"A Teigu, huh?"
Selene murmured softly to herself. She wasn't sure what kind of Teigu were stored in the palace treasury, or whether any of them would even catch her interest. To be honest, offensive-type Teigu didn't appeal to her at all—their destructive power couldn't compare to her own raw physical strength.
That the late Emperor, before his death, granted her one opportunity to choose from the Imperial Teigu Treasury... was rather intriguing. He must have known she already possessed a Teigu—Bright Knight · Excelsis. Though that was a fabrication of her own, the Emperor likely hadn't realized it. Still, what was he thinking, giving her such a privilege?
Well... if I can really pick whatever I want, what about the national treasure itself—the National Defense Machine God · Shikoutazer? she thought, amused. They say only those of royal blood can use it... but I'd love to see that so-called "Ultimate Teigu" in action. Such a shame Tatsumi destroyed it in the end...
In this world, the laws surrounding the use of Teigu were absolute, and their conditions incredibly strict.
First: Those whose energy wavelength didn't match the Teigu couldn't use it. Forcing synchronization would either render the weapon useless or harm the user. Moreover, a wielder's first impression of a Teigu determined its compatibility—greatly limiting how many could ever use it.
Second: No one could wield two or more Teigu simultaneously. Just using one demanded immense focus and stamina; using multiple would exhaust both body and mind to the point of collapse.
Third: It was said that when two Teigu users fought, one was destined to die.
"Was this his way of trying to scheme against me even after death? Heh... well, whatever. He's dead now, so let him plot all he wants."
With a faint, mocking smile, Selene resumed her stride toward the heart of the Imperial Capital—toward the central palace itself.
Passing through the outer palace gates, she entered through the grand front gate of the inner sanctum.
In an instant, the colossal structure—built upon a small hill and towering thousands of meters away—came once again into view. Its majestic presence dominated the skyline, radiating authority and power.
As the Emperor's residence, the palace was built at the exact center of the Capital. No matter from which direction one entered—east, west, south, or north—the towering spires of the royal palace could be seen rising like a divine citadel.
Circular in shape and crowned with layers of upward-pointing towers, the highest reached hundreds of meters into the sky.
"No matter how many times I see it, it's still awe-inspiring," Selene murmured, her crimson eyes reflecting the sunlit spires. "A pity, though... it's not mine. Not yet. I'll let it stay here for now. One day, everything in this Empire will belong to me."
Turning to glance back, she surveyed the Capital from her elevated vantage point. Since the city was built upon a great hill, its structure resembled a vast staircase—the higher the district, the greater the prestige.
From here, thanks to her superhuman vision, she could see nearly the entire Capital—everything except the palace itself.
The outer walls of the Imperial City rose nearly a hundred meters high, and within them stood multiple layers of white stone walls, each fifty or sixty meters tall, dividing the Capital into Upper, Middle, and Lower districts. Each wall also symbolized the social hierarchy of the Empire.
The high walls completely blocked the view of those living below, preventing the lower classes from even glimpsing the splendor above them—save for the faint outlines of towers and glittering rooftops.
Conversely, the higher one stood in rank, the higher one's literal position in the city—and the more lives one could look down upon.
Stretching from the palace gates to the outer city's main entrances was a massive elevated causeway paved in polished stone. Streams of people moved along it—Imperial Guards clad in heavy armor and nobles in ornate garments. Yet, not a single commoner could be seen.
"Truly... this world is one defined by hierarchy," Selene murmured softly. "So clear, so absolute."
Having sighed her observation, she returned to her purpose.
"Halt! Who goes there—"
The guard captain stopped mid-sentence as soon as he saw who approached. Snapping to attention, he raised his rifle upright—barrel and bayonet pointed to the sky, butt resting on the ground—then pressed his left hand over his chest.
"General Selene!"
"Mm." Selene gave a curt nod in acknowledgment to the saluting soldiers before passing by.
As for why they saluted with firearms—it was only natural. The Imperial Capital's technology had long since advanced to include firearms, and ceremonial rifle salutes were a standard part of military protocol.
Even after Selene had passed, the guard captain stood rigid, beads of cold sweat rolling down his face. The sensation of being in her presence—of staring into that abyss of power—was enough to freeze his blood.
Without obstruction, Selene reached the Imperial Palace's council chamber. Along the way, every guard and servant she passed bowed deeply in salute.
After all, with her distinctive silver armor, white hair, and crimson eyes, Selene's appearance was unmistakable—an icon within the Capital.
The council chamber, like everything in the palace, was vast and opulent—lavishly decorated in gold and marble, spanning several hundred square meters in area.
Despite the vastness of the chamber, only a small rectangular conference table stood at its center, accompanied by two chairs placed opposite each other.
