"Then that settles everything concerning the Honkai world."
After a brief tour of the city, inside the administrative center, Setsuna gathered the girls from both the Previous Era and the Current Era.
"Welcome to the Starsea Empire. You can begin a new life here~"
"Mm..."
Pardofelis, Eden, and the others still looked a little uncertain.
Meanwhile, Mobius, Vill-V, and the other scientists had their full attention fixed on the Empire's advanced technology.
"Here, you're free to do whatever you like. All affiliated universes are open for travel. Accommodations will be arranged for you shortly."
Yat Sen said gently.
"If you're interested in other worlds, you can join exploration or combat teams. If you simply want to enjoy life here, you can stay in the capital as long as you wish."
"Mm..."
"I'm going to the Life Sciences Division."
Mobius was the first to raise her hand.
"The Starsea Empire's biotechnology is highly advanced, right? I saw that you can even create species like catgirls..."
"I want to continue researching the possibilities of evolution. Among the lifeforms brought back from myriad worlds, is there potential for integration with humans—to promote further human evolution?"
As she spoke, her gaze drifted toward Nyarlathotep.
"For example... if humans and Outer Gods could undergo coordinated evolution, the offspring would likely be extraordinarily powerful..."
"?"
"Your research topic is a bit too avant-garde. I'm worried your sanity will plummet and you'll go insane. I suggest starting with something simpler."
Setsuna coughed lightly, but still approved Mobius' request.
"You'll join the Life Sciences Division. Kayo Senju will assign you a dedicated research team."
"As for Vill-V..."
He looked at the girl with yellow-green hair and a headband.
"I'll establish a new workshop for you within the Empire. We'll call it the Helixcraft. Build whatever you want."
"By the way... though you don't know it yet, a significant portion of the Starsea Empire's knowledge and equipment regarding Honkai energy actually originated from you and Mei."
The Divine Keys wielded by Cecilia, Kallen, and others, the replicas derived from them, even Griseo's Ark—all were inseparable from the scientists of the Previous Era.
More precisely, from Mobius, Mei, and Vill-V of another worldline.
They were still young now and had not yet forged those creations amid the Honkai crisis.
"Oh? So in another worldline, I built so many incredible things?"
Vill-V rested her chin in her hand, studying the data for quite some time.
"Surpassing another version of myself is going to take some effort, huh?!"
"The technological level of the Starsea Empire surpasses that of the Previous Era by hundreds or thousands of times. If you achieved so much under those conditions, I believe you'll accomplish even more here."
Setsuna smiled, encouraging the scientists of the Previous Era.
They were assigned to various research departments. Once they grasped the Empire's foundational knowledge and caught up theoretically, they could begin their work in earnest.
After allocating the heavyweight scientists, Setsuna turned to the others.
"And you? What would you like to do in the Starsea Empire?"
"Me?..."
Eden pondered for a moment.
"Travel around? I'd like to understand the Empire's culture more deeply. If possible, perhaps hold a concert here?"
"Would I be the first superstar to sing for aliens?... Though, to be honest, you don't really feel like aliens..."
At this time, Eden was still very young—a global superstar on Earth.
Arriving in the Starsea Empire, in such an unfamiliar and wondrous environment, she felt a surge of creative inspiration bubbling within her mind.
She needed time to record it all and transform it into works of art that could endure.
"Of course. The Starsea Empire offers genetic ascension and advanced enhancement procedures that can preserve youth indefinitely. If you're interested, Miss Eden, you can consult the Life Sciences Division."
Setsuna snapped his fingers.
"Eternal youth, hm?... Commander, you certainly understand girls well."
Eden smiled knowingly.
"..."
Finally, after everyone else had spoken, Setsuna noticed that Elysia had been resting her chin in her hands, staring at him the entire time without saying a word.
"What about you, Elysia? What do you want to do?"
"Me?"
Elysia tilted her head.
"I don't really have any grand goals..."
"I think the Starsea Empire is magical. And you're magical too. In another universe, a place this beautiful exists—it feels like... a fairy tale."
"If I have to say what I want to do here... I suppose I just want to look around properly and experience the Empire."
She loved everything. She cherished all things beautiful.
In this utopian nation, she simply wanted to immerse herself in it.
"So you want to slack off and wander around? Approved."
...
The companions from the Previous Era gradually settled into life within the Starsea Empire.
