The bustling spaceport was alive with the constant rise and fall of transport ships, patrol craft, sightseeing vessels, and hover taxis.
These vehicles tirelessly ferried passengers and cargo between the planetary surface, orbital stations, satellite hubs, and near-Earth platforms, their blue thruster flames twinkling like stars against the vast, shimmering cosmic expanse. The great river of the galaxy flowed slowly in the background.
Between the near-Earth platforms and the planet's surface, a breathtaking sight greeted those standing on the station: hundreds of space elevators linking sky and land. Sightseeing cable cars and anti-gravity rail trains raced along their paths, a testament to the flourishing prosperity of the world below.
...
The powerful winds generated by the high-speed trains whipped through the sky, brushing past the scattered clouds. A continuous stretch of brown coastline emerged under the clear sky, and seagulls circled near the trains, heralding their approach to land.
Seated alone in the middle compartment of the legion's military train, Hachiman Hikigaya sat in deep thought. The journey from the Star Gate Spaceport to Sector Eleven (formerly the Japanese archipelago) and finally toward Tokyo on Honshu Island was nearly complete. Home was now within reach—so why couldn't he calm his thoughts?
Was it nervousness about returning to familiar places? A lingering sentiment for the past? Anxiety over the noble rank he was about to receive for his military merits? Or was it the realization that something he had once thought impossible—having multiple wives—was now a tangible possibility?
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, a flush of warmth spread through him.
Despite his gloomy demeanor and lack of close friends throughout middle school, as a product of Neon youth culture—raised on light novels and shounen manga—he was, at heart, a battle-hardened yet hopelessly idealistic high schooler.
In short, he was someone who understood the complexities and deceptions of human relationships, yet remained a repressed romantic.
Well, no matter. He was alive, after all. And soon, he would see Komachi again. Ahaha... my foolish little sister, just wait until you see how your big brother has transformed into a towering warrior! You're going to admire me so much!
Just as Hikigaya started mumbling to himself, a sudden screech—
SCREEEEEECH!
The train's gradual braking pulled him from his daydreams. His gaze snapped forward, and he realized something surprising—
the Astartes Eighteenth Legion Salamanders' Conquered World-Eleven, home to the largest and most heavily loaded space elevators, was experiencing a traffic delay.
A military train had been forced to a halt?
That shouldn't be possible. Space elevators operated on a single, uninterrupted line.
It wasn't just his train—other military convoys had also stopped, all yielding the right-of-way to a VIP luxury sightseeing cruiser.
Someone important must be on board—either from another warzone or perhaps even from the Imperial capital itself, Hikigaya mused.
This was nothing unusual in the empire, where military merit and noble titles defined one's status. There was no resentment—just reality. Hierarchy was absolute, and one's place in it was determined by power and achievement. The only real solution was to climb the ladder.
Earn a higher rank, and soon enough, those of lower standing would be the ones bowing to you.
At the very least, upward mobility in the empire seemed far more attainable than in the old Neon nobility system. There were no hereditary political dynasties—only merit.
Talent was recognized. Military success was rewarded.
The train came to a complete stop. At this point, passengers were permitted to open their windows. Hikigaya eagerly leaned out, gazing at the pristine white metropolis rising over the vast blue ocean—the planetary capital of Conquered World-Eleven, the seat of the Imperial Governor.
"It's even bigger than before."
Situated along the western Pacific, near the Sector Eleven archipelago, this land had not always existed. The Empire's Forge Division had surveyed, planned, and carried out extensive terraforming—raising entire landmasses from the sea.
It was upon these newly forged lands that the planetary governor's palace now stood.
The structures on the newly raised land were ancient yet grand in design, their pristine white walls encircling the city in a vast ring.
The sea breeze howled between towering white stone pillars, their crystalline surfaces gleaming like polished mirrors as they stood tall in the majestic colonnades. The massive temple reflected in those pillars stretched skyward, its stained-glass windows carved with depictions of Astartes Angels, the Lord Commanders, and the God-Emperor.
From a distance, the architectural complex resembled a celestial palace, an ethereal masterpiece beyond anything Earth's old civilizations could have ever conceived.
Indeed, the city exuded an unyielding vitality, no longer a stagnant ruin. Tens of thousands of dreamers had settled here alongside the planetary governor's administration. Regardless of their past identities, all who came had to prove themselves through merit alone. This fascinated him.
I'll bring my parents and Komachi here—our whole family will move together!
