CHAPTER 22: THE FÜHRER AND NEKOMIMI-SAN

A few days after the strategy meeting. 

Inspecting the expansion of the harbor to allow large warships to enter the port, and seeing off the beastkins who were leaving the island for the mainland of Beastvania. 

Well, I am killing time until the next operation by doing various things I can do. 

“Your Excellency, this is the new strategy against Beastvania. What do you think?” 

My workroom, the Führer’s office at Fugaku. 

There, Tsuji-san, the army chief of staff, brought me a document on the new military operation that he had been working out over the past few days. 

　……Hmm, the content is not bad. 

“I like it. The name of the operation will be ‘Shock and Awe’. Please execute it as soon as the operation is ready.” 

“Yes sir, well then…” 

After stamping the documents with a stamp, Tsuji-san gave me a firm salute and walked out of my office. 

　……Phew, I was nervous. That man is a bit scary. I’d say his face, or maybe his atmosphere. 

There was a gleam behind his eyes, as if saying, “Yeah! I’m gonna get ahead!” His vibe is just a little too much for me… 

“Now, on to the next one, Eryu-san. It’s about the slave that I mentioned before.” 

Shortly after Tsuji-san left. 

Ayame-san, who is checking her notepad right next to my desk, tells me so. Then there was a knocking sound at the door. 

Slaves is it. 

If I recall correctly, it was a gift from the half-beastkin… 

The proof of their submission to us, the Yamato empire, who will be their new rulers. 

To be honest, I don’t need it. Ayame-san alone is already more than I can handle, so I don’t want to deal with anything more troublesome than this. 

“…Please, come in.” 

When I say that, a nervous voice replies, “E-excuse me, sir.” 

Then, the heavy doors typical of the ship opened… 

Her cat ears bounce. Entering the room was a lovely Nekomimi girl dressed in an official Imperial Guard maid’s uniform. 

And as soon as she came in, with a frightened expression on her face, Nekomimi-san unbuttoned the buttons on her chest and stripped off her maid uniform. 

It’s pretty big. Ayame-san grumbles in a bad mood, “Hmph.” 

“My name is Miike. Your Excellency, Führer of the Yamato Empire, you can do whatever you like to me! Therefore, please about my tribe…” 

The girl with her head down and making a desperate plea― Miike-san. 

Now, what is the meaning of this?　

Ayame-san and I look at each other. 

“Eryu-san, what have you done? That girl looked awfully frightened.” 

“Say? Do you have any idea Ayame-san? She’s pretty cute, so maybe you tried to attack her?” 

It’s straight-up yuri, isn’t it, Ayame-san. When I asked her, she shook her head slightly disapprovingly. 

“No, no way. I mean, Eryu-san and I are together 24 hours a day, aren’t we? Have you ever seen me interested in anyone other than Eryu-san?” 

“There is no denying it, Ayame-san is my exclusive pervert.” 

We tried to find out why she was so frightened, but we have no idea at all… 

As I said earlier, what is my exclusive pervert anyway? 

I made up some stupid words. Reflection, reflection. 

“Um, for now, please raise your head. It’s troubling.” 

Why are people who meet with me always like this, like with the saint.

They were either nervous or frightened. 

I can’t talk with them with their head down. 

When I say this with a friendly, affectionate smile, the girl named Miike looks up and says, “Eh, you’re a girl?” And then she tilts her head. 

“Um, where’s the Führer?” 

“I’m the Führer, but… What’s the matter, did you misunderstand something?” 

“What, this small girl is the Führer? Did you blow up that town?” 

Miike-san suddenly became casual with me. I said in a grumpy mood, “…Sorry for being a small girl,” and she turn around and said, “…Ah, I beg your forgiveness.” 

It seemed to become serious. 

I see, so she is quite friendly by nature. It’s like being a youth nowadays. 

“…In the meantime, make yourself at home.” 

“Ah, you sure? Well then, I’ll make myself comfortable.” 

Miike-san walks over and sits on the sofa in the office. 

What’s up with this person… When I looked at her, she said, “I’m sorry, I was raised as a slave, so I’m not well educated.” 

Well, whatever, there’s no media here, it’s not a serious place, and I myself don’t particularly care about it… 

Just be careful with Ayame-san. 

She’s being overprotective, so if you’re too disrespectful to me, she’ll get you, you know?　

In the Yamato Empire, there is such a dangerous punishment as ‘lèse-majesté’ regardless of my will. 

And then… 

“…Is there something strange about me?” 

She sits on the sofa and for some reason, she stares at my face seriously. 

There should be nothing unusual about my appearance… The makeup should be perfect. I leave everything up to Ayame-san. 

“Well, nothing in particular. If I had to say, there’s a kiss mark on your neck.” 

“Kiss mark?… Ayame-san?” 

That’s strange. 

I have no recollection of being kissed in such a place at all. 