Outside the capital, not far from Akashi's workshop—marked with its signature pink paw print—
The Bulins and the Angeloids efficiently constructed a brand-new workshop, hanging Vill-V's emblem above the entrance.
"There. This is your Helixcraft."
The nanorobot handed Vill-V her identification card.
"If you need raw materials, apply through the Research Division. Most resources will be approved. Destructive experiments require feasibility review and must be conducted in other universes."
"As for manufacturing, simple tasks can be handled by the Manjuus and Angeloids. For complex engineering, you can consult the Bulin. They should be able to handle nearly anything."
Inside the Helixcraft, a swarm of little yellow chicks scurried about, transporting equipment.
Nearby stood several Bulin in gold, purple, and multicolored variations, holding drills, wrenches, and Ultra Rainbow Hammers, gazing up at Vill-V with adorable expressions.
"Burin can do anything you want, burin!!"
"Everything in the Starsea Empire—Burin can build it, burin!"
"Ohhh~—"
Vill-V stared at the small creatures in fascination.
It was her first time witnessing such a peculiar social system.
"They're the workers of the Starsea Empire? Uh... why do they all look identical? Are they artificial intelligences like the Angeloids?"
"No. Bulin are Bulin. They're also shipgirls—the cornerstone and founding elders of the Empire. You'll understand eventually."
"Oh?"
Over the past few days, while reviewing the Empire's archives, Vill-V had been struck with numerous eccentric ideas. She had been worrying about how to bring them into reality—now the perfect assistants had appeared.
"Here—can you understand this?"
...
The next day.
"Commander, Commander, take me around the city~!"
No sooner had Setsuna arrived at the administrative center than a bright pink figure blocked his path.
Elysia stood with her hands behind her back, tilting her head up at him.
Unlike Mei, Vill-V, Mobius, and the others who had already thrown themselves into research and study in their respective departments, Elysia was completely free. She simply wanted to explore this world properly.
"The Commander has official duties to handle. He's not that idle, Miss Elysia."
Belfast stepped forward, raising a hand to stop her.
"If you'd like a tour of the capital, an Angeloid can guide you. Cecilia and Kallen are available as well."
"Eh?—"
Elysia dragged out the sound playfully.
"So the Commander is actually a busy big shot? What a pity~"
"Then once you're done with work, could you take me somewhere else to look around? I'll wait for you."
"Sure. There isn't much to deal with today."
Setsuna replied.
"Oho~"
Elysia pulled over a chair and sat at the desk beside him.
Like someone watching a show, she propped her chin on her hands and simply observed Setsuna and the staff inside the administrative center.
She watched him examine star maps on the holographic interface, occasionally falling into thought, occasionally consulting the Sophon, listening to reports from various worlds.
Shipgirls, Spirits, Heroic Spirits, and others moved in and out, gathering to discuss matters.
"How wonderful..."
A soft smile rested on Elysia's face as she murmured.
She didn't interfere. She simply watched.
Curiosity and faint puzzlement shimmered within her blue eyes.
"???"
"Did you come here to act as a surveillance camera? Should I make you some tea and bring a couple plates of pastries too?"
After watching her sit there dazed for over an hour, Gudako finally couldn't resist teasing her.
"Ah, yes please, thank you. Some black tea—and do you have sweet biscuits?"
Still absorbed, Elysia casually handed her cup to Gudako.
"I'm not your maid, hey?!"
Gudako decided this girl might be slightly abnormal.
"...Did you come to watch us work for fun?"
Setsuna asked with a smile.
"Mm... yes. No—not entirely."
Elysia tilted her head.
"I just think you're fascinating. This isn't how I imagined a super empire would be governed."
She had seen human administrative systems on Earth.
Fire Moth. The United Nations.
Their upper echelons were invariably elite bureaucrats—stern, cautious, calculating.
Elysia loved humanity. She had seen both its nobility and its ugliness—people scheming against one another for power.
Among the leadership of Fire Moth and the United Nations, such struggles never truly ceased, even with Honkai looming overhead.
But in the Starsea Empire, she discovered a remarkably pure system.
One Sophon managed one vassal world, compiling information and transmitting it to the capital, where Setsuna and the shipgirls outlined broad development plans—efficient and transparent.
Not to mention, the central authority of a super empire was filled entirely with young girls.
No politicians. No private agendas. No intrigue.
Everyone made decisions for the future out of the purest passion.
"It's the result of great advances in artificial intelligence and productivity."
Setsuna summarized succinctly.
