Dressed in a black-and-white Imperial Army uniform and draped in a white greatcoat, the woman radiated a sharp, cutting aura. A playful curve lingered at the corner of her lips.
"Let me show you something interesting."
Before her, the delicate blonde girl pulled her clothes tighter around herself. Even seated beside the warm stove, she still felt cold in the presence of the woman known as General Esdeath. A biting, bone-deep chill.
"Not long ago, I submitted an application for Exterminatus to Her Majesty."
Under the mixture of confusion and wary gazes from those present, Esdeath's perpetually stern face revealed little emotion. With a flick of her wrist, she sent the folder flying.
Swish!
The folder, embossed with the Imperial golden double-headed aquila, sliced through the air like a throwing dagger. Amid the Priestess' startled cry, it sheared off a few strands of her hair before striking the wooden table with a sharp clang, quivering as it embedded deep into the wood.
"Exterminatus?"
Kiana frowned, pulled the folder free, and snapped it open.
"Hm?"
Inside were only three sheets of paper, their texture resembling both gold and parchment. Pale yellow with gilded edges, the top bore the golden hollow diamond frame symbolizing Selene's Finality. On the first line were three stark words in Imperial Common—"Exterminatus".
Simple words, yet they seemed to contain the most vicious, cruel, and insane violence imaginable.
As she continued reading, Kiana suddenly looked up, disbelief in her eyes as she stared at Esdeath. "What do you mean by this?"
"Exactly what you think. It's directed at this world." Stepping forward without the slightest hesitation, Esdeath leaned casually against the table, tilting her head as she met Kiana's gaze. At the same time, her hand moved on its own, lifting the teapot as if she were alone.
"Indiscriminate slaughter like this... wasn't this supposed to be just our trial? Why are you interfering?!"
Bang!
Kiana slammed her fist onto the wooden table, her voice trembling with agitation.
"Because I didn't expect this world to contain such disgusting creatures as goblins. Their existence revolts me. So I've decided to erase them at the root."
Those words immediately drew the attention of Goblin Slayer, who had been the embodiment of 'two ears shut to the outside world, one heart devoted solely to killing goblins.'
What surprised Esdeath slightly was that, judging from Goblin Slayer's expression, he seemed tempted by the idea.
Interesting. A man with a story, it seemed. I'll have someone investigate his past later. If he's valuable, I'll recruit him into the Imperial Army.
"Relax. It's only the lowest tier of Exterminatus. It won't damage the continental shelf. The one I requested involves radiation bombs and viral bombs. After the bombardment, purification agents will be deployed. Within three years, this world will be reborn anew."
Although Selene had neither approved nor rejected Esdeath's Exterminatus request, that did not stop Esdeath from using the name to pressure Kiana and create a sense of urgency.
"Why are you so cold toward the lives of an entire planet?"
At that, Esdeath withdrew her gaze from Goblin Slayer and arched a brow. "To be precise, the human population of this world is only about ten million. Not very many."
Excluding other races such as goblins, magical beasts, dwarves, lizardmen, and elves, the human population of this world truly was small.
According to observers from the Imperial Ministry of War, human activity was confined to a single continental plate. The island chains and continents separated by vast oceans remained completely uninhabited.
Strange—but considering the gods who toyed with this world through dice, it was hardly surprising that human civilization had been restricted from expanding by their indirect interference.
Perhaps, according to the gods' script, humanity under their puppet strings would need more time before reaching an 'Age of Exploration' or 'Age of Discovery.'
Unfortunately, they might never witness the realization of that script.
It was worth mentioning that those untouched overseas islands and continents, unaltered by human activity, seemed almost like the gods' cruel joke. Their ecosystems were extremely hostile—miasmic swamps, venomous insects, predators, and toxic active plants filled nearly every corner.
An unprepared ordinary person might not survive even a single day there.
Though in the eyes of seasoned Imperial veterans, it was merely tolerable. In fact, wasn't it perfect for tempering new recruits?
These factors were precisely why the Imperial Ministry of War had designated this world as Trial World No. 5 under its direct jurisdiction.
Aside from the 10th Recruit Training Camp and a few others, most of the recruit camps in Trial World No. 5 were located in those harsh, uninhabited wildernesses.
"In your eyes... are ten million lives nothing more than a number?"
Of course not. They are currency—currency to be spent in exchange for value.
"Three months." Without answering directly, Esdeath lifted the teacup and swallowed a mouthful with a slight frown.
"I'll give you three months. If your plan fails, then I will initiate Exterminatus."
Crack!
