"The Imperial Inquisition's 23625th Frontier Expansion Universe—Grand Sector Governor Lord Darth Vader has arrived at the Imperial Capital as of yesterday and will hold a captive-offering ceremony and victory parade during the celebration two weeks from now..."
"Recently, the Imperial Capital Security Administration will initiate preventative safety measures for the upcoming celebration. Certain urban districts and airspace will be subject to flight restrictions..."
"Attention to all residents and visitors of District 1910127 in the Central Urban Area of the Imperial Capital: the fourteen-day celebration, according to Imperial Standard Time, is about to begin. All residents and visitors are required to strictly comply with the Imperial Capital Residency Demonstration Regulations. Violators will bear the consequences..."
"The Imperial Ministry of Military Affairs has publicly released the latest battle report of the Empire's II Punishers Astartes Legion. Over the past Imperial Standard quarter, under the command of Grand General Budo, the Punishers' Angelic Crusade has incorporated 201 complete human worlds, 1,917 subspecies xenos worlds, and 32,027 xenos or heretical worlds of varying destruction levels. Several primitive, irrational life-bearing savage worlds have also been processed..."
"The Imperial Ministry of Justice will soon launch this year's third round of random qualification inspections for officials..."
"The Imperial Ministry of Internal Affairs is currently holding its performance review conference..."
"District 1910127 Food Street Guide..."
...
"Wow~ it's so lively."
The bright moon hung high in the sky.
With the afterglow of sunset fading away, lamps ignited in golden brilliance, dazzling like brocade ribbons. Within the inner streets of an Imperial Capital district that bustled as brightly as daytime, Elysia's gaze skipped lightly across the surrounding blocks before settling on the giant informational glass curtain screens erected in public areas by either Imperial authorities or district management.
Lofty palaces and towering pavilions rose in grandeur. From stern, blood-soaked official broadcasts to district notices, private company advertisements, and individual promotions... together they formed a surreal spectacle—glittering and illusory like a mirage, almost like a dream glimpsed in a fleeting nap.
Walking down the streets, one was dazzled by magnificent, ostentatious buildings that could only be described as 'wonders.'
"This world really is beautiful. I think I understand Kiana and the others' Imperial Sister's taste a little now. My, my... what an ambitious girl, with a taste like a fairy-tale dragon obsessed with glittering treasures."
"Just like me—I also love shiny, pretty things." Her amethyst-like eyes rippled with mischief as Elysia looked toward the Empress' sacred portrait painted upon the stained-glass wall at the center of the district, raising a fingertip.
"I really want to meet her."
"But... this new order of Honkai..." the pink fairy murmured softly, audible only to herself. "The life and death of all beings held in the hands of a single person, the rise and fall of everything bound to one will... ah, it's definitely not something I would want to see. But why do I still feel the urge to bow my head in worship?"
"...If the situation is truly beyond saving..."
"There's nothing I can do anyway." The girl smiled lightly and flicked her fingers, conjuring a pink-violet crystal flower which she tossed into the air. The glowing fragments that scattered outward seemed to reflect her current state of mind.
"The former heroine has already taken her curtain call. Even if I step onto the stage again—an even greater stage—my story ended long ago."
As for the world falling into that kind of situation once more... well, who could say? Her uniqueness meant nothing here. She was merely an ordinary girl now.
"To the beautiful world—this charming organizational leader has chosen retirement to enjoy life~"
Beep!
"Hm?"
A sound like a warning siren, along with a gentle nudge against her thigh, made the murmuring Elysia lower her head. Before her floated a machine construct with rounded lines and white paintwork. It looked festive, plump, and rather adorable, hovering in midair as one of its auxiliary limbs gently pushed at her.
"Greetings, ma'am. Imperial Capital Residency Demonstration Regulation Article 7... Prohibited Act No. 52: Littering and causing environmental pollution is forbidden. Please present identification. This is your fine notice..."
"..." Elysia blinked, then looked up at the crystal petals still drifting through the air, shedding radiant pink-violet motes.
"Litter? Pollution? A fine?" She pointed at them.
