After a round of back-and-forth that sounded confusing and borderline nonsensical—"Your guess isn't wrong. This really is my hometown, but it also isn't my hometown," and "Although it's similar, I'm sure that what looks like my hometown's hometown isn't actually my hometown"—Reinhard decided to cut to the chase.
He had only managed to clarify one thing.
That was that Subaru Natsuki had, to some extent, some sort of connection with the so-called Sacred Selene Empire. In other words, Subaru possessed a certain degree of knowledge about the latter.
"An army? Impossible. The military of my country back home was disbanded long ago. All that's left are the Metropolitan Police Department and the Self-Defense Forces."
"According to what you described, those iron-gray uniforms, those exquisitely ornate collar insignia, epaulettes, and sleeve emblems—there is absolutely nothing like that in my hometown."
"Below the Superintendent General, the Metropolitan Police only have chest badges for rank. Their shoulder insignia are sakura blossoms. The Self-Defense Forces use cherry blossom stars. As for those eagles, lions, dragons with wings, palace columns, diamond-shaped stars, and vine patterns—I have zero impression of anything like that."
"Their weapons and equipment—are you kidding me? That's electromagnetic pulse weaponry, energy weapons, exoskeleton armor! And they even have maglev vehicle technology! If the Self-Defense Forces had that kind of gear, they wouldn't be called the Self-Defense Forces anymore."
"They claim to be diplomatic personnel? Since when do diplomats wear military uniforms...? It's definitely not the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Besides, even if troops were deployed, it should be the United Nations Forces stationed in Japan..."
Faced with Reinhard's urgent barrage of questions—and even the near photo-perfect sketch he produced using his Divine Protection of Drawing—Subaru's head shook like a rattle drum.
"Reinhard, did you see a Stars and Stripes flag? Or an emblem like the United Nations symbol?"
After rejecting Reinhard's assumptions, Subaru seemed even more anxious and tense as he pressed the question in return. "Something roughly like this..."
His face slightly pale and his breathing a little uneven, Subaru hastily tore off a sheet of draft paper and used a quill to quickly sketch a flag and a circular emblem.
It was somewhat crude, but Reinhard could make it out.
The former had horizontal stripes, with a rectangle in the upper left corner filled with many stars. The latter was a globe encircled by branch-like wreaths, with irregular lines drawn across it.
"No."
After a long moment of careful consideration, the noble red-haired knight shook his head solemnly.
"Whether it was the Imperial officers I met at the Royal Capital's Council of Wise Men, or the soldiers I encountered in the countryside—including the vast quantities of supplies they gifted us, and the various castle- and palace-like buildings they constructed after purchasing land—I swear I have never seen the emblem you described."
"Not at all..."
The black-haired boy—rare in this otherworld where hair colors competed in brilliance—murmured to himself. Agitated and uneasy, he unconsciously clutched his head with both hands, fingers splayed as he pressed tightly against his temples. Before he realized it, large beads of cold sweat were sliding down from his forehead...
"Colony world, colony world, colony world, colony world..."
Staring fixedly at the production label printed on the opened crispy noodle package, Subaru's throat trembled as his thoughts churned chaotically. A grind grind of teeth escaped from between his lips.
"If it isn't some hardcore chuunibyou setting someone made up for fun, and not some sci-fi movie or game collaboration merchandise... Solar System III—that's Earth, isn't it? It all makes sense... an interstellar colonial empire... what we've encountered now is only a small advance detachment..."
"Subaru?"
"Barusu!"
Seeing Subaru staring blankly at the plastic packaging of the noodles, muttering to himself, his expression shifting wildly like a roller coaster—elation, despair, bitter laughter, curses, fear—like a madman whose brain itself was trembling, Reinhard and the other two in the room couldn't help but call out.
Before their concerned words had even finished, Subaru suddenly sprang to his feet, knocking the table so hard it shook and startling Felt. Clutching his head, he leaned back and screamed.
"Ahhhhh! Why why why—ahhh! Isn't this a million times worse than interacting with people and groups who are also from another world?! A colonial empire—and an interstellar colonial empire at that!"
It was no wonder Subaru lost his composure like this.
As long as one had read books and wasn't utterly ignorant, even a high school student would know that whenever colonizers were involved, no matter how glamorous and amiable they appeared on the surface, deep down every pore of theirs dripped with blood and filth—vicious to the extreme!
Perhaps many naive students did not fully grasp the reality, but unfortunately, Subaru had already been beaten down enough since coming to this other world.