"Oh..."
Elysia half-understood.
"Well... if you don't mind, I could help with some work too?"
"If you can understand it. I remember you quite like filling in very simple forms, right?"
Setsuna slid several reports toward her.
"Application to Establish the Sixth Interstellar Pioneer Team in the Arpeggio World."
"First Quarter Clearance Report for the Demon King Raid in the Konosuba World."
"Reconstruction Progress Report of Disboard."
"..."
The various reports transmitted by the Sophon left Elysia dazzled.
"Disboard? What? Where is that?!..."
"Shipgirls? There are species classifications? Arpeggio, Azur, Kancolle?! And what are Sirens?!"
"W-wait—what's a Synaptic Lathe construction report?!..."
Elysia felt that she recognized every individual word—but strung together, they became incomprehensible scripture.
"Read carefully. Study hard."
...
In the afternoon.
After finishing the backlog of work from the expedition, Setsuna kept his promise and took Elysia on a tour of the capital.
Like a child, she looked around in every direction. Everything here felt beautiful to her.
"Commander, Commander!"
The moment they stepped onto the street, a group of little shipgirls chirped excitedly and ran toward Setsuna.
"So cute!"
Elysia crouched down with open arms, intending to hug them.
But led by little Formidable, the shipgirls unanimously ignored her and dove straight into Setsuna's embrace.
"Commander, when are you coming to the port to see us?"
"You haven't come to play with us in so long~"
Little Cheshire rubbed her head against him and asked in a soft voice.
"???"
Setsuna was instantly buried under a pile of lolis, while Elysia stood beside them with her arms still open, hugging nothing but air.
A chilly breeze passed through. The atmosphere became awkward.
"Commander, why am I being left out?!"
Elysia puffed her cheeks.
"They don't know you."
Setsuna rubbed the little catgirl's head.
"What, just arrived in the Starsea Empire and already trying to abduct lolis?"
"...I just think they're all adorable. Everyone here is adorable. I like you all."
Elysia tilted her head.
"Fair enough."
Setsuna was long accustomed to such declarations.
After playing with the little shipgirls for a while, he continued the tour.
Sometimes Elysia looked around and asked small questions. Sometimes she fell into thoughtful silence.
"Commander, where did all these little girls come from?"
"Have you read the Empire's history? Start from Chapter Three."
"Oh..."
"And—and those angels with wings? Where did they come from?"
"Do you mean the Flügel or the Angeloids? Open your personal terminal and search. Their files are there."
As she listened to explanations and browsed records, Elysia sometimes sighed at the tragic past of certain lolis, and sometimes rejoiced at their rebirth.
At other times, she marveled at the bizarre and wondrous technologies.
Truthfully, even she could not have created a nation where everyone could live in peace like this.
It was a thousand times more fascinating than Earth—and infinitely closer to her ideal of a "paradise."
Equality for all. No wars. No conspiracies.
Advanced technology providing overwhelming material abundance.
Cultures from countless worlds blending together.
"Commander, among all the humans I've met, you're the most impressive."
"I like it here."
Elysia spoke sincerely.
"If only we had met earlier. I would have loved to witness how the Starsea Empire developed with my own eyes~"
"Earlier? If I had come earlier, I wouldn't have met you."
Setsuna laughed softly.
"Even if these two universes are neighbors, how would I cross fifty thousand years of time? Do you expect me to defeat the Herrscher of Finality with Stone Age technology?"
"Rescuing you from the Previous Era took quite a bit of effort."
"Oh..."
Elysia listened as he recounted everything—from the Spiritron Transfer Device, to conquering world after world, until the hyperdimensional ship was finally completed and they gained the ability to traverse time freely and rewrite past and future.
"Wow. Saving us really does sound troublesome."
"You've worked hard~ Please take care of me from now on~"
With exaggerated grace, she curtsied toward him.
"I'll think of a way to repay you, Commander~"
"You too want to repay a favor?"
Setsuna raised an eyebrow.
"What, isn't a girl's gratitude something to look forward to?"
Elysia smiled lightly, standing on tiptoe to poke his cheek.
"Commander, are you imagining something strange? That won't do~ At least, not yet~"
"We've only just met~"
If this had been in the past, Setsuna might have been flustered by such teasing.
But now, he was thoroughly battle-hardened.
"No. Too many people have been lining up to repay me lately. My bedroom doesn't have enough space. You'll have to get in line."
"Ah?!"