Shua—
As the teleportation circle beneath their feet lit up, Setsuna and Aqua's surroundings shifted.
When they opened their eyes again, they found themselves in an unfamiliar space. Tohru and Mio had accompanied them as well.
Before them sat the true form of Eris—a gentle-looking goddess wearing a nun's robe, her cute features softened by a serene smile.
"Hero, thank you for your help. Your mission in this world has been completed," Eris said sincerely, bowing her head slightly.
As the manager of this world, she had required outside assistance to defeat the Demon King. That fact made her feel a little embarrassed.
Still, this Hero from another universe was unlike any reincarnator she had ever seen—making her all the more curious.
Now that Setsuna had finished recruiting allies, collecting equipment, and doing everything there was to do in that world, he finally stood before her.
"According to the rules of Heaven, a hero who successfully defeats the Demon King may make one wish," Eris explained gently.
"Hero, do you have any particular wish you'd like to fulfill?"
"Hmm..."
Setsuna thought for a moment. "Make me the god of the multiverse? Grant me power surpassing all existence? Omniscience and omnipotence?"
"That's impossible!!!"
Eris stomped her foot in protest, puffing her cheeks.
"Within the limits of Heaven's laws, we can only grant simple wishes—like reincarnating the hero back to their homeland to live a life of wealth and peace, or letting them remain in the other world to start anew..."
"..."
"You think I need to reincarnate as a native?" Setsuna chuckled.
The goddess was bound by the celestial system's rules, and naturally, even the wish-granting process was restricted.
He wasn't particularly interested in the so-called reward anyway—his attention was focused elsewhere.
"Eris, I'm planning to bring my people back to the Starsea Empire—that is, another universe."
"Would you like to come with me?"
"It must get boring staying up here in Heaven all the time, right? And since the Demon King's been defeated, this world no longer requires much of your attention."
Setsuna spoke plainly.
"Eh? M-me?!" Eris stammered, flustered.
It was true that she often felt lonely in Heaven, occasionally descending to the mortal realm under the guise of Chris just to have fun.
But leaving entirely to another universe was a completely different matter.
"B-but... I'm responsible for managing this world..." she said quietly, her hands fidgeting against her face.
"That's a small problem."
Setsuna waved his hand, pulling up a holographic projection before them.
"We can assign a Sophon to manage this world for you. Nothing will go wrong."
"In two years, this world can advance from the medieval era to pre-spaceflight civilization, and in three, it'll achieve interplanetary travel and resource development."
"The Sophon will conduct 24-hour global surveillance—no monster or Demon King will escape her notice."
As he spoke, a refined woman in elegant attire appeared on the holographic display, her hair pinned neatly with ornaments.
"Greetings, I am Sophon Unit-29. My main body resides in the Starsea Empire. Should you require it, I can assist in governing your world at any time."
"Rest assured, we have extensive experience managing vassal civilizations. We can provide periodic reports and adjust policies according to your preferences."
"As for any newly spawned monsters or Demon Kings—under my supervision, they will be neutralized instantly by orbital weapons or Angeloid strike forces."
"???"
Eris was dumbfounded.
A goddess of Heaven... outsourcing her world management duties to someone else? Was that even allowed?
And what in the world were orbital weapons?! She used those to deal with monsters?!
Aqua, on the other hand, was thrilled.
Without a second thought, she agreed instantly.
"No problem! You can handle my work from now on too!!"
"That's the reincarnation department's job, you airhead! They already have angels doing that!"
Setsuna bonked Aqua lightly on the head.
"Lady Aqua... is this really okay?" Eris asked timidly.
"What's the problem? Heaven's rules only say a goddess must manage her assigned world—it doesn't say she can't delegate it to someone else," Aqua replied, scratching her head.
Sometimes, Aqua could be surprisingly clever—in the strangest ways.
"Uhh..."
While Eris was still hesitating—
Vwoom—
Suddenly, golden light flashed throughout the chamber.
A radiant angel with pure white hair and wings descended before them, a golden halo shining above her head.
Moments later, several more unfamiliar goddesses appeared one after another.
Some radiated a holy and benevolent aura, while others carried a dark, eerie presence—clearly goddesses of vengeance, misfortune, or chaos.
"Lady El?" Eris gasped when she saw the leading angel.
She was a seraph of Heaven, the Archangel of Compassion and Bonds.
"You must be the Hero who saved the world. We are deeply grateful..." El began, speaking in a proud, lofty tone.
But before she could continue—
"Hero! Please take me with you!!!"
A crowd of unfamiliar goddesses suddenly rushed forward, swarming around Setsuna.
"Hero, are you interested in the teachings of the Regina Faith? I am the goddess of Puppetry and Vengeance—please, at least hear me out!"
"Hero, how about the Zenarith Sect? I can grant you resurrection after death and the power of curses... please!"
"Hero, surely you haven't been misled by others yet? It's not too late to embrace the true faith right now!"
"???"
"Ah?"
Setsuna was completely bewildered. It felt like he'd walked straight into some kind of divine cult recruitment event.
Every single goddess was trying to hand him their flyer at once.
