loss for words. Rustila answered instead.

“I’ve seen how well Sonia has protected Eidel. And I know they’ve spent a long time together. If you weren’t an android, you probably would have become very close to Eidel by now.”

“We’re already quite close.”

“What I mean is, you might have been close enough to marry him. Sonia, honestly, you’re a robot, but I respect you.”

“Rustila, what are you saying?”

Zernya raised her voice in surprise.

“So what, you’re saying it’s okay to accept this blue-headed maid as Eidel’s wife if she wants? Are you crazy?”

“…That’s assuming Sonia was human.”

“Human? Ha, right. If she were human, we could talk. But is that even possible? I don’t think even the alien’s grandfather could make that happen.”

Zernya snorted.

Rustila and Ireh remained silent. Everyone knew the possibility of Sonia becoming human was infinitesimally small.

“Whatever. We’ll talk after this war ends. Right now… I’m too tired to argue with you.”

Zernya crawled onto my bed and let out a long yawn. Soon she fell fast asleep as if she had never been angry.

Sonia covered Zernya with a blanket. Then she turned around, looked at me, placed her hands on her hips, and began swaying her body.

“…What are you doing?”

“I’m expressing the joy of regaining my memories through dance.”

“Do you have to do that in front of Zernya?”

Sonia just grinned.

Just then, a report came through the intercom.

[Commander Rheinland. High command has decided to continue advancing without repairs. We will arrive at the operation point within minutes, so please stand by.]

Finally, the time for the decisive battle had come.

***

“My Queen, Seronon, who was scouting in the central area, has been caught in a trap.”

“Stupid fool.”

That was the end of it. The Queen listened to the next report.

“As expected, humans are pushing in from both flanks. They seem to be trying to recover the Aether Belt. What would you like to do, Your Majesty?”

In the null space, the Queen looked down at the aliens waiting for her answer from her throne.

Though they were allies, the Queen’s army lacked the cohesion of the humans. They were beings subjugated by force, so if there was a gap in power, the organization could collapse at any time.

The past three months.

For aliens, it was just a fleeting moment.

But if they couldn’t produce strong results even in this brief moment and kept retreating, the organizational power needed to command the subordinate aliens could diminish.

The Queen made a decision at the critical moment.

“…About ten minutes.”

“Surely, you don’t intend to descend in your true form?”

She nodded and rose from her throne.

Ooooh!

The aliens’ morale rebounded.

Queen Aurore. In fact, she had another reason for deciding to intervene personally.

‘Eidel von Rheinland, I might as well see your face in person.’

Instead of being afraid, he was openly coming to scout his burial place.

That actually piqued her interest.