I headed straight for the hangar.
In the distance, I saw a levitating wheelchair. Ugo-girl was asleep on top of it, her entire body bound by restraints.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
Twin horns. A pale face with sharp-looking eyes. A voluptuous body. A red heart at the end of a slender tail. And finally, that embarrassing fashion.
“Administering the antidote.”
The medic felt around her body before leaning toward her neck and biting down hard!
“Gaaaaack—!”
Ugo-girl woke up with a sharp intake of breath.
“How… dare you! To me!! Mm—?!”
She stopped mid-struggle as she spotted me. Her expression was one of pure confusion.
“Greetings, Marshal Ugo-girl. I am Pak Yu.”
“Pa… Pak Yu! Why are you here? Don’t tell me… did you side with the Imperium? What do you plan to do with me now?”
“It seems there has been a misunderstanding.”
I raised my hand. At the signal, soldiers from the maintenance crew approached. They swarmed the wheelchair with their equipment.
*Clink! Clang! Whirrr!*
They carefully dismantled the restraints. Meanwhile, I gave her a brief summary of what had happened—how we set an ambush, how the enemy surrendered, and how we found her in the process.
“So, you are saying that you rescued me.”
“Yes…”
It just happened to turn out that way. My luck was terrible.
No, from the perspective of our territory, it was actually good luck. If Ugo-girl’s faction collapsed, our borders would be closer to Kranoskan. He was an ally of the Imperium. That would be the worst-case scenario.
“All finished!”
The restraints were off. The maintenance soldiers backed away.
Ugo-girl stood up and tried to walk toward me, but…
*Stagger—!*
“Ah!!”
She collapsed onto the floor.
“Th… this is bad! That damn Snail…! To my body…”
I gestured to the medic. The medic stepped forward to support her.
“Are you alright?”
“It is a disaster. He injected me with a drug to violate me. I cannot hold out much longer like this.”
I frowned. Succubi have a specific period during which they can share love.
People think succubi have sex whenever they absorb essence, but that is a huge misconception. Mating is only possible for one single day out of the entire year. The Succubus Tribe spends the other 364 days working toward that one day.
“I will die at this rate…! He… help me, Lord Pak Yu.”
Marshal Ugo-girl dying on my ship?
‘Things have gone to hell.’
This was something I had to avoid at all costs. No matter how much I explained, there was no telling what kind of rumors would spread.
A Marshal is a government position appointed by the center. Even another Marshal is forbidden from killing one. The only person who can sentence a Marshal to death is the Emperor. If you want to kill a Marshal, you must receive permission from the Emperor. Otherwise? You are a traitor.
Even if I didn’t kill her, and even if I proved my innocence, suspicion would remain. My future enemies would use it to brand me a rebel.
‘I have to find a way to save her.’
I thought long and hard. But even with all my veteran knowledge, there didn’t seem to be a trick for this.
In that case? I should probably start by recording this. I needed to prove my innocence.
“If you do not help me, I will scream at the top of my lungs from this moment on that you did this to me so you could violate me!”
She saw right through my intentions. If she did that, a recording wouldn’t serve as evidence. For the record, the testimonies of crew members do not count as legal evidence.
“Marshal, how can I help you?”
“I need a man with high Force purity. He must spend an entire night with me.”
Everyone’s eyes turned toward me. Then, Sudongtae stepped forward.
“It is too dangerous, Master. I, Sudongtae, will see what I can do.”
“Hmm. This one’s purity isn’t bad either. Do you have the confidence to handle me? Managing a member of the Succubus Tribe is no easy feat.”
At those words, Sudongtae confidently placed his hands on his hips. However…
“N… no! Captain!”
The Vice-Captain hurriedly pushed Sudongtae aside. Every member of the crew nodded in agreement.
“Ah…! Five minutes.”
I think I knew why. I remembered Sudongtae’s revenge against the Ant Queen. I could still clearly see the satisfied expression on his face when he walked out of her room.
“It seems the Captain must step up,” the Vice-Captain said cautiously.
The future of our faction was riding on this. If Ugo-girl died, our reputation would plummet. Not that we had much of a reputation left to lose, but could it really go any lower?
‘Absolutely not!’
To be honest, I lacked confidence. How much could a guy who spent his time after work playing games at home really know about women?
“If it is the young master, it shouldn’t be a problem! He is the notorious scoundrel of the prestigious Pak family, after all.”
My servant, Ttaengchili, had a look of utter confidence.