Hachiman Hikigaya made his decision silently.
A small goal, perhaps, but a realistic one. Declaring ambitions of moving to the Imperial Capital outright would be absurdly premature.
For a world like theirs—primarily focused on tourism and lacking a significant population of extraordinary individuals—gaining access to the Imperial Core was nearly impossible. Even qualifying for the Imperial Auxiliary Forces was a challenge; compared to recruits from war-torn primitive worlds, their physical conditioning was simply too inferior.
At that moment, the excited chatter of his fellow soldiers drew his attention—a VIP observation cruiser was approaching. Curious, Hikigaya widened his eyes and looked out.
Then—
Hiss—!
As the trains passed each other in opposite directions, for a fleeting moment, his gaze locked onto a pair of scarlet eyes, encircled by a golden cross, staring back at him through the window.
"…."
The moment passed in an instant, yet Hikigaya involuntarily clenched his hands, his uniform straining against the tension in his chest. His heart pounded violently.
This wasn't the flutter of excitement—it was pure, unadulterated terror.
Like a small creature caught in the gaze of a lurking apex predator, an icy dread seeped into his bones. Every fiber of his being screamed in primal fear, a sensation that coiled around his heart and refused to let go.
"Hey, Hikigaya, you okay?" a fellow soldier asked.
"…Ah, n-no, it's nothing…" Hikigaya muttered, snapping out of his daze. He patted his face to shake off the lingering numbness.
His dead-fish eyes must have been playing tricks on him—so it was him.
...
Passed the Sector Eleven Auxiliary Legion's recruitment standards, officially enlisted under the Astartes Eighteenth Legion Salamanders' Eleventh Auxiliary Regiment.
Participated in pacification operations, sieges, urban warfare. Confirmed enemy eliminations… sustained injuries… squad evaluations… superior officer evaluations… granted return leave and awarded First-Class Military Merit.
In mere moments, Selene had unraveled every detail of Hachiman Hikigaya's service record.
Quite the eventful journey for someone his age.
And why, exactly, was a high schooler allowed to enlist? Don't ask.
Neon had long been infamous for producing an endless stream of eccentric and inexplicably gifted youth. Among its high schoolers were prodigies, warriors, and outright lunatics in staggering numbers.
Would Selene impose rigid age restrictions? Of course not.
Flexibility was key—standards had to be adjusted based on regional conditions.
As long as a candidate met the requirements, everything else was negotiable.
Age alone was never a reason to dismiss talent.
…Though, well, appearance might still factor in just a little.
Military officers were one thing, but for civil officials, there were four fundamental bonus criteria for selection: first, a dignified and imposing appearance; second, eloquence and articulate speech; third, elegant calligraphy; and fourth, strong analytical and literary skills.
This was Selene's own refined version of an imperial merit system, crafted from her extensive knowledge of past civilizations. Of course, it wasn't as superficial as merely valuing appearance—competency was always the priority. These additional points only came into play when candidates were equally qualified, serving as a final tiebreaker.
...
"Here you go, Your Majesty."
As Selene lounged in the lavish suite of her observation cruiser, lost in thought, a crisp set of footsteps approached. A steaming cup of red tea was gently placed on the table before her.
Alyssa, dressed in a blue-and-white dress, had smooth, flawless legs under the sunlight. Unlike Selene, who always preferred formal, monochrome attire and rarely exposed much skin, Alyssa's doll-like fashion choices made her stand out.
Wearing simple high-heeled sandals, she cheerfully hopped onto Selene's lap, nuzzling close, the tuft of hair on her head swaying with her movements.
"Mmm, Your Majesty, what's on your mind?" Alyssa propped her chin up as she lay across Selene's lap.
"Nothing much. I just came across someone interesting and couldn't resist peeking into his memories."
Smirking, Selene casually lifted Alyssa by the back of her collar, adjusting her to sit properly on her lap. Unable to resist, she playfully pinched Alyssa's soft cheeks, rubbing them while wiping off a few stray crumbs of cream from the corner of her mouth.
"Being unusually considerate, are we? If you're not up to something, you must be guilty of something. Didn't you sneak off to eat ice cream? What brings you here so soon?" Selene glanced at the tea on the table. "You even brewed me a cup?"
Tilting her head slightly, Selene's lips curved into a knowing smirk. "So, tell me—what did you see? What do you want? Where do you want to go?"
Alyssa froze for a split second before pouting indignantly. "What do you mean 'guilty'?! Hmph! That's so mean, Your Majesty! Can't I simply make tea for you out of kindness?"
