"KILL HIM!!!"
...
Originally, due to the fear built up by years of Honest's brutal reign, many citizens still worried that the news might be false—that it was a trap, and that Honest's revenge would soon follow.
But now, seeing the former Imperial Minister Honest with his limbs severed and his body in a pitiful, grotesque state, even those who still harbored doubts no longer hesitated.
If even Honest himself had fallen to this state, and all his followers had been captured, what was there left to fear?
Honest was finished!
In an instant, the crowd erupted in a wave of fury.
One after another, shouts, curses, and roars merged into a deafening storm of rage that seemed strong enough to shatter the clouds themselves.
Thud!
No one knew who started it, but suddenly, a rock the size of a sandbag was hurled through the air, striking Honest's head with a loud crack, splitting it open on the spot.
"Aaaahhh—!" Jolted awake, Honest tried to scream in pain, but found that his mouth could no longer form proper words. The sharp agony flooding from every nerve overwhelmed his mind.
Only now did Honest truly realize—Selene had turned against him.
He could only let out muffled groans of despair.
The next moment, countless vegetables, rotten eggs, and stones rained down on him, pelting his helpless body until he was completely buried beneath them.
"This won't do. The Great General's orders were to keep Honest alive for trial."
Behind the execution platform, Kinshasa—clad in his ornate golden power armor—watched the raging mob pressing forward, nearly breaking through the lines of the Imperial Security Division soldiers who struggled to hold them back.
"You there, maintain order," Kinshasa commanded the golden-armored royal guards behind him.
Then, stepping forward onto the stage, he bellowed, his voice booming like thunder:
"This is the Imperial Capital! Maintain order—NOW!!"
The sheer force of his voice shook the air itself. The soundwave carried tangible weight, making the furious crowd's heads ring.
Facing the towering man—over four meters tall, clad in resplendent golden armor and bareheaded, revealing a grim, square face—the citizens froze as if doused in cold water. Their anger immediately cooled.
In seconds, the chaos gave way to silence.
Vmmm—!
Just then, a massive, towering mechanical figure appeared above the square, hovering in midair for all to see.
Standing three to four hundred meters tall, its entire body was forged of obsidian metal. Humanoid in form, it possessed massive limbs and a distinct, sculpted head crowned with a domed crest.
A flowing cape billowed behind it, casting a vast shadow across the crowd. Every exposed surface gleamed in the sunlight, and the crowned head—clearly refined with artistic craftsmanship—bore an uncanny resemblance to the Empire's founding emperor.
Its presence was overwhelming, majestic—like a god seated above the heavens, watching all below with divine authority.
"W-what is that?!"
"Is... is that a god?!"
"The head—it looks like the statue of the First Emperor!!"
"Is that... His Majesty?!"
...
"So this is the fabled Ultimate Teigu... Judging by its size, at least three hundred meters tall. It seems the Great General—no, Her Majesty—has succeeded."
Staring up at the floating Shikoutazer, Kinshasa turned to his subordinate in golden armor and asked quietly, "Is everything prepared?"
"The core has already been installed."
At this point, aside from the Astartes warriors, every ordinary citizen—and even the Imperial soldiers maintaining order—trembled uncontrollably, their hands shaking around their weapons. This was pure, instinctive fear in the face of something beyond human comprehension.
Controlling Shikoutazer from above the execution grounds, Selene stood upon its immense metallic palm. From her vantage, she could clearly see the streets stretching from the Imperial square all the way to the Upper City's central avenue—densely packed with citizens for nearly ten li.
"People of the Empire, do not be afraid. I am Selene."
With a subtle pulse of Honkai energy, her voice carried perfectly to every ear within the capital, calm yet commanding.
At that moment, murmurs began spreading through the crowd in every direction:
"Not His Majesty? How could it be General Selene... Wait, could the Great General also have royal blood?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"You don't know? That metallic giant is said to be the legendary Ultimate Teigu—only those of the First Emperor's bloodline can control it!"
