Chapter 89: Heavenly Garuda Male x Zerg Military Officer (11): If You’re So Bored, Go Lay an Egg

On the day An-shen published the new chapter...

The Zergs and the Heavenly Garuda fought to the death over "There's no way diplomatic relations could ever happen," "There could never be a Heavenly Garuda Embassy," and "Male diplomats."

The first day An-shen didn't update...

The Zergs and the Heavenly Garuda began arguing over whether Axel would choose the Zerg Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Heavenly Garuda Embassy.

The flames of war escalated yet again.

The Zergs insisted that Axel had grown up in the Federation, possessed Zerg citizenship, and would definitely choose the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

[Obviously our Zerg civilization is better than Heavenly Garuda.]

The Heavenly Garuda argued that Axel was one of their race, that blood ties could never be severed, and that he would ultimately return to Heavenly Garuda's embrace by choosing the Embassy.

[Even though we really don't want to acknowledge something like a Heavenly Garuda Embassy, he's our male! He has to choose us!]

The two sides even held an incredibly childish voting competition.

The Heavenly Garuda fell behind because they simply didn't have enough accounts capable of bypassing the network restrictions.

So they intensified their efforts to purchase alien accounts.

One account for themselves.

One for their male.

Every friend and relative they knew was dragged in to vote.

Until one clever Zerg commented:

[Why don't we just ban every account that votes for Heavenly Garuda?]

[What normal Zerg would vote for Heavenly Garuda?]

[Perfect bait. We just fished every fake Zerg out of hiding.]

The Heavenly Garuda instantly broke into cold sweats.

While cursing the Zergs for fighting dirty, they hurriedly withdrew.

Only then did the farce finally come to an end.

The second day An-shen didn't update...

Zergs & Heavenly Garuda alike:

Food...

Hungry...

The third day without an update...

Heavenly Garuda:

Where's that author named An? At the First Military Region? Capital Star? Let's invade!

Zergs:

Honestly, we'd like to storm in too...

But it's our own military district.

We should handle this in a more civilized manner.

@General of the First Military Region

Please urge An-shen to update! Stop assigning him training missions!

@Major General Uriel

Do you happen to know who An-shen is? Please help urge him to update.

@Marshal

Sorry, tagged the wrong person. Marshal, please carry on with your work. We'll ask someone else about An-shen.

...

That day, every senior military officer's account—especially those belonging to commanders of the First Legion—became unusually lively.

Uriel:

"..."

Urging His Lordship to update?

Absolutely impossible.

His Lordship's mood was far more important.

Besides, the recent workload for Psychic Soothing had become overwhelming.

His Lordship had dramatically increased the number of female soldiers he treated every day.

He also had to devote attention to the female prisoners in the Military Region Prison.

And on top of that...

He was still writing novels.

How could anyone possibly keep up with all that?

Lately, His Lordship had looked completely drained.

The work schedule needed adjusting.

And nutritional supplements had to be increased.

Deploy the ultimate restorative dietary regimen—

An Ruo, whose real problem was that a random flash of inspiration had been dissected by readers until he became socially withdrawn:

"..."

Forget all those bizarre things.

He quietly pushed the grotesque-looking Zerg supplements aside.

He had already recovered.

The best way to make readers forget something...

Was simply to publish more chapters.

As long as he kept writing!

...

【In the end, Axel chose to work for the Zerg Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Specifically, he became responsible for diplomatic relations with the Heavenly Garuda Empire.

"Aren't you afraid you'll have to meet Heavenly Garuda females?"

Enzo asked while straightening his collar.

"Not at all. If native Heavenly Garuda males can travel to a distant foreign nation to work, then I have no reason to be afraid."

Axel puffed out his cheeks, trying to encourage himself.

"If I run into any bad Heavenly Garuda, I'll call the Male Protection Association!"

Although he'd never needed them before, Axel knew that organization was extremely effective within Zerg society.

The Heavenly Garuda had their own Male Protection Association too.