*Oooooh!*
The entire crew looked convinced. Hey, why are you all agreeing with him? I might look like a playboy on the outside, but the inside has changed!!
“Lord Pak Yu! I beg of you. If I die, my clan will fall into ruin.”
Wouldn’t they fall into ruin even if you stayed alive? I had never once seen Ugo-girl unify the galaxy. Even when I played her, the success rate was less than 10%. Still, it would be troublesome if she collapsed right now. She needed to remain as a buffer zone against Kranoskan.
“First, please calm down…”
“If you step forward, I will never resent you even if you fail. If the galaxy’s greatest scoundrel fails, then no one else could have succeeded.”
I told you, I’m not a scoundrel.
“And even if you fail, there will be no loss for you. Though you won’t be able to conceive, your Force purity will increase.”
My ears perked up at that.
‘This might not be so bad.’
My Force management skills were the worst. But if my Force purity increased?
‘Whether I go this way or that way, as long as I reach the destination, it’s fine.’
As a result, my output would increase. If I couldn’t improve my management skills, I just had to increase the purity. I had finally found a way to become stronger.
“Very well. However, you must sign a waiver.”
“I understand. I will write it just before we begin the ritual. There is no time. Please hurry. The essence I have gathered all this time is about to be released.”
From Ugo-girl’s perspective, her life was on the line, so she likely needed a safety net as well.
“Medic, please take her to my room.”
“Understood.”
She was wheeled off to my private quarters. However, the crew’s reaction was a bit strange. They weren’t envious like they were when I was involved with Eun-run or Lysandebuzz. Instead, they gave me looks of pity.
“Is he going to fail because she’s so ugly?”
“Well, our Captain does have high standards when it comes to women.”
“Still, to think he can increase his Force purity…”
“Good medicine tastes bitter, as they say.”
“The beginning is going to be a struggle, for sure.”
I really couldn’t understand the aesthetic standards of this world. If Marshal Ugo-girl went to the world I lived in, her beauty would be enough to take over Hollywood. But here, they called her ugly.
Didn’t they say someone is a beauty if their Force purity is high? Ugo-girl’s purity was high. She was a Marshal, after all.
The problem was the nature of her Force. It was a trait that drained the essence of men. Men instinctively felt it as a threat. It was similar to the instinct that makes people feel disgusted when they see a snake.
“Young master! Should I help you before you go into the room?”
Lysandebuzz approached me. Her many eyes looked at me with pity.
“I have received various forms of education in my family. I am quite familiar with the human body.”
Her eyes turned into mouths. The tentacles of the Shoggoth Race could transform into any body part.
“N… no, thank you. I will overcome this on my own.”
Forget warming up; that would have the opposite effect. Besides, I didn’t need any warming up. Unlike the others, in my eyes, Ugo-girl was an incredible beauty.
“Whew…”
The problem was how long I could hold out. The real me was clueless when it came to women. I didn’t even watch many videos. I was too busy gaming.
“Vice-Captain.”
“Sh… shall I help you? To be honest, I lack confidence, but… if it is an order…” she stammered.
“No. For now, get the standard loyalty contracts from those who surrendered. Organize the units so we can set sail immediately.”
“Understood…”
The content of a standard loyalty contract was simple: “I will remain loyal until the commander surrenders.” That was it.
Snail had signed the surrender document. Those people were now free agents. I could take them for myself.
But my teeth grinded just thinking about that Snail guy.
‘I’ll kill him the next time we meet!’
Actually, I’ll put the killing on hold. That would only benefit the Imperium. When we meet again, I’ll sprinkle salt on him, put him through extreme agony, and then let him go.
“Then, I leave the cleanup of the battlefield to you.”
I headed toward my private room. My heart was thumping. Unlike the pity everyone else was sending my way, I was extremely nervous.
“You’ve come?”
She had already finished showering.
“I have done my best to be sincere. Mm—?! You truly are a scoundrel. How can you be this excited just by looking at me?”
The corners of her mouth curled up.
“It seems you have decent talent. Hahaha.”
***
The crew waited anxiously. They were supposed to be performing maintenance, but they couldn’t focus on their work. They didn’t want to be treated like rebels.
But then…
Voices filled with intense Force were heard. They came from the Captain’s private room. The powerful Force even radiated out into space.
“Incredible!!”
“Amazing! Truly amazing!”
“You don’t tire!!! Ahhh—! How are you doing this!”