The patrol intelligence servitor's single-expression face nodded.
"Hahahaha..."
Noticing the pink-haired beauty's predicament, Mobius—who had just been browsing inside a nearby shop—poked her head out and burst into laughter without restraint before stepping forward. "I'm Mobius from the Imperial Capital Science Bureau. These few—hm, let's call them my 'test subjects' for now. This is temporary authorization. The proper procedures are still under review. Deduct the fine from this salary card."
"Really now—how is that litter and pollution? Mobius, did you make this? The logic assessment module is so rigid. It doesn't understand the artistic beauty unique to girls at all..."
Watching the servitor float away after deducting the fine from Mobius' account, Elysia pouted and flung herself into Eden's arms just as the latter stepped out of the shop.
"Elysia... honestly."
Eden, holding a fruit-flavored alcoholic drink, could not help but laugh helplessly.
"Eden, we still have a task, don't we? The offering our direct superior, Her Highness Alyssa, asked of us—the Valkyrie one. Do you have any inspiration yet?"
Aponia covered her mouth with a gentle smile. Her narrow, beautiful eyes lingered briefly on the drink in Eden's hand before shifting away. She scanned the district and obtained a residency map from a service servitor.
"If you intend to seek inspiration through wine, Eden, that place might be suitable—according to the information here."
Her clasped hands lifted slightly as the nun pointed at a building marked with a wine-glass icon on the holographic map, complete with descriptions and visitor reviews.
"It does seem promising. Hey, Elysia, Vill-V—shall we go have a drink? It's been a while." Eden smiled, readily agreeing with Aponia's suggestion.
Whether to savor fine wine, seek inspiration, reminisce about the past, or speak of the future—it could be all of those at once.
"Huh? Didn't Elysia say we were going to a clothing store first to pick out a pink dress for Mobius?"
"Vill-V, shut up! A brain full of engine oil, gears, and clanking metal like yours doesn't have a single shopping cell anyway. I'll call the Science Bureau right now and have the sages from the Mechanicus faction come take you away!"
"What?!" Though she protested, Vill-V was used to sparring verbally with Mobius. At the mention of 'Mechanicus,' her eyes lit up. "What's the Mechanicus? It sounds like it suits me perfectly."
"Uh... it probably does suit you."
Mobius thought about those oil-slicked fanatics and the former Fire Moth engineering director who dissected her own cognition. They would likely find kindred spirits in one another.
"Alright, alright. If you just don't want to wear a pink dress, fine. But such a rare and glorious reunion—come on~ Let's all go have a drink with Eden."
"You shut up too! I'm the one paying for everything—eating my food, drinking my wine, owing me favors, and still mocking me. Is that appropriate?"
"Waaah... In that case, this humble lady has nothing to offer in repayment—so I can only offer myself to Director Mobius."
"Shoo, shoo!"
Watching Mobius and Elysia banter so intimately, as if nothing had changed since the old days, Eden and Aponia exchanged smiles.
"Elysia... aren't we inviting Sakura and Kevin?" Eden asked softly.
Still half-playful, the pink-haired girl lightly slipped away from Mobius and stood with her hands behind her back, smiling. "No. Right now they have their own concerns and long-awaited desires. Those matter far more urgently than we do."
Elysia stepped onto the arched bridge over the artificial canal in the district and looked up at the sky.
"Perhaps the next reunion will be the true reunion."
...
"When the Divine Empress emerges, the cosmos is born."
"The Empress alone is the law; all deeds follow Her will."
"Only by relying upon Our Goddess may the masses find shelter."
"Only death ends the duty of loyalty."
"Those who defy shall be slain."
Gazing at the words engraved upon the towering monument before her, Cecilia—who had grasped the Imperial lingua the moment she was revived—could not help but sigh. "Such terrifying power."
From subtle signs one could perceive the whole. From the palace district to the upper city, and then to the central districts, this entire journey of observation had allowed her to personally experience what the majesty of the Divine Empress truly meant.
"Unreachable," Himeko murmured, shaking her head. She reached out and patted Kiana's shoulder with emotion. "With an Imperial Sister like that, I don't know whether to call you fortunate or unfortunate."
