The little girl was dead.
And those nobles who took pleasure in killing? They were dead, too.
To Selene, those scum weren't even worth dirtying her hands over. Upon returning, she merely gave Honest a subtle hint.
By the next day, all the nobles who had attended that so-called "hunting" banquet were arrested under various charges, their estates confiscated.
As for what became of them—once they fell into Honest's hands—Selene could easily imagine the outcome. He later reported to her, saying simply, "They've disappeared forever."
This world, Selene realized, was far more ruthless than she had initially thought. Especially now, as the Empire showed clear signs of decline, the law of the jungle applied more than ever.
The weak commoners were trampled by the powerful. The weaker foreign races bowed before the Empire. Such was considered natural.
A nation's foundation, its nobles' luxuries—all were built upon the backs of the people. In her previous life, Selene remembered a saying from ancient times: "The ruler is the boat; the people are the water. The water that bears the boat is the same that can overturn it."
Yet, in this world, where beings of superhuman might existed and power disparities were vast, such principles hardly mattered. This country—no, this entire world—revered strength above all.
Reputation? Who cared? The victor decides everything. That was the creed of a militaristic world.
And to make matters worse, this world had something called Teigu—supernatural weapons that completely broke the balance of power.
When a single Teigu user could annihilate an entire army, the value of "the people" diminished.
After all, if a rebellion rose with ten thousand soldiers, and one Teigu user could slaughter them all, then all the ruler needed was to secure the loyalty of a few such users. Everyone else became disposable.
Esdeath, after witnessing that "hunt," had changed. Her beliefs solidified further. She refused to be weak—to be like that powerless little girl, unable to resist and doomed to be a plaything. She would become strong—strong enough to command her own destiny.
...
Imperial Capital — Imperial Guard New Recruit Camp.
It was elimination month again. Soldiers who couldn't handle the harsh training of the Imperial Guard were reassigned to lesser units.
At the same time, new recruits were joining Selene's division.
"Pack up. Go collect your issued gear and change into uniform. Then training begins immediately."
"Remember: The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle."
"And one more thing—aside from sanctioned duels or evaluations, personal fights are strictly forbidden. Anyone caught brawling will be executed on the spot."
A squad leader barked orders as he looked over the messy line of new recruits. Shaking his head, he gave a few final instructions before walking off.
Every new intake was like this—chaotic. Even in the elite Imperial Guard, it was no different. Turning a bunch of rough, hot-blooded villagers into a disciplined army took time.
But time was something they had plenty of.
Once the squad leader was gone, the recruits couldn't hold their curiosity any longer.
"Hey, did you hear? Our commanding officer's a gorgeous woman."
"So what? It's not like she'd ever notice you."
"You wanna fight, huh?"
"Come on then, who's—huh? What are they doing?"
"Looks like... a deployment?"
...
While the new recruits gossiped, the veterans—those who had survived a month of Selene's grueling training—were assembling, preparing to head out on a mission.
"So, pulling you from the Capital's security division... you don't mind, do you?" Selene asked casually.
"I wouldn't dare, ma'am. Orders are orders," replied a burly officer with bulging muscles dressed in a standard Guard officer's uniform.
It was none other than Kinshasa—the same man who once handled registrations at the Imperial Arena.
Selene smirked faintly. "Tch. Still a bit resentful, huh? I can't blame you. It was a comfortable post."
"Enough about that," she said, handing him a sealed document. "Here's the military directive. The Ministry of War has ordered us to eliminate the bandits infesting the southern highway near the Capital's southern station. We've got seven days to clean them out."
She folded her arms, smiling. "You'll lead the operation. It's your specialty, isn't it?"
"Yes, ma'am." For a veteran like Kinshasa, who had served in the Capital's security forces for years, this kind of assignment was hardly a challenge.
Watching Kinshasa depart with brisk efficiency to carry out her orders, Selene couldn't help but feel pleased. He was a capable subordinate—an excellent tool... ahem, officer.
Still, Honest worked fast. Barely had she returned when a mission arrived that would conveniently earn her battlefield merit. According to him, once Selene completed this bandit-suppression campaign, he would personally arrange for her promotion—removing her from the recruit camp and placing her in command of troops to quell regional uprisings.
Truly, Honest was her "lucky star."
"Esdeath, would you like to come along?"
"Yes," Esdeath replied without hesitation. Dressed in a standard recruit's uniform, her eyes burned with fighting spirit.
...
Within a blink, Selene's month-trained veterans were fully assembled, ready to march out for the mission.
The southern road leading from the Capital toward the South Station stretched through lush greenery and towering cliffs, the scenery magnificent and untamed. The occasional beast's roar echoed faintly through the nearby forests.
The environment around the Capital was surprisingly well-preserved—if not for the occasional pile of bleached bones along the roadside, the path could almost be described as picturesque. Perfect for a leisurely excursion.
Beside one such skeleton, a lizard-like creature crouched low, flicking its barbed tongue to lick at the ragged remains of a man's body.
It was a Class 1 Danger Beast—an Earth Dragon.
Suddenly, its ear flaps twitched. Whoosh! A sharp sound split the air, and the beast let out a dying shriek as it collapsed. A steel lance had pierced clean through its skull.
Moments later, the steady rhythm of horse hooves echoed across the quiet, open highway.
A yellow warhorse appeared first, carrying a tall, broad-shouldered man clad in the iron-gray uniform of an Imperial Guard officer. Narrow-eyed and composed, he slowly lowered his throwing stance, gazing at the dead Earth Dragon and the half-gnawed bones beside it. He sighed quietly and shook his head.
Another rider galloped up beside him, deftly flicking his own steel spear to pry the weapon free from the beast's head before catching it midair. Grinning, he handed it back. "Excellent throw, sir—killed it in one strike!"
"And judging by the size, this Earth Dragon was in its youth. The meat will be tender—perfect for a change of taste."
The officer accepted his spear, glanced once more at the skeleton, and said, "Enough talk about food. We still have a mission. Leave a squad behind to bury the remains—and bring the dragon meat to Commander Selene. She'll appreciate it."
"As for the bandits' hideout, its location's mostly confirmed. The rest of you, follow me for reconnaissance!" With that, the officer spurred his horse forward, leading the column away.
"Yes, sir!"
As they hoisted the Earth Dragon's corpse, the squad leader suddenly noticed one recruit frozen in place. "Huh? Urinin, what's with you? Don't tell me you're scared already."
Urinin looked at his calm, steady squad leader and asked quietly, "Sergeant, aren't you afraid? We're about to go into real battle."
No matter how hard he had trained, no matter how ready he thought he was, the reality of combat made his heart race. He couldn't stop trembling.
The sergeant chuckled softly. "Nothing to be afraid of. You're lucky—your first battle's against a bunch of bandits. Back in my day, we fought those fickle northern tribesmen. Now that was rough."
He patted the recruit's shoulder. "Just think of them as pigs. Then it's no different from butchering one at home."
"Pfft—"
The recruits burst into laughter, their tension easing instantly.
Before long, the metallic clatter of armor, the neighs of warhorses, and the synchronized tramp of marching soldiers filled the air.
Selene rode at the head of the column atop a magnificent white stallion, draped in her Teigu—Bright Knight · Excelsis—its silver segments gleaming under the sun. Her expression was stern, focused, unwavering.
Behind her, a massive crimson-and-gold eagle standard fluttered proudly in the wind, snapping like fire with every gust.