“Fine. I shall take you on. Come at me!”
“The title of the galaxy’s greatest scoundrel is not just for show.”
“Ahhh! I’m going to fall apart at this rate.”
“You can still go! I have never heard of such a thing.”
“You are the best. Pak Yu, you truly are the best.”
“I can die without regrets. Do as you wish.”
It lasted for a full 25 hours. Eventually, her voice became weak and raspy.
“Please. Can we not stop now…?”
Judging by Marshal Ugo-girl’s pleading, it seemed he had succeeded.
***
I felt like every drop of moisture had been drained from my body. I left the private room because I was thirsty.
*Waaaaah—!*
The crew members who spotted me let out a thunderous cheer. Dark energy acted as a medium, carrying the cheers from other ships through space. I quickly fled the area in embarrassment.
*Gulp! Gulp!*
I emptied an incredible amount of water. Once my thirst was quenched, sleep came crashing down on me.
“Young master!! I knew I could count on you.”
Ttaengchili massaged my shoulders from behind.
“Y… yeah…”
The reason I was able to pull this off? It was all thanks to the crowbar. The appraiser’s words about it being good for men weren’t just talk.
‘Hmm?’
Come to think of it, the crowbar, which used to be red, had turned entirely brown as if it had rusted. It seemed this thing had a battery of sorts.
“I’m feeling sleepy.”
“Shall I carry you to your room on my back?”
He offered his back. My legs felt weak, and it was hard to walk.
“No. I’ll rest in the infirmary.”
Marshal Ugo-girl had taken over my bed. Even if I could have fallen asleep immediately, I couldn’t go back because it was too awkward. Women were still difficult for me.
“Well, that makes sense. It must be hard sleeping with an ugly woman.”
I’m telling you, she’s a beauty. And it was the best night of my life.
***
“Are you awake, Captain?”
When I woke up, the medic was by my side. Judging by the slight sting in my neck, she must have bitten me.
“The Vice-Captain requested that I wake you, out of necessity.”
“How long was I asleep?”
“A full day has passed.”
My fatigue hadn’t completely vanished. If it hadn’t been for the crowbar, I might have died.
However…
A massive amount of Force was crammed inside my body. In terms of Force purity alone, I was now denser than Sudongtae. When I clenched my fist, a powerful strength concentrated within. Now, an average soldier wouldn’t be a match for me.
*Hiss—!*
The infirmary door opened, and the Vice-Captain walked in.
“Y… you worked hard, Captain!”
She looked at me with eyes full of respect. I don’t know why I felt so embarrassed.
“The standard loyalty contracts have been finalized. Basic maintenance on the captured ships is complete. We can set sail at any time. And about Marshal Ugo-girl…”
“Is something wrong with her?” I asked, startled.
I had given my absolute best until the very end. It would be devastating if something had happened to her. I had even grown a little fond of her…
“I am perfectly fine!”
A young girl peeked out from behind the Vice-Captain.
“Who…?”
“Ahem. It is I.”
Horns on her head. Sharp-looking eyes. A red heart at the end of a thin tail. She had become younger.
“Ah…”
I had a rough idea of what had happened. As the essence left her, she had regressed in age.
“Just wait one year. I shall work hard to gather essence again. Ahem—!”
“I… I shall look forward to it, Marshal Ugo-girl.”
Marshal Ugo-girl nodded.
“Give me just one light cruiser.”
“Would it not be dangerous for you to return alone?”
“Hmph! Who do you take me for…? I must go round up my subordinates. They will be worried.”
“Then, I shall provide you with a flight of ships.”
The price of a noble Succubus’s essence is equivalent to thirty ships. What about Marshal Ugo-girl, the leader of the Succubus Tribe? I estimated it to be worth roughly 1,000 ships.
Why an estimate? Because she had never once released her gathered essence in her pursuit of reaching the absolute limit of purity.
“I shall not refuse the gift.”
*Grind.*
Suddenly, she gritted her teeth.
“That damn Snail! I will kill him when I find him. Still, it wasn’t so bad getting to know you.”
Her anger vanished, replaced by a faint smile.
“Stay healthy until we meet again.”
With that, she departed.
“Whew…”
Somehow, the crisis had been averted. There was no time to waste here.
“We are setting sail. Destination: Moongom Star System.”
“Understood. I will have the preparations made immediately.”
That was the territory of an Imperium Marshal. I intended to incorporate it into the Lucifer Star Cluster.