Kiana merely smiled without replying.
Pressure? Of course. Sister Selene certainly gave her pressure—but she could not simply accept everything with a clear conscience. She had to produce results. And the open and covert probing and overtures had never ceased. Even outside of work, her daily life felt suffocating at times.
"Sakura, you know I'm not skilled in direct combat, so I've never held a position within the main military system. If you intend to enlist, I'd recommend the auxiliary forces. If possible, the Imperial Guard system here in the capital would be even better."
Faced with Sakura of "Setsuna," Pardofelis scratched the back of her head awkwardly. There was only so much help she could offer.
"Mm. Thank you. But Pardo... I've roughly learned about the Imperial military. The front lines of interstellar warfare across the sea of stars—that's a realm of massive warships, heavy artillery, and overwhelming troop formations. That's not my strength. I have no experience commanding legions. Is there anything like a 'Cocoon' unit?"
"'Cocoon'? You mean assassination squads... I don't have much contact with that side. Let me ask—"
"If you don't mind, I can arrange it."
Durandal stepped forward, having overheard Sakura and Pardofelis. "If you're unsuited for frontal combat and lack command experience, the Imperial Guard system in the capital would indeed be difficult. I can contact General Esdeath of the Empire's assassination corps for you. As for the assessment process..."
"That is more than enough. General Durandal, I am deeply grateful." Sakura bowed solemnly.
"Where did Kevin and the old ice block go?" Senti, wandering the Imperial Capital with the group, looked distinctly uninterested. Suddenly recalling something, she turned to Fu Hua. "Still at the Golden Courtyard?"
"They left after dinner with a few members of Durandal's Immortal Blades and headed to the lower city."
"What did they eat?"
"Noodles."
"Tsk... that's the old ice block alright." Clicking her tongue, Senti remembered the times Kevin—before he turned into a literal ice block—had treated her to noodles and rubbed her forehead. Then she waved loudly. "Hey, hey, Kiana! Don't just keep sightseeing. Come on, let's go have a feast!"
"My treat!" she declared grandly, thumping her chest.
"Oh, generous Miss Senti , might you add two more place settings and allow me to join—"
"Like hell! Why are you everywhere?" Pink-white petal effects swirled as Senti glared at the white-haired nightmare from Avalon who casually hugged a small white beast and leaned in as if they were close friends.
"Now, now, don't say that. Al's territory in the Camelot star system has just been settled. With the Imperial Capital's grand celebration, how could we be absent? And to run into you here—what a coincidence, wouldn't you say?"
"Fufu~" The little white beast raised its soft paw in greeting.
"Long time no see, Governor Kiana, General Durandal..."
The voice that followed was clear and crisp. Cecilia, who had been speaking with her daughters, turned at the sound. A colleague of her daughters?
The woman's hair was pure gold like spun silk, carefully coiled into an elegant braided bun at the back of her head. Her emerald eyes were so crystalline that they made one's heart itch with their clarity.
"Merlin, Artoria... and your knightly attendants," Senti greeted, pulling the pure white beast from Merlin's arms before addressing the Knights of the Round Table standing behind Artoria.
"Hey now, Miss Senti. We do have names," Lancelot said helplessly, dressed not in armor but in refined attendant attire, running a hand through his pale lavender hair.
"I'll beat her someday," Mordred muttered.
With faint smiles, Gawain, Tristan, Bedivere, and the others stood at Artoria's side.
"These are Kiana's friends..."
Himeko stroked her chin, suddenly intrigued.
Now that Honkai disasters were no longer a concern, her students had all graduated, and she had witnessed the flourishing grandeur of the Imperial Capital, her state of mind had relaxed enough to adopt a different perspective.
...They were all outstanding men.
Even after resurrection, Himeko had not forgotten the crisis that had loomed before the Honkai catastrophe interrupted her life plan—arranged marriage meetings.
Before Honkai found her, once she had entered her late twenties, her desire to find someone to marry had grown steadily stronger. Unfortunately, truly good men were exceedingly rare. And her students had been so troublesome that her schedule had been repeatedly disrupted. Several matchmaking attempts had been interrupted.