But theirs wasn't nearly as useful.

It was closer to an endangered species conservation organization.

Still...

That was only the Heavenly Garuda he remembered.

Perhaps things were different now.

Enzo brushed a hand gently through the male's hair and looked into his eyes.

"Come to me."

Axel paused before understanding what he meant.

Then he smiled.

"Okay."

If he encountered any bad Heavenly Garuda...

The first person he'd tell would be Enzo.

Just before leaving, Axel wrapped his arms around Enzo's waist and affectionately kissed him on the lips.

Enzo still wasn't accustomed to showing affection with his Male Lord anywhere besides the bedroom.

He looked slightly embarrassed.

But seeing the male about to leave, he couldn't help asking,

"Do you really not want me to take you there?"

"No! No parent escorts their hatchling to work!"

Actually...

If it was a male, nothing would be considered excessive.

Enzo didn't say that.

Instead, he simply replied,

"But a Female Lord can escort his Male Lord to work."

Axel, who already had one foot outside the door, froze.

Slowly, he turned back, his eyes sparkling.

"Then... then..."

Enzo smiled.

"Let's go."

...】**

[An-shen finally updated! A day worthy of celebration!]

[The very first sentence solves the mystery! Axel chose the Zerg side!]

[Another victory for the Zergs! What does Heavenly Garuda even have to compete with us?]

The Heavenly Garuda, though depressed, were quick to find an excuse.

[Axel is specifically responsible for relations with the Heavenly Garuda Empire. Deep down, his heart still belongs to Heavenly Garuda.]

[Yuck. The fact that someone can actually say something like that is unbelievable.]

[Axel may be doing it for the males... but he's definitely not doing it for you.]

[After all... you're the "bad Heavenly Garuda."]

Unlike the Zergs, the Heavenly Garuda didn't regard a male's opinion as the most important thing in existence.

Being called bad Heavenly Garuda by a male didn't hurt them at all.

If anything...

Hearing those words from a male only made them feel even happier.

But the fact that the male had chosen the Zergs instead of them...

That completely shattered them.

In the end, they could only console themselves.

[Well, it's a novel written by a Zerg. Of course it'll favor the Zergs.]

[That Enzo... he tricked his Male Lord into giving him a goodbye kiss before escorting him to work. How devious!]

[Speaking of goodbye kisses, how do you know my Male Lord started giving me one every day after reading Lord Hill's novel?]

[...Crap. How did that trigger another "bug machine" keyword?]

[StarNet is getting more chaotic every day. Fake Zergs are everywhere, and then there are these "bug machines" who can't go three sentences without mentioning their Male Lord. Real Zergs are barely surviving.]

[The scary part is that some Zergs automatically become bug machines after getting a Male Lord. (Terrified)]

[This world is too frightening. Brother, don't get married. I'll marry instead. (Straightens tie)]

[No, no. Let me bear that burden.]

The Heavenly Garuda collectively thought:

Idiotic Zergs.

Marriage for a Zerg meant voluntarily placing themselves under the complete control of another.

What was there to envy?

Yet...

Thinking about the goodbye kiss from the novel...

They couldn't help feeling a little jealous.

Their males would kiss them too.

But forcing one out of a male...

And having a shy male take the initiative...

Were two completely different experiences.

...

【Enzo only escorted Axel as far as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, where an official came out to receive him.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs personally came outside.

After exchanging greetings with Enzo, every word out of his mouth was praise for Axel.

Seeing Enzo's eyes fixed on Axel's retreating figure, obviously unable to relax, he assured him,

"Don't worry. I'll take good care of your male."

Enzo withdrew his gaze.

"He is my Male Lord."

The Minister blinked.

"So it finally happened?"

"...Don't spread rumors."

Enzo clearly didn't want to discuss the matter.

He always felt guilty toward Axel.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs:

?

You're already calling him your Male Lord...

And I'm still not allowed to mention it?

"Fine, whatever. Just remember to invite me to the wedding."

"We'll see."

"...???"