"That fat bastard Honest is late again," Selene muttered as she pulled out a chair and sat down. Gesturing to a nearby maid, she ordered a drink while she pondered which Teigu to choose.
A click sounded at the door—someone entering.
"Apologies, apologies... General Selene, this old man was delayed by urgent state affairs," came the oily voice before its owner even appeared. The next moment, Honest's massive frame filled the doorway completely.
State affairs, my ass, Selene thought wryly. Before he could even take a seat, she stood. "Enough talk. Let's go straight to the Teigu treasury. I'll skip today's banquet."
"In such a hurry? But I haven't eaten yet! My stomach's about to cave in from hunger," he complained.
"Make it quick. I still need to deal with the southwestern captives," Selene replied coldly.
...
Seeing that she was in no mood for jokes, Honest didn't press further. As they walked together through the corridors leading to the Imperial Teigu Treasury, he began explaining in his usual obsequious tone.
"Due to the great upheaval five centuries ago, many Teigu were lost. And with the Empire's current instability, quite a few have already been distributed to secure the loyalty of our nobles and generals. As a result, the palace treasury's reserves are... rather limited now, especially the offensive-type ones."
He was clearly trying to temper her expectations. After all, given Selene's aggressive temperament, it was hard to imagine her choosing a support-type Teigu.
Their footsteps echoed crisply through the silent, cold corridors. Soon, they arrived before a massive metal gate.
Selene examined its structure with interest. The entire door was forged from a dense alloy, covered with interlocking gears and mechanisms. Forcing it open would be nearly impossible without an enormous explosive charge. The only proper method of entry wasn't a key—at least, not a conventional one.
In fact, this gate itself was no mere door—it was a Teigu.
As the ruby ring on Honest's finger flared with crimson light, the gears began to turn.
Click-click-click...
Moments later, the heavy gate slowly lifted.
"Like the forty-eight Teigu crafted under the First Emperor, this treasury itself is a Teigu," Honest explained. "The only difference is that it recognizes no master—anyone possessing the 'key' can access it. Aside from its storage function, however, it's immovable."
"I see... so His Majesty entrusted the royal 'key' to you, Minister? You must have been quite favored," Selene said dryly, her tone laced with irony.
Honest laughed, his jowls quivering. "Hahaha! His Majesty's trust truly humbles me."
Inside, his words proved true. Of the forty-eight display alcoves lining the room, more than half were empty. The once-legendary Teigu Treasury was now nearly barren.
"These are what remain after the others were distributed to various departments," Honest said. "Most of what's left are support-type Teigu or those yet to find a compatible wielder."
Selene's crimson eyes swept over the nearest relic.
"This one..." she murmured, stepping closer to a large glass tube filled with pale green fluid. Suspended within was a canine-shaped organic Teigu.
Magical Beast Transformation · Hekatonkheires? Boring. Next.
Her gaze shifted to a small, ornate box. Curious, she lifted the lid—and immediately, a blinding golden light burst forth, as if some seal had just been undone.
From within the radiance, two silver bracelets shot out and clasped themselves around Selene's wrists. The bands shimmered, shrinking until they fit her perfectly.
"So... forward, aren't you?" she mused.
She examined them carefully. The twin bracelets—silver, two fingers wide—glowed faintly with ethereal light, their elegant ancient craftsmanship instantly appealing to her refined tastes.
Twin Fates · Thanatos. A defensive Teigu that could generate energy shields and amplify output. Useful, but... somewhat redundant with her own powers.
Still, they're beautiful. I'll keep them for now. Next.
"Oh? A familiar friend..." Her next find made her smile faintly. Picking up a massive double-headed axe, she felt no resistance from it at all—instead, a stream of information flowed directly into her mind.
Double-Bladed Axe · Belvaac. A Teigu of brute force, wieldable only by those of immense strength. When split, the axes could be hurled as projectiles that would relentlessly pursue the target so long as the wielder's stamina endured.
The faint hum of approval from the weapon made her raise a brow. Really now... since when did Teigu get so clingy? Aren't you supposed to be proud and aloof?
Not her style. Next.
Military Music Dream · Scream. A flute-type Teigu capable of manipulating the emotions of its listeners. Though famed for its use in boosting morale during battle, it could, in truth, influence dozens of emotions—though repeated exposure bred resistance.
"Not interested. Next."
...
Power Surging · Balzac. A mask-type Teigu said to unleash 100% of the user's latent potential.
"A hundred percent, hm? Somehow I doubt that includes mine..." Selene muttered skeptically, moving on.
Then something caught her eye—a dull, unremarkable object tucked away in the far corner of the vault. It was square, dusty, and wrapped in an aged cloth, untouched for what seemed like decades.
Selene tilted her head, curiosity stirring. Well now... what do we have here?