The information Reinhard, the strongest Sword Saint, provided was undoubtedly more accurate and detailed than what Otto Suwen, a traveling merchant, had gathered.
After all, the latter relied mostly on hearsay, while the former had experienced things firsthand.
Emilia-tan was so cute, and she even had the rare half-elf attribute. If slave traders from a colonial empire were to see her and forcibly abduct her...
Unconsciously spiraling into wild speculation, Subaru grew increasingly irritated the more he thought about it.
At his side, the draft manuscripts he had painstakingly completed not long ago—his negotiation analyses and contingency plans—now looked more and more displeasing.
What use were they?
They weren't just individuals or organizations. Calling themselves an empire wasn't mere posturing—they were a genuine empire!
"It seems you are not from the Sacred Selene Empire after all, Subaru..."
The young man titled the strongest Sword Saint murmured softly. He reached out and, with sympathy and a hint of shared understanding, patted Subaru on the shoulder.
"Subaru." His tone grew heavy. "I mean—if, if your homeland has already been destroyed and annexed by the Empire, please stay strong."
For someone like Subaru—a complete outsider with no combat ability.
Back when they first met in a back alley of the Royal Capital, Reinhard had already known he was not from the Kingdom of Lugunica. Just as Subaru himself had said, he came from a very distant place.
Everyone has secrets. In keeping with knightly virtue, Reinhard did not pry or indulge his curiosity.
But now, nearly half a year after Subaru's arrival, the unfathomable forces of the Sacred Selene Empire had followed soon after. It was difficult for Reinhard not to speculate.
Subaru was undoubtedly his friend. Subaru had not lied. Of this, Reinhard was certain.
But he was also just an ordinary person. Perhaps even in his homeland, he had not been qualified to access more confidential information.
"Maybe."
His face growing paler, sweat beading across his forehead, the black-haired boy forced a smile uglier than crying, understanding Reinhard's well-meaning guess. "Ram-chan, even if I die, I want to die together with you, and Rem, and Emilia-tan!"
"Don't say such foolish things. Ram has no desire to die together with Barusu. That would be dreadful." Stretching out a hand, Ram poked Subaru's back with an expression of open disdain.
Although she said so, beneath the curtain of pink bangs, Ram's eyes revealed both emotion and shock.
They had gone through so much together and even walked out alive from what she had believed to be certain death in the Sanctuary. Though Subaru was always unreliable and off-key, perhaps even Ram herself had not realized that she had already begun to subconsciously believe—and worry about—the scenario he described.
"What exactly happened to make Barusu lose his composure like this? To say something so spineless and useless?"
Her tone was gentle, but her choice of words remained as sharp as ever.
Smack smack. Subaru slapped his cheeks hard. Having vented his emotions, he finally straightened his expression and grabbed Ram by the shoulders.
"The situation is serious. But as long as we don't act hostile, we don't have to die. Ahem—Ram-chan, where's Roswaal?"
"Why is Barusu looking for Lord Roswaal...?"
"Naturally to stay alive! For our sake, have that guy stop being a frontier count already. Hurry and gather information on the Sacred Selene Empire, find a way to make connections, then switch allegiance!"
"That way, we should be fine. If we surrender fast enough and set an example, maybe the Royal Selection won't even need to continue. With the Empire's support, Emilia-tan could automatically win and become Queen of Lugunica..."
"Now, now. I can't pretend I didn't hear that."
Turning back to look at Subaru, who was rambling on and openly encouraging treason, Reinhard's easygoing expression gradually faded, replaced with seriousness.
"Subaru, such words must not be spoken lightly."
"But..."
Subaru wanted to lay out his reasoning, but the moment he remembered that aside from himself, they were all citizens of the Kingdom of Lugunica, he fell silent.
"Haa... haa..."
After a few steady breaths, he asked the final—and most crucial—question that determined his current proposal.
"Reinhard... strongest Sword Saint, can you defeat the Sacred Selene Empire—this interstellar colonial empire?"
"Strongest... Sword Saint... That title, such responsibility—it is still too heavy for me."
The red-haired young man murmured self-mockingly. Though he wished to protect the Kingdom of Lugunica, he could not lie.
Facing the Sacred Selene Empire's approach of wielding a stick in one hand and offering sweets in the other, constantly displaying its might with both grace and intimidation—the faintly revealed colossal presence looming beyond the nine heavens—he had no confidence.
He did not dare gamble.
If the Kingdom of Lugunica were destroyed, what value would remain in a Sword Saint like him?