I looked back at Ayame-san behind me, and I thought, don’t you have any idea what’s going on? And I turn my gaze toward her… 

“I couldn’t stand it when Eryu-san was sleeping, just a little. What’s the problem?” 

She answered honestly and clearly, without making any attempt to hide it. 

What’s the problem you say… Sigh, that’s enough. It’s probably useless to say anything. 

As I was having this exchange with Ayame-san, Miike-san started to smile and laugh. 

“Phew, I never thought the leader of that monstrous nation would be this cute… I thought it was a country ruled by some scary old man or a demon king.” 

“We blew up the whole town.” 

“That’s right. This is why I thought, if I don’t sacrifice myself to win your favor, the whole tribe will be destroyed…” 

After a slight pause, Miike-san continued, “That doesn’t seem to be necessary.” Ah, so that’s why you try to seduce me by stripping off your maid’s uniform in the first place. 

Master! I’ll do what you say, just don’t destroy my tribe! That’s what it’s like. 

There is nothing I don’t understand. 

It’s scary if you think about it normally, in my country. 

Suddenly, they came from across the sea on a huge warship and sent a huge army to overwhelm and conquer us. 

They also smashed the city with artillery fire. 

There is no way I wouldn’t be afraid of this. In terms of Earth, is a threat about the same as when aliens invade? 

Of course, we have no intention of antagonizing them. 

If you get along with me, I’ll make you happy, okay?　

I will also sell you some leaves that will make you happy. You see, have you heard of the Opium War? 

Oh, well, so much for the jokes. 

“Aaah, I’m so embarrassed. But I’m glad that you seem like a nice person.” 

Miike-san smiled, and say, “You wouldn’t do anything terrible, would you?”

She seems to be really happy. Despite her status of being a slave… 

Have you been treated so badly by the beastkins that you can smile even under such circumstances? 

That said, cat ear huh… 

A cat-eared maid is not so bad. 

“Eryu-san. Why are you looking at that girl’s cat ear so much? Could it be, that you have a cat-ear fetish?” 

“No, I’m not.” 

“Hrmm… Eryu-san, I know you understand, but I will never tolerate any cheating, okay?” 

“Cheating…” 

In the first place, is that the kind of relationship between me and Ayame-san? I doubt it. 

　……Oh well. 

“Uh, Miike-san? Well, as far as I’m concerned, I don’t really want slaves… So I would prefer it if you would spend your life as a free person…” 

“Become free? But, we’re…” 

Miike-san is speechless. You want to say that you are a minority and that you are in a position to be dominated in this world. 

In this world where racism is at its peak, it takes strength to attain freedom. 

This is a world without the so-called ‘World Order’ of the United States. 

Unlike on Earth, there is no common identity as ‘human beings’ in this world. 

In this world where many races are engaged in a muddled war, we cannot even qualify to speak of human rights or to be free without a military force that can eliminate the domination of others. 

Of course, this is also the same even if they are under the umbrella of our Yamato Empire. 

My country is all about worshipping the Führer, there are no human rights or anything like that, and since we are a bunch of fanatical nationalists, I am sure that the half-beastkin, a different race, will be discriminated against. 

Once you are discriminated against, you will not be able to get a decent job. I am sure that the only work that will be left will be working like a slave for a black company. 

But… 

There is only one possible solution. 

“Let’s support the founding of a nation of half-beastkin.” 

And if I told you that, what would you say? 

The minority ‘half-beastkin’ people establish a country with the backing of the Yamato Empire. It’s kind of like from a standpoint of Israel, isn’t it? 

Of course, I’ll do it because it benefits our country… Anyway, they can build their own country. 

Within their own country, they will not be discriminated against. That is, if you don’t go out there. 

“Eh, but…” 

“Excellent idea, Eryu-san. ‘One race, one nation, one leader.’ That’s what Eryu-san ideal!” 

Look, some strange slogan popped up, but Ayame-san seems to agree with it… 

It would be very convenient for our country if we could actually create a nation of half-beastkins. 

From a hate management perspective. 

We still don’t know the outcome of this war, or how it would end. But I am sure that we, the Yamato Empire, will be resented by the beastkins. 

That’s why we want to have allies who will bear the grudge with us. 

We will carve out some part of the mainland of Beastvania and create a half-beastkin country, even if it is small. So we can create a threat right under the noses of the beastkins. 

Then, the attention of the beastkins will turn to them, instead of to us. 

See, this is perfect. This should make it somewhat easier to do business. 

Until we can build the country… It can’t be helped then. I will leave it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Because it is troublesome. 

However… 

That cat ear… Can I touch it, just a little bit…? 

Ah, is that no good. 

Is that so… It’s a shame. 

=====

Author Note:

Is there anything so far that is confusing? 

Even if it’s, “This part is confusing,” or “What’s this all about?” If you have any, I would appreciate it if you could note them in your comments. 

Of course, any other feedback would be great!