"What do you mean 'we'll see'? We've known each other for years! My name has to be on the guest list! Is this because I lured your male—your Male Lord—into joining the Ministry? You're seriously not planning to invite me? Seriously??"

...

Axel spent the day becoming familiar with his new workplace.

He had his own office.

Among his coworkers was a very capable-looking senior Male Zerg.

The female staff members were all incredibly welcoming.

Especially after learning his name.

"Axel" was an extremely famous name.

It meant...

"Peace."

Some females who had lived through the war named their hatchlings that.

Over the past twenty years, it had become something of a trend.

Apparently the protagonist of that famous film had the same name.

Since it was a movie jointly produced by the Zerg Federation and the Heavenly Garuda, the symbolism made perfect sense.

Perhaps that was also why Enzo had refused to watch it with him before.

But now...

They were together.

Maybe they could finally watch it as a date.

The thought filled Axel with anticipation.

Officially, he'd joined the Ministry as a Male Zerg raised in an orphanage, so everyone treated him with exceptional kindness.

Working together didn't seem frightening after all.

Even the tall, intimidating-looking female Zergs smiled bashfully when delivering lunch to him.

That afternoon, after hearing that Axel spoke Heavenly Garuda fluently, a senior Male Zerg took him along to receive diplomats arriving from the Heavenly Garuda Empire.

In truth...

Heavenly Garuda had been Axel's native language from birth, inherited through ancestral memories.

Zerg language was what he'd learned later.

Shortly after hatching, he'd actually spent some time mixing the two languages together.

Fortunately, the Zerg and Heavenly Garuda languages shared common roots.

Once someone mastered one, learning the other wasn't especially difficult.

After systematic study, he'd quickly become fluent.

Axel had never imagined there would come a day when he'd actually use Heavenly Garuda professionally.

As the meeting approached, he grew increasingly nervous.

He was afraid they'd recognize him as Heavenly Garuda...

Capture him...

Force him to marry numerous Female Lords...

Or hand him over to some elderly noble female who would monopolize him forever...

Then...

He saw a male stepping down from the Heavenly Garuda diplomatic vessel.

He wore a neat business suit.

His pale pink-and-white hair fluttered in the wind sweeping through the spaceport, blooming like a radiant flower full of life.

The male smiled brightly and extended a hand toward him.

Not a trace of darkness lingered in that smile.

"Hello. I'm this mission's Heavenly Garuda diplomat, Nocas."

"...Hello."

"I'm... Axel."

...】**

Heavenly Garuda Empire.

Inside the residence of a mid-ranking officer.

The male stared blankly at the name that had appeared in the novel.

Instinctively, he covered his mouth.

That name...

It was his own.

The distant, unattainable dream had suddenly revealed a tiny corner of itself before him.

And there...

His own name appeared.

It almost felt as though the light and wind from that dream had passed through the words themselves and settled gently upon him.

Nocas felt his eyes grow warm.

"Why are you crying?"

The female who had just returned home was startled.

He hurried over, pulled the male into his arms, and carefully examined him.

No bruises.

No injuries.

Even the terminal scan showed no signs of illness.

Completely confused, the female glanced at the screen.

"Didn't you like the story?"

Nocas shook his head.

"I want to learn the Zerg language."

"Is the translator malfunctioning? Or..."

The female followed the unique thought process of a Heavenly Garuda female.

In an instant, he reached a conclusion.

"Did those Zergs insult you? I'll go insult them right back!"

"No..."

Nocas quickly grabbed hold of his agitated Female Lord.

He didn't even know whether he should explain.

If he did...

Wouldn't they laugh at how childish he sounded?

A diplomat surely had to master many languages.

He wanted to learn.

He wanted to learn all of them.

Even if it was only a novel...

He still wanted to move one step closer to that world.

One step closer...

To the bright, confident version of himself that existed within its pages.

The female considered it for a moment.

Actually...

That wasn't a bad idea.

Female readers usually skimmed novels.