"Um... I think these are the goddesses whose followers have become so few that they're about to disappear..." Eris explained awkwardly.
"They must see the Hero as their last hope!"
She vaguely recalled that one of these poor goddesses had even been sealed away as a tourist attraction in the Crimson Demon Village.
For a Hero who commanded an interstellar empire and unimaginable power, it wasn't hard to see why Heaven's goddesses were suddenly swarming him.
"I used to think Aqua was the only crazy one—but apparently all the goddesses in Heaven are just as bad!" Tohru muttered, wide-eyed.
She had the distinct feeling that if Setsuna ever agreed to join their faith, these goddesses would probably tie themselves up and deliver themselves to the Eternal Snowfall as tribute.
"Ugh..."
Eris looked flustered as her divine colleagues shamelessly tried to cozy up to Setsuna.
Though she didn't say it aloud, she secretly hoped he would at least believe in the Church of Eris.
Finally, she stomped her foot in frustration, puffing her cheeks.
"Stop stealing my Hero!!!"
"He's my Hero! If you want followers, go find your own reincarnators!!!"
...
Half an hour later, the chaotic scene in Heaven finally calmed down.
All the overenthusiastic goddesses now stood neatly lined up in front of Setsuna.
"Anyone who wants to come with me can step forward," he said evenly.
"But in the Starsea Empire, you must obey Imperial laws and regulations. Understood?"
He addressed them like a commander giving orders.
Originally, he had planned to contact Heaven through Aqua and maybe invite a goddess or two back—but it turned out he didn't even need to negotiate. They were far too eager.
Some, like Eris, simply wanted a break from Heaven monotony. Others saw him as their last chance at spreading faith.
"Rules? Like Heaven's commandments? I understand," said Regina with a nod.
"Don't worry, we're still goddesses—not demons. We don't do bad things... probably."
"Anyway, Hero, would you be interested in joining my faith? Or perhaps your companions might—"
"We'll talk about that later," Setsuna cut her off, ushering everyone toward the teleportation anchor.
"Ah, wait a moment!" Aqua raised her hand suddenly.
"I should notify Heaven first, or else people might panic when they realize I've vanished again..."
Before she could finish—
Vwoom—
Another golden portal opened, and the blonde angel who had taken over Aqua's duties stepped out.
"I understand. It's fine," the angel said calmly, bowing respectfully.
"Lady Eris, as long as you can ensure your world remains stable and report back periodically, there will be no issue."
"As for Lady Aqua—we hope you enjoy your time in the other world."
"..."
Aqua: "???"
...
Half a day later—
Above Constantinople.
Whoosh—
With the deep hum of the starship's engines, a silver-white vessel pierced through the clouds, descending slowly from the skies.
The city's streets below erupted in cheers as little girls and shipgirls out for walks pointed excitedly at the sight.
The insignia on the ship left no doubt about its identity.
It was one of the battleships from the Eternal Snowfall, the very one the Commander often used for planetary operations.
Another expedition—another triumphant return.
Crowds surged toward the landing zone in excitement.
"This city... it's enormous! So futuristic..."
Even the heavenly goddesses and the visitors from Konosuba pressed their faces against the viewing windows, staring in awe at the vast metropolis below.
Every new arrival from another world was left speechless by the sight.
Despite their divine status, even goddesses who ruled entire worlds of sword and sorcery had never seen an interstellar civilization.
The most advanced world they knew resembled pre-space-age Earth—where Aqua and her less-than-serious colleagues tricked high schoolers into reincarnating to fight Demon Kings.
"Welcome to the Starsea Empire. This is the Imperial Capital—Constantinople," Setsuna said, introducing the world to his new guests.
"I'll have the Angeloids arrange accommodations for you shortly. Don't worry—the Starsea Empire will ensure you're all well taken care of."
A group of Crimson Demon girls peeked timidly from behind him, their usual chuunibyou confidence replaced by awe.
It was all too grand.
Before the sheer scale and splendor of the city, they couldn't even find the nerve to act dramatic—they were utterly stunned.
"The royal capital of Belzerg isn't even a tenth—no, a thousandth—of this size..." Princess Iris whispered, her wide blue eyes taking in the endless cityscape.
Suspended anti-gravity structures floated above, while Angeloids and small shuttles zipped between them in precise, glittering formations.
It was both magnificent and surreal.
"Um, Hero, when do we get to go adventuring and fight Demon Kings again?" Yunyun tugged at Setsuna's sleeve nervously.
"Well... after you've all settled in first," Setsuna replied with a smile, ruffling her hair.
"Come on."
Click—
The starship landed, and the hatch opened.
Everyone followed Setsuna carefully, stepping out onto the soil of a new world.
The vast city, the unfamiliar faces—it was all overwhelming, almost frightening.
Thankfully, the populace consisted mostly of shipgirls, lolis, and Angeloids—all of whom looked friendly and welcoming.
The newcomers soon noticed something peculiar about Constantinople.
"Hero, your empire... is everyone here a girl? And there are so many little girls too?!" Eris asked, wide-eyed.
"Uh, that's related to the Empire's history. The shipgirls can explain later—or you can just read through the data on this."
