At night, I sat on a rocky base, a few meters near the slide of that steep hill, while sipping a warm drink, looking at the view of the city that was still lively with its twinkling lights.
Suddenly Mendicore came approaching me and observed the city view as well.
"Have you ever imagined one day you could have a body like a human?" I asked.
Mendicore turned to look at me. Even though it didn't have a face, I could feel that Mendicore tried to digest my statement which was not included in science or strategy.
"Johann... I know that you want to interact more naturally with me, right? The answer is yes. However I can think about that after I live together with you. I also want to feel having feet that walk stepping, hands that touch and hold as well as a mouth that can taste food..."
"However that is only my analogy. I don't have the desire to try to realize it because I was originally created only to help win wars." Mendicore continued.
"When I was still in my original world, I once saw a fantasy fiction where a space hero traveled alone together with his artificial intelligence tool. But that tool could display a hologram form of a woman who could interact with that companion. I think you should be able to do that." I said.
"Ohhh is that so...??? hmmm... it should be possible as well. However I still cannot imagine myself wanting to take what kind of female form. I don't want to imitate anyone." replied Mendicore.
"No need to decide it so quickly, Mendicore. If you want to remain in this form as well it is not a problem for me." I said while smiling.
We both continued enjoying the city view that night for some time.
The next morning, I had prepared myself wearing my formal clothes. Sherubiel and Mendicore already looked enthusiastic to attend today's celebration event.
While we were waiting sitting in the lounge, we heard the sound of that go-kart horn again. When we went out, I saw Grelmure picking us up.
"Wooww... everyone already looks cheerful and happy, right! Let's immediately go there!" said Grelmure.
I glanced at Sherubiel who also looked happy. It seemed she was glad Grelmure didn't tease her anymore.
"Where will we celebrate, Sir Grelmure?" I asked while on the way.
"We will all go to the Imperial Palace. That is where the center of the celebration is held. Commander Gruzhnil has picked up Sir Hellraider first because Emperor Gregustus wants to meet him personally." said Grelmure.
Ooohhh... I didn't expect this celebration moment to also be used by the emperor to meet him too. But I could not imagine how their conversation would be. I thought the emperor would talk more while Hellraider would answer with body gestures or few words only.
I remembered in the storyline of the game, Hellraider indeed sided more with Emperor Gregustus. I once saw a flashback scene in the game where he knelt before the emperor.
When entering the city, I saw so many people filling the roadside. They wore their best clothes. Some of them looked towards our go-kart. Maybe they were interested in Sherubiel and Mendicore because they saw foreign entities for the first time.
"What kind of celebration is it, Sir Grelmure? Is it filled with military parade of The Graendall order?" I asked.
"Of course not only military parade, Johann. At the beginning it will be more dominated by military events. But after that, the Grivendal people's festival will become the main entertainment."
"Will all high commanders from each planet attend the palace as well?" I asked again.
"You already know the answer, right. So I will not explain it again." answered Grelmure.
I just nodded. However I thought about what would happen if Tiberos met Gruzhnil again after their conflict on planet Grohn. I could not imagine Tiberos bringing up again that matter which I thought was very contrasting and worrying secretly in the palace area which clearly was the center of Gregustus' power. Hopefully no similar conflict would occur between them on this celebration day.
When the go-kart entered the city center, I saw many The Graendall soldiers who seemed to prepare the event like a military parade. Soldiers had formed formation lines consisting of various ranks and weapons. Several military assets also joined the parade such as tactical vehicles, tanks and bipedal robots. But it seemed there was one that was not present here.
"It seems all military equipment is here. But I don't see Graganthurion. Are they too large to be shown in the middle of the city, Sir Grelmure?" I asked.
"Hahahahaaa... You must be a big fan of that robot, right? Be patient Johann. You will surely know..." answered Grelmure in a slightly joking tone.
From his answer, I felt Graganthurion would appear later but not placed here yet.
After some time driving, we finally arrived at the Imperial Palace. Grelmure didn't enter through the main gate but from the side because in front of it there was already a magnificent stage for Emperor Gregustus to watch the military parade.
We walked into the Palace. In the magnificent corridor that would lead to the emperor's throne room, suddenly we met Gruzhnil and Hellraider. But what made me astonished was the change of outfit worn by Hellraider.