She huffed and grumbled, but then hesitated, her words trailing off.
"Well, actually… um… I was thinking about… that… this… and maybe…"
Realizing she had indeed wanted something, Alyssa sheepishly scratched the back of her head, looking up at Selene's gemstone-like crimson eyes. "Haha… it's nothing, really…" But as Selene's smirk grew, Alyssa's voice gradually shrank into a whisper.
Then, in an act of pure surrender, Alyssa huffed, "You said it yourself, Your Majesty! Once I finish my assignment, I get to choose where we go! You can't go back on your word!"
With that, she dramatically pulled a data pad from her small pocket and pushed it toward Selene.
"But… wasn't I expecting this tomorrow morning?"
"Hehehe—Ta-da! Alyssa finished it early!"
Alyssa sprang up from Selene's lap, hands on her hips, her little head held high as if demanding praise.
Selene chuckled, shaking her head. Alyssa wasn't lacking in intelligence—she simply rarely applied herself.
With Sebastian's rigorous elite training regimen, even if it were brute-force memorization, Alyssa's breadth of knowledge and practical ability could never be weak. Around Selene, though, she had simply grown accustomed to playing the helpless little sister, always looking for an opportunity to act spoiled.
"Tōtsuki Culinary Academy… The Elite Ten Showdown… Lunar Feast Festival Pre-Opening?"
Selene tapped Alyssa's forehead lightly with her knuckles, reading aloud the most intriguing event listed in the tourist guide Alyssa had researched.
"Yes, yes! Your Majesty, that's the one!"
"Whenever you arrive in a new place, you have to try the local specialties! Look, look! Yukihira-style braised beef, autumn saury rice medley, Apicius-style roasted duck breast, seared saury sashimi, Marseille-style fish broth ramen, autumn saury cartoccio... And honestly, just looking at these dishes, they already seem amazing!"
"It's like they're glowing!"
Clinging onto Selene's arm, Alyssa swayed excitedly, standing on tiptoe as she eagerly pointed at the images of gourmet dishes on her datapad—photographs of the culinary masterpieces from the Tōtsuki Academy's Autumn Selection Tournament. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Don't you want to try them too? I mean, sure, [Susanoo]'s meals are never the same and are always delicious, but they are always extravagant delicacies… Sometimes, shouldn't we have a change of pace? Like you always say… uh…"
Struggling to recall the phrase, Alyssa blurted out, "Right! 'Ruling should be done with the people, not above them!' We can't always be distant and arrogant—there's beauty and meaning in the commoner's world too!"
Bonk!
"Mmmph…!"
"Is that how you interpreted what I said?" Selene sighed, flicking a hand chop onto Alyssa's forehead, sending her tumbling onto the sofa, clutching her head in mock pain.
That said, the place Alyssa had suggested was, in fact, one of Selene's key destinations for this trip. And as she mentioned, it had been a long time since Selene last ate 'normal' food. Lately, her meals had consisted of nothing but high-tier monstrous creatures—Danger Beasts, Sea Kings, exotic megafauna, magical creatures, dragon species, primordial beasts from the Jurassic and Cretaceous eras…
Simple chicken, duck, fish, vegetables—those no longer even made it onto the imperial palace's dining tables. Selene had never particularly noticed this before, but now that Alyssa pointed it out… she realized it was true.
Feeling a hint of anticipation herself, Selene gently placed the datapad into Alyssa's hands. "Tomorrow marks the start of the five-day Tōtsuki Lunar Feast. Enjoy it—five days of an indulgent gourmet festival."
"Yay!"
This would be interesting.
Even if this was merely a resort world and unlikely to have the highest-grade ingredients (such as apex Danger Beasts, Sea Kings exceeding five kilometers, or the like), the wealth of trade with agricultural and hunting worlds meant an influx of bizarre, rare extraterrestrial ingredients.
A place where countless alien flavors clashed and combined.
A place where food glowed—where the very laws of the universe subtly favored certain organs, dishes, and chefs.
What kind of culinary marvels would emerge?
Tōtsuki Academy… The Lunar Feast.
Tomorrow would be a day to unwind and indulge.
Soma Yukihira… Asahi Nakiri… Should I use an administrative order to summon them? …No, better to go incognito—no need to scare them.
Oh, right—there was that chef who had once been recommended to the Imperial Capital's palace kitchens.
That man—Azami Nakiri…
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