Setsuna handed her a tablet.
"Anyway, let's start with tradition—food first. A welcome feast."
"Our people haven't had the chance to meet proper goddesses before, after all."
...
Later that evening—
Inside the grand banquet hall of the Administration Center.
Setsuna stood before the assembled shipgirls, spirits, and other personnel, reporting on his recent expedition and the new arrivals.
"Hm... Konosuba didn't have much useful equipment. Most of what we found were magical items—nothing we haven't seen before. Just hand them over to the Research Division."
He passed the item list to one of the young researchers.
"There were a few interesting things though—like their plants. The Life Sciences Department can have some fun studying those."
"The main focus, though... is our new companions."
As he spoke, the girls he had brought back from that world stepped forward one by one to introduce themselves.
"I am Megumin! Arch Wizard! The one who follows the Hero on his grand adventures!!"
"I'm Yunyun! Also an Arch Wizard!!!"
"I'm Arue! ..."
The Crimson Demons' eccentric introductions and dramatic flair left the shipgirls and spirits utterly fascinated.
Besides the group of Crimson Demon girls, there were also adventurers from Belzerg, former officers of the Demon King's army who had defected, holy knights, foreign princesses, and more.
Each one stepped forward to greet the gathered shipgirls and spirits.
They all called Setsuna "Hero," and now, in addition to titles like Commander, Master, and Admiral, he had gained yet another name.
"The Crimson Demon girls will enroll in the academy—they're all natural-born mages, so they can attend the Imperial Magic Institute for advanced study," Setsuna instructed.
"As for the adventurers, the Angeloids will guide them around the capital. Everyone gets an apartment and a basic genetic enhancement."
"If you want any gear or equipment, visit the city's supply terminals. There's no currency here—everything is free. Just take what you need, and don't waste resources."
He issued his orders concisely.
The newcomers, unfamiliar with this world, simply nodded obediently.
Still, knowing that the Hero—and even goddesses—stood beside them filled them with confidence.
After the mortals' introductions came the true highlight of this expedition.
"These are the heavenly goddesses from that world. A few of them decided to accompany me to the Starsea Empire."
"They each preside over their own domains—perhaps in the future, you might even offer prayers to them."
As he spoke, the goddesses stepped forward one by one to greet everyone.
"Hello, I am Eris, the goddess of fortune and luck. I just wanted to visit the Hero's nation. Pleased to meet you all..."
"Regina. Uh... there are a lot of people here..."
"I'm Aqua, goddess of water! I handle reincarnations and the guiding of souls. Um... there doesn't seem to be a Heaven in this world?"
Aqua looked around curiously. With her divine senses, she couldn't detect the existence of any higher dimension here.
"We don't have one. Aside from shipgirls and Angeloids, most citizens are immortal—no reincarnation needed, thanks," Setsuna replied, cutting off her fantasy before it could start.
"Oh... goddesses, huh..."
The shipgirls, Spirits, and other beings all turned to study them.
They looked nothing like the lofty, omnipotent deities they had imagined—more like beautiful young women with extraordinary presence.
Even so, their beauty was undeniable—especially Aqua, who, when not talking, could almost pass for an actual divine being.
Only a few with sharp spiritual senses—Spirits and Heroic Spirits—could perceive the difference.
Divine power.
It wasn't the same as mana or spiritual energy. Eris and Aqua possessed abundant divinity, while Regina, Zenarith, and the others had far less—their energy flickered like candles half-burned out.
"Can I make a wish to a goddess?" one little girl asked, raising her hand.
"Of course," Eris said with a smile. "If you join the Church of Eris, I'll bless you with eternal good luck."
"For example—always winning at rock-paper-scissors, guessing the right answers on every exam, or finding the best treasures in every chest~"
"Anything related to luck falls under my domain!"
"Waaah!!!"
The little girls and shipgirls erupted in excitement.
"You mean I can pass my tests just by guessing?! I'm joining the Church of Eris!!!"
"???"
Aqua and the other goddesses froze in disbelief.
As expected of the goddess whose church was the dominant faith in her world—just a few sentences, and she was already recruiting followers en masse.
"Wait!!! Check out the Axis Church instead!!! I'm the Water Goddess!!!" Aqua shouted, stepping in front of Eris and spreading her arms dramatically as holy light flared around her.
"?"
"The Water Goddess? What powers do you have, Miss Goddess?" one of the little girls asked politely, unaware that Aqua was... well, Aqua.
"Uh..."
Aqua scratched her head, thinking frantically.
She couldn't let that flat-chested junior outshine her.
"I can summon water! Lots of water! Enough to flood a planet if I use my full power!" she declared proudly.
"I can also purify, resurrect the dead, banish the undead... and, uh, perform Mirror Flower, Water Moon! Ever seen that one?!"
She rattled off her abilities in a rush, leaving the little girl completely bewildered.
"Summon water? That's amazing!!!"
Not far away, a shipgirl slammed her hand on the table.
"Perfect! Come help us terraform the arid planets! Commander, can we assign her to the Interstellar Colonization Corps?!"
"???"
—
—
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