He was no longer wearing elite soldier armor like the infiltration mission before, but instead armor for commander rank similar to what Gruzhnil wore. That armor was equipped with a red cape and a thick black fur mantle.
That was the mantle made from Greslan fur that was given some time ago. I had suspected Hellraider would appear like that according to The Mayhem gameplay. He already looked like a supreme commander of The Graendall.
Suddenly my heart felt something unpleasant. I knew this appearance of Hellraider was the last one until the game storyline ended. The original ending that I could not accept immediately came back into my mind. I was not feeling amazed, but became worried if later I could not change his ending into something bearable.
"Heeeyyy, Johaannnn... Grelmureee... Come here all of youuuu...!!!" shouted Gruzhnil towards us.
Instantly my thoughts were broken. I immediately put on a bright smiling face and invited the others to go to Gruzhnil.
"I invited Sir Hellraider first because Emperor Gregustus last night asked me to meet him first. He also personally gave a special gift in the form of this armor to Sir Hellraider. He immediately wore it at that time. He looks very suitable as a leader of The Graendall hahahaaa..." said Gruzhnil proudly.
Hellraider only glanced at Gruzhnil with his usual expressionless face.
I knew Hellraider tended not to like being joked with. But he only expressed it like that.
"Forgive me, sir. I was just joking..." said Gruzhnil when Hellraider still looked at him as if telling him to stop joking.
I just smiled seeing Gruzhnil's behavior. Hellraider had changed a lot and the possibility of showing anger when accidentally joked with was very small.
"Where will we watch the event, commander?" asked Grelmure.
"According to the direction of Emperor Gregustus earlier, we will all sit at the wing section of the large stage in front of the palace. Let's go there now!" invited Gruzhnil.
We all immediately walked out of the palace through the main door towards the stage. I saw on the left and right many high-ranking empire officials walking in the same direction as well.
"I will go up to the very top part of the stage first, okay! Grelmure will guide where you will sit." said Gruzhnil.
We all followed Grelmure towards the right wing section of the stage through another stair path. There were already sofa chairs arranged in rows totaling 3 rows. Grelmure showed that we sat in the front row. Hellraider sat on the sofa closest to the top stage followed by me, Grelmure, Sherubiel and Mendicore.
I saw in front of it a large highway that probably had 6 lanes. In the middle there was a large pole that seemed used for flag raising. Across the road, there was a kind of large videotron displaying live broadcast of The Graendall soldiers' preparation for the parade later through flying drones.
I also observed the broadcast capture on the top stage where it was seen Emperor Gregustus, Princess Glynpatra, High Priest Grishal, Commander Gruzhnil along with the six other high commanders were already seated.
It turned out Commander Tiberos was also present at the palace today.
After some time passed, finally the event began. I heard the sound of trumpets echoing from each side of this stage. Emperor Gregustus stood up then followed by everyone standing including me. Then it was seen one elite soldier walking with firm steps forward to the center front of the stage.
"We will carry out the imperial flag raising ceremony first, Johann." said Grelmure in a slightly low voice.
I just nodded. That soldier seemed to be the ceremony leader today.
The ceremony leader gave a report to the emperor that the flag raising troop was ready. The emperor gave the order to carry it out.
Then three other soldiers entered the area with firm marching steps towards the flagpole. The soldier in the middle carried the folded flag. After attaching the flag to the lower hook rope, the ceremony leader shouted the command to begin raising the flag solemnly.
The choir formation on the left and right sides of the stage began singing the Grivendal imperial anthem accompanied by the music formation. The soldiers raised the flag slowly following the tempo of the song. When the flag had reached the top of the pole, the anthem finished being sung.
After that, Emperor Gregustus began delivering his imperial speech. I heard that Grivendal this year was at the peak of its strength. But instead of feeling happy, a sense of worry appeared in my mind about the threat of hell monster invasion that would come sooner or later in the future according to the game storyline.
I also remembered Gruzhnil's statement about the expedition plan and connected it with this threat. Even though Hellraider was on Grivendal's side, it didn't mean that when the invasion truly broke out later, he could destroy the hordes of monsters while saving the weaker people at the same time.
I hoped I could immediately inform Gruzhnil after this so that he would provide mitigation training to the people of Grivendal if this disaster truly occurred.