◎The Military Female Insect Strikes◎
For some reason, Sid’s trade territory kept growing, and Star Pirate Contestant kept dragging back more and more star pirate crews.
This planet was on the verge of becoming a notorious star pirate den far and wide!
You ask how I know?
Because star pirate crews have started coming to join us voluntarily!
With the aircraft running out of parking space, we had no choice but to annex the neighboring Desolate Star.
With the insects multiplying beyond control, we had no choice but to annex yet another Desolate Star next door.
Most of these star pirate crews were surprisingly well-behaved, keeping discipline better than an actual army, and the occasional bad apple got disciplined internally before I ever heard about it.
But something was very wrong here!
They only cared about their own careers! Not a single insect cared about my marriage situation!
After being addressed as “Leader” for the umpteenth time, it finally dawned on me: I had drawn the script of the maverick male insect.
Star pirates run rampant, so the Empire dispatches troops to crush them, only to discover that the leader of the star pirates is a male insect. Unsure of how to handle a male insect, the army’s Leader subjects him to round-the-clock surveillance on the journey home, only to be won over by the male insect’s charm, sinking deeper into feelings while suffering through them. Back in the Empire, the star pirate leader escapes prison thanks to his high-rank male insect status, and the two insects thus stay together.
Just recently, Star Pirate Contestant had inexplicably asked me what I thought of military female insects. That was heaven’s way of nudging me: the plot was about to begin!
Naturally, I said I admired them.
Admired their courage to protect everything.
Sure enough, a few weeks later, the entire planet sounded the alarm of enemy invasion.
Hold on! When did you people even install alarm systems?!
What’s with that brilliant blue Protective Barrier over there?!
And those Particle Beam Laser Cannons standing upright, what’s the story with those?!
Since when did this planet have weapons that dangerous?!
But no matter. It was all about to end. I was about to be captured any minute now.
Outside, war blazed across the skies while I lived my days in peace. The most urgent task at hand was changing into an outfit that flattered my figure.
A tight tank top, a black leather jacket, studded chains, and little leather boots.
A knock sounded at the door. These military female insects were surprisingly polite.
Just as I was agonizing over whether to show a flicker of stunned shock for that fragile, wounded look, or to spit out a harsh threat to display my will to live…
“Leader, we’ve captured all the invading enemies.”
Yes, yes, captured.
Wait. WHO was captured?
Your Empire’s army is pathetically weak, you know that?!
The Major General leading the troops was dragged before me.
Whoa. A handsome female insect with brown hair and wheat-toned skin, clean-cut features and resolute eyes, hair slightly mussed from the fierce fighting, radiating a certain disheveled beauty.
I understood!
I truly understood this time!
This was the forced-love script of a down-and-out military female insect and a male insect Star Pirate Boss!
The military female insect protagonist had been confident of victory in this punitive campaign, never suspecting the enemy was within. Through a rival’s jealousy and a trusted subordinate’s betrayal, he fell into star pirate hands. Just as he braced himself to be treated cruelly, he discovered that the star pirate leader was a male insect. Push and pull, drawing closer, dishevelment and warmth. The star pirate male insect clears the fallen military female insect’s name, and the fallen military female insect offers the star pirate male insect his loyalty.
Armed with this script, I knew exactly what to do.
Step one: upgrade the Military Female Insect Contestant’s lodging, so that in a warm, homey room he could chew over the cold memory of betrayal by those he loved and trusted most.
The next day, I dressed myself up to the nines and headed for the Military Female Insect Contestant’s quarters, ready to show off a magnanimity that set me apart from the local male insects.
When I arrived, the room was empty.
He ran?
“He went to the Training Ground first thing this morning,” Cracked Date said.
I see. So after a night of hollow confusion, he must have gazed at the morning light beyond his window and chosen to train.
Searching for meaning in the life he knew best, the one he couldn’t bring himself to abandon.
This fallen-but-not-broken character type was simply irresistible!
I hoped he would adjust to his new life soon.
I arrived at the Training Ground, and sure enough, the Military Female Insect Contestant was training.
But he…
“Your form is sloppy! From the top!”
Hands clasped behind his back, face stern and unsmiling, the Military Female Insect Contestant circled the square formation of star pirates, his expression so hard it looked like it could stop a bullet.
