Volume 1: The Dawn of Innocence
Chapter 1: The Day My Little Sister Ascended the Throne
"Emperor means great—one who shines with majestic glory. Sovereign means one whose virtue mirrors heaven and earth, one who can enact the Way of Heaven: every action measured and true."
"Today, I ascend as both Empress and Sovereign. From this moment on, you are officially This One's Imperial Brother. I hereby bestow upon you the title of Left Wise King. Do you have any objections?"
The milk that was halfway down Takumi Hoshino's throat exploded outward in a magnificent white arc, splattering straight across his little sister's face.
The newly crowned Empress instantly flew into a towering rage. With perfect form she executed a spinning high kick—sending her brother tumbling off the sofa and rolling across the floor.
"Girl… nice legwork."
For some reason Takumi could almost hear an invisible narrator roasting him.
He lay there staring blankly at the ceiling until the Empress advanced with an aura of pure murder.
"Imperial Brother. Could it be that you are dissatisfied with Our ascension? Are you planning rebellion? Our dynasty may not have many princes, and our sibling bond is quite good… but everyone knows the imperial family is the most heartless place of all. If you truly refuse to submit, then We shall have no choice but to execute Our Imperial Brother with tears in Our eyes."
"Don't execute meeee!"
Takumi finally snapped back to reality.
"Onee-chan has finally caught the chuunibyou virus too, huh…? Terrifying. Even someone with a body this strong got infected. Humanity is doomed—chuunibyou is officially unstoppable. Owowow—"
Before he could finish, the tyrant little sister stomped down hard on his stomach. The milk threatened to make a return voyage.
The newly ascended Akari stared down at him with ice-cold, merciless eyes.
"We ask you one final time. Do you submit to Us?"
"Total surrender! Congratulations to Your Majesty on ascending the supreme throne! Literary brilliance and martial virtue, may birds give birth and fish become soup—truly a generation's Sacred Sovereign!"
The freshly minted tyrant's expression finally softened a little.
"Though you earlier offended Our sacred countenance—a crime of extreme disrespect—today is Our ascension day, so We grant amnesty to all under heaven. You are forgiven."
"Thank you for Your boundless grace!"
A wise man doesn't fight a losing battle. Takumi instantly slipped into his new role as 'Left Wise King'.
"Rise. We happen to have a task for you. Though the nation is small and the population sparse, an ascension is still a grand affair. We must inform our friendly nations. Take these flyers and distribute them."
The tyrant handed a thick stack of papers down to her brother who was still sprawled on the floor.
From this unexpected low angle… the 13-year-old loli little sister suddenly looked surprisingly… developed. At least that charming valley was clearly visible.
Takumi quickly accepted the flyers before he could stare too long.
The text read:
> By the Mandate of Heaven, We, in Our tender years, have inherited the great enterprise. Relying on Our Imperial Father's grace and diligent teachings, which spared no detail great or small. After personally taking the reins of government, We strive with utmost effort to repay Our Father's benevolence. Let all officials—civil and military—be wise and capable, pillars of the state, assisting Us in Our heavy duties, glorifying the old traditions while bringing forth even greater new achievements.
"What a mouthful… If I actually hand these out, the rest of my life is over."
Takumi tried to protest.
The tyrant's voice turned frigid.
"Our very first decree and you already dare defy it? Then what use are you?"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! This humble servant will carry it out at once!"
"You should refer to yourself as 'your humble servant'. Must We personally teach you every single point of etiquette?"
"Yes! Your humble servant shall depart immediately!"
"Approved. Go quickly and return quickly."
"Ah."
Ding-dong.
The doorbell rang.
Takumi blinked in confusion.
"Who is it?"
"It should be Our dragon robe arriving. Go accept the delivery."
"Dragon robe?"
"Dragon robe. Crown too. After We finish eating, We shall bathe and change into proper attire."
Thirty minutes later.
The tyrant little sister sat cross-legged on the sofa, clad in a dazzling golden dragon robe and wearing a gilded crown. Somehow… she actually looked kind of majestic.
"Today We officially ascend. Civil and military officials—why have you not yet paid respects?"
"Paying respects to Her Imperial Majesty the Empress!"
Even though he felt extremely unwilling, Takumi was still crushed by the atmosphere and dropped to his knees.
A man's knees hold golden value, damn it… Even if it's just his little sister, this hurts pride way too much.
At that moment the tyrant rose, gently helped him up, and spoke in a much softer voice.
"Imperial Brother, you are excused from further ceremony. From now on you are the Left Wise King. You may stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Us. Though you are not granted the title of 'parallel shoulder king', the seat to Our left will forever be reserved for you."
Saying this, a faint blush appeared on the tyrant's cheeks. She lowered her voice to almost a whisper.
"…Only you."