Now, looking at these men—reliable gentlemen brimming with romantic aura, handsome figures with gentle smiles, a melancholy poet-like beauty, and even... upright features, slender builds, and breathtaking androgynous charm...
"Hey, Himeko-sensei? Wake up..."
Raiden Mei covered her face. Too familiar. Far too familiar.
Memories of Saint Freya flooded back. Whenever Himeko wore that expression during break time, it usually meant she was preparing for another matchmaking session...
Just as Cecilia stepped forward and introduced herself as Kiana and Durandal's mother, exchanging cordial conversation with the solemnly respectful Artoria and her party—
Tap, tap.
"Governor Kaslana."
"What is it?"
Kiana turned around, slightly puzzled. The winged Schicksal emblem on the visitor's uniform marked him as a civil servant from their home world. "Is it the Principal..."
Thinking of a certain aunt who loved bitter melon juice, a light curve formed at the corner of Kiana's lips. "Without notifying her first... I suppose it's about time we went home and gave Aunt Theresa and Dad a surprise."
"Governor, this is information recently detected by a resource exploration shuttle from the newly developed Sixth Trial Star System within the Governor District. Bishop Theresa ordered me to deliver it to you personally. After verification, it matches the database of World Serpent—specifically the Project ARK left behind fifty thousand years ago by the Fire Moth organization of the previous era."
"Project ARK." Kiana murmured as she accepted the folder handed over by the official. "Understood. You may go. Thank you for your hard work."
"It's Griseo," Sakura said after the staff member withdrew, having overheard the exchange. Her tone was certain. "We can't confirm that she's still alive—but at least this is good news."
Kiana nodded. "It's an opportunity." She turned to Durandal. "There's still time. The official start of the Imperial Capital celebration is still nearly half a month away. Let's return to Schicksal—bring Aunt Theresa and Dad over as well. And while we're at it... Class Monitor, we'll bring your companion back too."
"Mom, Dad will definitely be overjoyed when he sees you."
"Siegfried..."
Cecilia's eyes instantly grew moist.
As a strong mother, after her resurrection she had not pressed Kiana about her husband. She had simply listened quietly as her daughters recounted their experiences. But when Kiana took the initiative to mention her father, she could no longer suppress the longing in her heart.
Feeling her mother's hand tremble slightly with emotion, Kiana exchanged a glance with Durandal.
No need for hesitation.
"We leave now."
...
The universe where the former Schicksal forces' home world once existed.
Deep space, far from the development zones of the Sacred Selene Empire.
Within the hazy, dim void.
"External signal detected. Captured."
"External signal detected. Captured."
"Index cross-referencing..."
"Warning! Warning! Warning!"
"Honkai detected! Honkai detected! Honkai detected!"
"Mm..."
The girl who had drifted through deep space for fifty thousand years slowly opened her eyes and sat upright within what resembled a sealed capsule. Her violet pupils, filled with deep longing, were like profound mirrors—radiating warmth and light amid the darkness reflecting the red emergency alarms.
"Sakura-nee."
"Aunt Mobius."
"Mother Aponia."
"Kosma."
"Everyone..."
"Honkai has returned. Brother Kevin, Sister Hua... did you fail? That super-Honkai storm that swept through Imaginary Space and the Sea of Quanta—even the material universe... was it the revived Finality?"
After a moment of silence, the sky-blue-haired girl spoke. "Deactivate the alarm."
Soon, the flashing lights vanished, and the clamor faded away.
The girl stood and picked up a long cylindrical object from the table that resembled an oversized fountain pen. Through the transparent observation window, she stared at the shattered void outside the ship—nothing but darkness and silence.
Twisted and fractured, jagged hyper-spatial entry veins intertwined across the torn veil of reality, pulsing in and out of manifestation.
"After the Honkai storm... there are no colors left. Only black. Green Star, Ice Star, Dark Star... all gone."
"Everyone... Honkai is still expanding. What should Griseo do...?"
—
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