Why is he drilling troops?!
Have you adapted a little TOO fast?!
And you star pirates, you’ve all adapted way too fast too!
Star Pirate Contestant, who had been lounging on the high ground, sprang down nimbly at the sight of me and tipped his chin toward the Military Female Insect Contestant. “Well? He runs a decent drill, doesn’t he?”
“He does.”
But aren’t you being a bit too carefree about this? He’s a military female insect!
The kind where if you shoot him dead, it’s unforgivable atrocity, and if he shoots you dead, it’s defending justice!
Hearing the commotion, the Military Female Insect Contestant walked over, his ramrod-straight posture practically radiating justice, and opened with: “Thank you for your care.”
Honestly, female insects in zerg novels really have suffered too long. I’d merely given him a nicer room to live in, and he was thanking me, an enemy insect.
Then the Military Female Insect Contestant said to Star Pirate Contestant, “Thanks.”
Wait.
Something was off.
Something was definitely off.
Perhaps the astonishment in my eyes was too obvious, because Star Pirate Contestant looked startled himself. “Didn’t you tell me a while back that this planet had too many insects? So I found someone to help you manage things. If you didn’t know his identity, why would you put him up in the guest room?”
I told you there were too many insects so you’d STOP going out and robbing other crews!
And instead you went and robbed me a military commander?!
I didn’t understand. I asked the Military Female Insect Contestant, “Why did you agree to come here?”
The faint ease that had appeared on his face at the sight of someone familiar vanished, replaced by a heaviness laced with hatred. “The Seventh Prince’s conduct has grown increasingly erratic of late. He has petitioned the Insect Emperor directly for a decree that I marry him as his Female Attendant. If it were only about me, I would endure it, but he intends to use this as leverage to strike at my family.”
The Military Female Insect Contestant glanced at Star Pirate Contestant. “Thank goodness for the plan you gave me. A military female insect captured and lost in action. You truly have an imagination.”
Great. Just great. So THAT’S why Star Pirate Contestant suddenly asked what I thought of military female insects. He was swapping in his own script to replace my romance script!
“You’re merely an enemy defeated in battle. I’m the Boss’s captive.” Star Pirate Contestant laughed, utterly relaxed. This was the third face he’d shown me.
He and the Military Female Insect Contestant must have met during the brightest days of his life. That was why his words carried such a sunny ease, one that made his red hair look especially bold and unruly.
He turned to me for confirmation. “Right, Boss?”
The way he said it was almost coquettish. Paired with his build, it was like a big leopard prodding you with its heavy paw, blissfully unaware of its own weight.
What else could I do?
Yes, yes, I became the Star Pirate Boss of my own free will.
The Military Female Insect Contestant said, “Before coming here, I was honestly curious. I never thought you’d willingly take orders from a male insect.”
Smiling, Star Pirate Contestant lowered his head and rubbed the Crown Ring on his finger, the curve of his mouth like a painter pausing mid-stroke on a lip line, the look in his eyes deepening. “He’s different.”
I quietly straightened my back. Words like that were usually followed by compliments. Go on. Elaborate.
Was he going to praise my gentleness and kindness, how I was nothing like other male insects? Or my humor and generosity, what pleasant company I was?
Star Pirate Contestant’s eyes accidentally met mine, and he jerked his gaze away as if scorched by flame. “What are you looking at me for?! Aren’t you embarrassed?!”
Turning the tables on me?
You’re the one who’s embarrassed. Why are you ruining my chance to hear the compliment?
The Military Female Insect Contestant couldn’t hold back a laugh. Even his laughter was composed, though the content sounded like something out of a butler’s mouth. “Haven’t seen you this lively in a long time.”
Star Pirate Contestant raised a fist. “Is that any way to talk to your Commander?”
So they didn’t just know each other. Star Pirate Contestant had once held quite a high rank.
Come to think of it, that wasn’t surprising. In zerg novels, a military female insect’s possible endings were painfully limited: die, get married, or defect.
So Star Pirate Contestant’s transformation from military female insect to star pirate was, in its own way, one of the standard routes.
I wondered if he’d been sad while living through all of that. You know, if I had transmigrated just a little earlier, couldn’t I have walked the healing-his-wounds script with him instead?
That genre is hugely popular, you know!