Understanding the general meaning was enough.

But males often complained that translated wording lacked precision, that sentence structure felt wrong, and that the emotional nuances of the original simply couldn't be conveyed.

The Heavenly Garuda language possessed especially few words describing emotions.

Translation only made it sound stranger.

If his Male Lord learned the Zerg language...

Reading novels would become much easier.

They could even curse the Zergs together.

That thought only lasted a moment before he discarded it.

Expecting a male's soft, gentle speech to insult someone effectively...

Was completely unrealistic.

As Nocas studied the Zerg language, he also searched for recordings of diplomatic speeches.

He, too...

Could become firm.

Could become sharp.

...

Heavenly Garuda Empire.

Imperial Palace.

The Heavenly Garuda Emperor continued reading the novel aloud in his usual completely emotionless voice.

"He saw a male stepping down from the Heavenly Garuda diplomatic vessel... The male smiled and extended his hand... 'I'm this mission's Heavenly Garuda diplomat...'"

The Emperor frowned deeply as he read.

Closing the screen, he said impatiently,

"I truly don't understand why you choose Zerg novels as your way to relax."

"What else should I do?"

The male looked up at him.

"Vent my frustration in the training hall like you? Or fly a battleship around the universe looking for people to fight?"

The Emperor fell silent.

Naturally...

He knew the male would never do such things.

Resigned, he continued reading.

As for flying a battleship around searching for battles...

A trace of nostalgia flashed through the Emperor's eyes.

He sighed.

"I haven't left Capital Planet for an entire month."

Ever since ascending the throne...

He'd been tied to the Imperial Capital.

He could no longer act as freely as before.

He couldn't even properly stretch his muscles.

"It can't be helped. You're His Majesty the Emperor. No emperor leaves the palace every day."

Dozens of holographic screens floated around the male.

While rapidly reviewing documents with his psychic power, he answered casually.

Watching him, the Emperor suddenly said,

"If I'd known things would turn out like this... back then..."

"What?"

The male looked up.

"Should you have left two survivors alive so they could inherit the throne? Then the one who would've died would've been us. Well... actually, only you. Males aren't executed. I'd probably have been sent to comfort the troops... or perhaps they'd all enjoy me first."

Relationships that chaotic...

Were hardly unusual within the Heavenly Garuda Imperial Family.

Those violet eyes, said to have originated from the ancient Insect Queen, had been passed down generation after generation.

Not without the aid of repeated inbreeding.

The Emperor frowned.

"That's not what I meant... Those Heavenly Garuda who wished you harm... I personally tore every single one of them apart. Piece by piece. Their regeneration was so strong... it took rather a long time."

"Stop."

The male immediately raised a hand.

His face turned pale.

"I really don't need those details."

"Oh."

The Emperor obediently returned to the original topic.

"What I meant was..."

"You once said that if males possessed inheritance rights, then the throne should rightfully have belonged to you."

"I think you were correct."

"You're much better suited to governing this country than I am."

"And you're far more willing to devote yourself to it."

They were twins.

Although their differing sexes had led them down very different paths, preventing true intimacy...

Whenever he grew tired or let his guard down...

The male would occasionally reveal his true thoughts.

Hearing this, the male looked genuinely surprised.

Then...

Immediately wary.

"What are you planning?"

"The Empire can't survive another upheaval."

"What a shame."

The Emperor sighed casually before continuing,

"Still... surely it's perfectly normal for an emperor to personally lead a military campaign while the Imperial Prince governs the nation in his absence?"

A certain Imperial Prince:

"..."

He knew it.

This idiot only wanted to dump more work onto him.

"No."

"The internal situation hasn't stabilized yet."

"For at least the next three months..."

"You are not allowed to leave Capital Planet."

This time...

The Emperor's disappointment was completely genuine.

The male rubbed his forehead helplessly.

"If you're really that bored..."

"Go lay an egg."

The Heavenly Garuda Emperor—

Who had never once considered reproducing—

Went completely blank for a moment.