"..."
"..."
Both sides fell silent. The atmosphere in the room suddenly grew heavy and solemn.
After an unknown stretch of time—
"Um... Subaru, what is this interstellar colonial empire you and Lord Reinhard were talking about?"
A voice like silver bells rang out, clear and pleasant as a gentle spring stream striking the ear.
Knock knock.
Long silver hair braided down to her waist, amethyst eyes soft as water, features blending beauty and youthful innocence. The dreamlike girl stood elegantly at the doorway in a simple dress of pale lavender and white.
Though devoid of lavish ornamentation, the understated design only made her presence more striking.
"Emilia-tan!"
The moment he saw his angel, Subaru instantly broke down from the previously heavy silence, nearly crying out her name. Just as he was about to hurry over, he froze when he noticed the others behind her.
"Crusch?"
"Indeed." The dignified woman in masculine attire responded calmly. Her deep green hair and sharp amber eyes, entirely different from Emilia's, conveyed her capable and resolute nature.
"Meow."
That was the greeting of a certain cute, soft-spoken boy, delivered like a cat.
"Ahem. What brings you here of all times?"
Subaru was genuinely puzzled. He had initially assumed the only guests were Felt and her group.
"I invited Crusch here," Reinhard answered.
Believing that brooding accomplished nothing, Reinhard suppressed all traces of discouragement, revealing none of it outwardly.
After stepping forward and exchanging a few brief words with Crusch, the red-haired knight turned to Subaru.
"The Sacred Selene Empire's reach has grown increasingly unrestrained. After bribing and coercing the Council of Wise Men into passing legislation permitting their entry into the Kingdom, their people have become more numerous in the Royal Capital and the central cities. Their troops are everywhere."
With evident apology, he explained,
"Fortunately, Subaru's location—within the border territory of Count Mathers—is relatively remote and quiet. The Empire's primary area of activity has not yet extended here."
"By coincidence, Princess Felt's words reminded me. Before coming to Subaru to understand the situation, I sent invitations to the other three Royal Selection candidates to gather here as well."
The black-haired boy frowned instinctively. Aside from Crusch and Felt, his impressions of the other two candidates were far from positive.
"If my guess is correct—and if they were not bluffing—the gap in hard power is immense. This is not something your individual strength can change. Even if the four great nations, including the Kingdom of Lugunica, were to unite, they might not necessarily be able to resist..."
He sighed. "Looking for me won't help much. I'm just an ordinary person—perhaps even an ordinary person whose knowledge and perspectives are already outdated."
"That Subaru has knowledge is already enough. At least you are not like me—blindly stumbling about in ignorance."
Reinhard smiled faintly.
"Was what I said earlier not enough?"
"Not enough. I need everything you know—every possibility you can infer based on your own understanding and knowledge."
The noble red-haired knight spoke solemnly.
"Once all five Royal Selection candidates have gathered, we will discuss the future of the Kingdom of Lugunica."
"The future? Will the Sacred Selene Empire even allow that?"
"For now, they allow it. The malice they have displayed thus far is actually minimal. On the contrary, there is a sense of protection and construction. When conflict erupted in the Council of Wise Men and halls were damaged, they seemed to show considerable distress. According to their military negotiators, they intend to maximize the rational utilization and planning of this world."
"Planning what?"
"The construction of palaces."
"Huh?"
Subaru was utterly bewildered. With such fanfare, as though a storm were about to descend upon the city—
And now he was being told their objective was so plain and unadorned. No plundering, no slaughter, no extermination—just... constructing palaces?
...
Yes. Constructing palaces.
Slap.
Within the vast expanse of the universe, on the upper bridge of the Imperial Inspector's flagship.
Selene lounged carelessly against a cushioned seat, as though indulging herself after playing to her heart's content. Her shapely legs, clad in fitted black trousers, were crossed lazily.
In her hand, she held a stemmed glass filled with pale blue gelatinous liquid. After glancing over a few pages, she casually tossed the red-covered confidential document onto the tea table beneath her foot.
—"On the Issues Faced in the Renovation and Construction of the Main Hall of the Imperial Palace Located in Watergate City of Priestella—The Witch Cult"—
Guerrilla harassment, taking advantage of the Imperial military's reluctance to cause widespread destruction?
In response, having just extricated herself from the effusive hospitality of the Jura-Tempest Federation—and the obsequious flattery of dragonkind, angels, and primordial daemons eager to see her gone—Selene issued a single-word directive.
"Exterminate."
—
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