"Before I leave, let me teach you one more thing. Kindness is good. I like it too. But—"
She crushed the teacup in her hand. In the blink of an eye, Esdeath vanished and reappeared before Kiana, delivering a savage roundhouse kick empowered by inhuman brute force.
Boom!
Rumble...
The entire ranch warehouse exploded apart, blooming like a gigantic flower swaying in the open fields.
Icy blue currents surged outward, mingling with white smoke and dust. The interwoven blue and white hues were strangely beautiful.
Shattered gravel and splintered wood rained outward. Durandal, Rita, and the others, who had been watching the spectacle, immediately moved to shield the adventurers and the women behind them.
"Kiana!"
"Don't move! This is for Kiana's own good. We are soldiers. Esdeath is a general. Defying a superior—even execution would be justified."
Just as Raiden Mei deflected the shockwave sweeping toward Goblin Slayer's group and drew her blade to charge at Esdeath, Fu Hua appeared behind her and seized her firmly, restraining the emotionally charged Mei.
Whoosh!
Kiana was flung like a peanut tossed from a hot pan, shooting through the air like a cannonball. She flew far beyond the ranch grounds and slammed heavily into the earth, skipping and tumbling across the ground like a stone skimming water until she crashed violently into a small hillside.
"Cough... cough..." Caught off guard and not having entered 'Flamescion' mode, Kiana felt as if her organs had been displaced. Dizziness overwhelmed her, leaving her thoroughly shaken.
"When speaking to a superior, mind your attitude." Esdeath slowly lowered her extended leg and spread her arms wide. Within her, surging Honkai energy roared like a raging tide.
"No rank, no title—no matter how highly Her Majesty regards you or what expectations She has for you, right now you are nothing more than an uncommissioned grunt who hasn't even been formally enlisted! Who do you think you are, daring to speak to me like that?!"
Perhaps other Imperial officials, awed by Selene's authority, would flatter and indulge Kiana, even grant her privileges beyond her station. But Esdeath had no intention of spoiling her.
In the military, what happens when a subordinate shows disrespect to a superior? Execution would be excessive. There was only one word for it—beatings.
"The one I serve is Her Majesty, not you!"
In an instant, the winds and clouds over the plains shifted violently.
With Esdeath as the epicenter, under the control of immense Honkai energy, the currents in the sky began to churn.
In that very moment, the night sky lit up without warning, turning ice blue.
The next second, a thunderous roar resounded across the entire prairie.
Boom—!
On the hillside, vegetation of every kind—including towering trees that required several people to encircle—snapped and collapsed under the shockwave.
Though the main ranch buildings stood thousands of meters away from the explosion, a terrifying shockwave like a roaring tidal surge still crashed toward them head-on.
Even after Esdeath, the instigator herself, had reduced much of its force, the remaining blast still scraped across the adventurers' faces like knives.
The shockwave carried powdered ice, the cold wind cutting like blades, sending involuntary shivers down spines.
The violent rumble could be faintly heard even in towns more than a dozen kilometers away.
When the ice dust finally settled, what appeared before everyone was a deeply shocking sight.
Centered on the forest where the Goblin King's so-called army had once hidden, a massive crater nearly a kilometer in diameter had formed. Every plant within that radius had been annihilated, ground into dust by the overwhelming explosion.
At the very edge of the blast zone, a bright flame stood quietly.
"Power of the same origin as mine? To be valued so highly before even formally enlisting... how irritating."
"General Esdeath..."
As Esdeath's thoughts drifted, Kiana descended like a meteor, landing heavily before her. Her expression was unpleasant, but after struggling internally, she dismissed her Herrscher battlesuit and lowered her head in apology.
No matter how many reasons she might have, she had been arranged by Sister Selene to enter the army and train under General Esdeath's command. That was an unchangeable fact.
And for a soldier to offend a superior—punishment was iron law.
Seeing Kiana bow her head willingly to accept discipline, Esdeath suddenly burst into laughter.
"Enough. Go back. Don't let it happen again."
"Remember this lesson. I'm relatively easy to talk to. If you dare make the same mistake when dealing with other high-ranking Imperial generals, you won't be so fortunate. Especially Budo—that old fossil. He acknowledges no one but Her Majesty."
"Any other questions?"
"Report." This time, Kiana had learned her lesson.
"Speak."
"About the Exterminatus... is three months truly the only time I have? Could the deadline be extended a little..."
"Tch, still clinging to that naive plan of yours." Rubbing her forehead, Esdeath shook her head helplessly. "You really are... a rarity in the Imperial Army—someone this naive and kind. You're nothing like Her Majesty. I truly don't understand why She favors you so much."
Could it be that She intends to realize the better part of Herself through someone else?