"Whoa—"
Setting foot in the capital of an interstellar empire for the first time left the natives from other worlds feeling awkward and uneasy.
They nervously followed behind the shipgirls, boarded a shuttle, and traveled all the way from the starship base toward the city center.
"It's huge..."
Seeing it with their own eyes, the prosperity of this super-civilization surpassed anything they had seen in pictures or holographic images.
As for the fact that everywhere they looked was filled with girls, they had already been mentally prepared for that.
Come to think of it, being in a city populated entirely by girls naturally lowered one's guard quite a bit.
"It feels kind of unbelievable that a country like this can even function..."
Chtholly scratched her head.
"There's nothing strange about it."
Yat Sen casually explained it to everyone.
"The Starsea Empire's material resources come from dozens, even hundreds of universes. Its development isn't constrained by resources, and almost anything you want can be obtained effortlessly."
"Genetic ascension and superhuman modification have also eliminated the limits imposed by illness and lifespan. Everyone can receive higher education, as well as advanced education in magic academies and scientific research, studying the most cutting-edge technologies and magic from different worlds."
"This is our Promised Land. Only those recognized by the Commander have the right to set foot in the Starsea Empire's homeland."
"Oh..."
Most ordinary people spent their lives pursuing nothing more than wealth, status, and health.
Near-limitless wealth, near-limitless lifespans, and even opportunities to touch extraordinary power. Even girls like Yoshino and Mako, who came from the rural countryside of Hozumi, could imagine just how attractive the Starsea Empire would be to others.
"If all those powerful and wealthy people knew about this place, they'd probably go insane..."
Hearing the two whispering among themselves, Yat Sen gave a faint smile.
"The status of ordinary mortals means nothing in the Commander's eyes. They're merely numbers in Sophon's statistical reports."
"So please treasure the Commander's kindness and live well here."
"Ah... yes!"
The girls immediately snapped to attention, almost saluting.
"Um, excuse me... is there anything we need to be careful about while living here?..."
Yoshino asked nervously.
"That'll be explained to you later. For now, it's more important that you get acquainted with everyone."
Whoosh—
The shuttle docked near the administrative center.
To celebrate the successful return of the Astral Express fleet, the shipgirls and the Totsuki chefs stationed in the capital had already prepared a lavish dinner.
"Master, welcome home."
Belfast led the Royal Maid Corps in two neat rows to welcome his return.
Sirius took his coat from him, Dido helped him change into casual clothes, and the head maid herself escorted him to his seat.
Ram and Rem, the two apprentice maids, promptly brought over hot tea and drinks. The entire sequence flowed so smoothly that the newly arrived girls stared in stunned silence.
While aboard the Astral Express, they had thought that aside from the train crew obeying him, Setsuna seemed little different from everyone else despite being the Commander.
Only after arriving in the Starsea Empire did they realize that ignorance had limited their imagination.
The Angeloids also guided them to their respective seats.
"Oh..."
Haruhi looked as though she wanted to twist her neck a full three hundred and sixty degrees. Everything here was completely new to natives like them from other worlds.
Magnificent buildings, beautiful shipgirls, all sorts of unfamiliar older girls... they could not even name most of the dishes on the table.
The Totsuki chefs' skills had long since reached extraordinary heights, and with the addition of all sorts of rare ingredients, the dishes looked so exquisite and beautiful that they resembled works of art, making people almost afraid to touch them with their chopsticks.
"Then, to celebrate the Commander's triumphant return with the Astral Express fleet, and to wish the remaining two trains success in their explorations, cheers!"
Harbin was the first to raise her glass, and everyone responded.
"Cheers!!"
"Ura!!!"
"..."
After the banquet continued noisily for quite some time...
The little shipgirls stationed in the capital began pestering Setsuna to tell them stories.
"Commander, Commander, tell us which worlds you went to!"
"Mm, if I'd known, I would've gone with you too!"
The little catgirl climbed onto Setsuna's lap and rubbed her face against him, acting cute.
"The six Astral Expresses have explored seven worlds in total so far, and I personally went to four of them."
"But counting Kirie, the guests who came to the Starsea Empire this time are from five different worlds."
Setsuna pinched her cheek.
He projected the transdimensional star map, and another region within the fog-covered starfield lit up.
He introduced the companions newly joining the Starsea Empire, and the girls stepped forward one by one to familiarize themselves with everyone.
"Wakaba Hiiro. The Commander said there'd be interesting things to do in other worlds, so I came over to take a look. You can also call me D."
Wakaba Hiiro yawned.
"If anyone wants a system, you can come find me. Of course, I can't guarantee how useful it'll be in this world."
In Kumoko's world, she had been the world administrator. The system she created by hand could borrow the planet's energy to grant and distribute abilities.
But she had not tried using it here yet, so she had no idea how effective it would still be.
"Ariel."
"My name is... Shiraori."
Ariel's introduction was concise, while Kumoko was simply socially anxious. Facing so many people caused countless thoughts to flood her mind, only for her words to get stuck the moment they reached her lips.
"I'm Yoshino Tomotake, shrine maiden of Ikuta Shrine. It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"I'm Mako Hitachi, Lady Yoshino's bodyguard, and also a ninja. Please take care of me!"
"...I'm Haruhi Suzumiya. The Commander said I could meet aliens, espers, time travelers, and all sorts of fun things from other worlds here, so I came!"
"..."
"Oh..."
Everyone found the introductions fascinating.
They had seen plenty of sword-and-magic worlds before. From celestial goddesses like Aqua and Eris to heroes such as Frieren and demon army leaders like Aura, they had encountered figures from every level.
But this was the first time they had seen monsters that had evolved from tiny spider creatures.
Frieren had originally been quietly eating with Flamme off to one side. When Kumoko and Ariel came over to greet them, her expression looked as though she had seen a ghost.
Out of sheer professional instinct, she nearly slammed the table and jumped to her feet.
"...Demon King!"
The aura coming from them was even stronger than that of the demon army. By comparison, they could probably flatten the Demon King over there.
"Ariel only became the Demon King to save the world and the angel. Calm down."
"A Demon King? Saving the world?!"
Frieren still felt those two phrases sounded absurd when placed together.
"Why did the Commander bring back the Demon King? Then... what about the Hero over there?"
Out of curiosity, she asked a couple more questions.
"The Hero is picking cotton on a plantation. With the system helping out, the yield is excellent."
"Huh???!"
"..."
As for Haruhi Suzumiya, she was being intensely scrutinized by the original Herta, Grey, Mio, and the others.
No one could have imagined that this little girl standing there with her arms folded and a somewhat arrogant expression could casually manipulate the structure of the universe all by herself.
"Commander, she's the strongest one among the worlds explored this time?"
"She can alter the universe with a single thought, create civilizations, and distort the laws of reality?"
"Yes."
"Here, your little Herta puppet was also turned into a catgirl by her. Ask her for the details."
Setsuna beckoned.
"Meow?"
The little catgirl Herta, dressed in a Western-style outfit with cat ears on her head and a long tail raised behind her, walked over and reported to the original Herta:
"Under the Commander's orders, Haruhi Suzumiya used data manipulation to restructure my material composition, transforming me from a mechanical form into a carbon-based organism."
"She possesses the superpower to alter the state of the universe with her thoughts."
"Huh?"
Among all the little Herta puppets, this catgirl Herta stood out especially. Her ears and tail were fluffy, making her both adorable and cute.
Setsuna stroked her ears, and little Herta began purring like a cat.
"..."
The original Herta suspiciously looked at Haruhi, then at Setsuna.
"Commander, was your reason for having Haruhi turn her into a catgirl... a respectable one?"
"Take a guess."