"Hiss... Then that means... General Selene is actually a royal princess?!"
...
After a brief pause, Selene suppressed the smile threatening to form on her lips and spoke with deliberate solemnity:
"Citizens of the Empire, I regret to inform you all of a most grievous event. Last night..."
"...Honest colluded with the southern rebels, leading the assassination group Night Raid to infiltrate the Imperial Palace. Though Great General Budo fought valiantly to protect the Emperor, under the manipulations of certain ill-intentioned parties—" (Selene: Ahem... that would be me.)
"—a massive gap appeared in the palace defenses..."
"Our Emperor was assassinated... and has perished!"
The moment her words fell, the entire central avenue of the capital erupted in shock. The Young Emperor—dead?! He was the last direct descendant of the First Emperor's line!
That meant... the thousand-year Imperial bloodline had ended.
Panic rippled through the crowd. Even the officials who had come merely to witness the spectacle stood frozen. Honest had fallen, yes—but now the Emperor himself was gone?
As fearful whispers filled the air, a booming voice suddenly cut through the commotion:
"Silence! It is not yet time for despair—!!!"
"Look! It's Great General Budo!"
Standing one step behind Selene, his body now completely healed, Budo stepped forward with grave dignity and declared loudly:
"His Majesty has fallen. This general bears the greatest guilt. I intended to resign my title and take my own life to atone. However—the Empire cannot go a single day without a ruler!"
"At this moment of national peril, I humbly beseech Her Highness the Imperial Princess to take up the throne! Long live Her Majesty, Empress Selene!!"
With that, Budo fell to his knees, pressing his forehead to the ground before Selene.
Seeing his chance to seize credit slipping away, Kinshasa frowned slightly but immediately followed suit. Leading the Astartes warriors and the soldiers of the Royal Guard Legion, he too knelt and shouted in unison:
"Long live Her Majesty, Empress Selene!"
One after another, the soldiers of the Imperial Security Division followed their lead, dropping to one knee and echoing the cry:
"Long live Her Majesty, Empress Selene!"
"Long live Her Majesty, Empress Selene!!"
"Long live Her Majesty, Empress Selene!!!"
Soon, like a tide sweeping across the capital, the citizens too—guided by those within the crowd—fell to their knees, their voices merging into a thunderous roar.
Within moments, Selene stood alone among countless kneeling subjects, the only one still upright.
Seizing the moment, she did not decline, nor did she show the slightest hesitation. Placing a clenched fist over her chest, she declared firmly:
"This is My first imperial decree!"
"Announce to all citizens: the former Imperial Minister Honest is guilty of regicide—his nine generations are to be executed!"
As she spoke, Selene raised her hand toward the crucifix on which Honest was bound. Simulating—gravity—she flung the bloodstained traitor directly into the crowd.
"He is yours now. Do with him as you please."
"ROAAAAAR!!!"
In an instant, the people's cries of loyalty reached a fever pitch. This time, they were heartfelt—pure, unrestrained devotion.
"Long live Her Majesty, Empress Selene!"
"Long live Her Majesty, Empress Selene!!"
"LONG LIVE HER MAJESTY, EMPRESS SELENE!!!"
...
Three hours later, within the Imperial Palace—
Upon the marble steps covered by a red-and-gold carpet, Selene sat gracefully upon a massive golden throne. The armrests bore exquisite carvings of twin-headed eagles clutching a sword and shield.
"Milady—no, Your Majesty," Sebas said respectfully from beside her. "Congratulations on your ascension to the throne. If your father and mother knew, they would surely be proud."
"Hmph. Sebas, must we still be so formal between us?"
"As for... Father Brauchitsch and Mother Katy... it's not time yet. Not nearly. I'm still not strong enough—not yet to face the Magic Gods."
Her slender finger tapped thoughtfully against the throne's armrest.
"As you wish, Milady. Then, please take a look at these—several designs this old servant prepared for Your Majesty's imperial coronation regalia..."