"Selene's favor..."
After dismissing the manifestation of her 'Flamescion' Herrscher battlesuit, Kiana stood at the edge of the ranch without speaking. Instead, she shifted her gaze toward Esdeath's 'masterpiece' before her.
The dense forest that had once stood there had completely vanished. The small hill where the Goblin Lord had been was flattened into open ground. In its place lay a semicircular crater over five hundred meters in diameter, with the central depression plunging more than thirty meters deep.
Even the vegetation at the outer perimeter had been toppled across a vast area, frozen solid.
The soil within the crater had entirely crystallized into ice, shimmering in a magnificent icy blue.
Why did Sister Selene value her so highly? To be honest, even Kiana herself did not know.
Was it because she carried the unique combined bloodline of the Kaslana family and the Schariac family? Or because of her true identity as the Second Herrscher—Herrscher of the Void, Sirin...
After a long silence, Kiana shook her head. "I don't know either."
"Kiana."
"Mm?"
"Your full name is Kiana Kaslana... right?" Esdeath folded her arms and spoke calmly. Because she was slightly uncertain, her tone carried a faint questioning lilt at the end. "That famous knightly family from your world."
"Yes—and no."
"Hah?" Esdeath looked at Kiana in surprise. That cryptic answer clearly carried a story. For a moment, she was almost tempted to dig deeper. But...
"I'm Kl—"
"Stop. End the topic here. I have no interest in prying into your little secrets. Right now, you have only one identity: an Imperial recruit who hasn't even formally enlisted."
She waved her hand to cut off Kiana's self-exposure. Even the slightest rumor that might, however remotely, be connected to Selene was something Esdeath had no desire to touch.
She was favored—an absolute confidante of Selene. In private, she even dared to joke and banter with her. But being favored had its limits. Esdeath was not foolish.
According to the information already finalized and recorded by the Imperial Ministry of War, her father was Siegfried Kaslana and her mother was Cecilia Schariac. Judging purely by lineage, there should be no relation to Her Majesty...
Her Majesty's full name was Selene von Habsburg.
However, after reviewing declassified materials related to the Schicksal organization, Esdeath had discovered many interesting things.
As one of the old guard who had followed Selene since her youth and served as her adjutant, Esdeath had witnessed Selene's entire path—from centurion to Empress of the Empire.
It could be said that, in terms of understanding Selene, perhaps only Sebas in the entire Empire surpassed her.
And Selene's abilities during her so-called "developmental period" in childhood were truly—almost eerily—similar to the documented abilities of the Kaslana and Schariac families in Schicksal's declassified historical archives. They were practically weakened versions across the board.
One similarity might be coincidence. If everything was similar, calling it coincidence became unconvincing—especially when combined with descriptions of Herrschers born during Honkai Eruptions and Selene's inexplicable level of attention toward that world...
Esdeath had reason to believe that Kiana and her world absolutely had some connection to Selene's... ancestors.
Was it a relationship between a main branch and a cadet branch? That was her guess.
It was said that world distinguished between a Previous Era civilization and a Current Era civilization. There was a high probability that what Selene's family had done in ancient times had left behind bloodlines that eventually regressed, forming the Kaslana and Schariac families...
The Lord Brauchitsch, whom Sebas often mentioned, and Madam Katy, were likely Selene's parents—the rulers of this extraordinary lineage.
The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed to Esdeath.
Of course, these were merely her own speculations. She would never voice them aloud, nor did she have the mood to continue pondering.
She only needed to complete her task properly.
After all, as the Empire expanded, the war and slaughter she so fervently adored would never be absent.
If Selene ever learned of this line of thinking—
I would call this self-induced overanalysis.
"Let me remind you again." As an instructor, one had to fulfill the responsibilities of an instructor. With that thought, Esdeath looked toward Kiana, who wore a puzzled expression.
"I don't oppose knightly spirit, but you need to consider the target to whom it is applied," Esdeath said tactfully.
"The target?"
"Simply put, you must distinguish between allies and enemies, between Imperial citizens and non-Imperial citizens."
"Distinguish?" Kiana froze for a few seconds before understanding dawned on her. "You mean there's no need to treat non-Imperial citizens as human?"
"And if that's the case? Would you care if the water you spilled destroyed an ant kingdom? There's no need to treat non-Imperial citizens as human."
Esdeath nodded at Kiana. "Put away your overflowing compassion. Knightly spirit is fine inwardly. If you apply it outward in every direction as well..." She let out a faint chuckle.
"The pressure will break you. You'll go mad."
"But in my understanding, that's wrong."
Shaking her head, Esdeath patiently explained, "Right and wrong only exist within a species." At that moment, she felt a strange enjoyment in teaching. Just like when she was young and Selene had kept her at her side to train her.
It gave Esdeath a feeling as though a lifetime had passed.
Teaching Her Majesty's younger sister—interesting.
"And unfortunately, at present, they..." As she spoke, Esdeath turned and pointed in sequence at Goblin Slayer, the Priestess, the High Elf Archer, the adventurers, and the rescued women...
Finally, she pointed to the ground beneath her feet. "Including this kingdom. Although this world has already fallen under the direct jurisdiction of the Imperial Ministry of War, at present, they—the life here—are not Imperial citizens bathed in Her Majesty's radiance."
Esdeath's explanation essentially framed Imperial citizens and non-Imperial citizens as two different species. The distinction was not based on bloodline, form, or culture, but on whether one pledged allegiance to the Empress and willingly paid taxes to the Empire.
She guided Kiana in this direction.
This was also one of the primary ideological methods the Empire used to guide its Servitor Army. After all, anyone with even a shred of conscience who went to war and witnessed countless innocent lives lost would inevitably feel remorse.
What the Imperial military needed to do was minimize a soldier's guilt after killing, preventing conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
And when combined with the military merit peerage system, the medal-based honor and privilege system, hereditary titles for sons and ennoblement for wives, and similar measures... well, it could be said that the results were outstanding.
Symptoms such as post-traumatic stress disorder had virtually disappeared within the Imperial Army.
In the eyes of Imperial soldiers, the fine heads of their enemies were nothing less than ladders for climbing the social hierarchy. To put it bluntly, they were tokens to be exchanged for promotion and wealth. No one ever complained that there were too many enemies.
"Is there any way to make them Imperial citizens?"
As expected, Esdeath thought. In truth, all I need to do is submit an application.
But outwardly she replied, "Subdue them. Make them willingly and wholeheartedly offer their loyalty to Her Majesty. Or..."
She paused, then condensed the ice particles in her hand into an ice-blue double-headed aquila clasping an iron cross medal, and tossed it into Kiana's palm.
"Accumulate enough military merit to become a feudal lord-level noble. Apply to the Empire to have this land turned into your personal fief."
"I suppose you'll choose the second option. But can you truly achieve the rank of a landed noble?"
"I will." Without hesitation, Kiana crushed the counterfeit medal in her hand. "I'll earn the real one." She replied firmly to Esdeath.
"Mm, that's more like it. Your previous direction was completely wrong." Now she has a clear source of motivation.
What a hassle. Speaking gently and guiding someone step by step like this. If it were Wave, there'd be no need for so much talk—just teach him physically.
"So, what should you call me now?" Esdeath revealed her true intention.
"Instructor Esdeath."
Satisfied. Sigh... finding a sense of accomplishment by teaching Her Majesty's younger sister wasn't bad either. Esdeath—plan complete.
Compared to Her Majesty, I'm truly gentle.
Thinking back, Selene had never been so gentle. She had beaten her since childhood. Forget winning—I couldn't even touch the hem of her clothes.
"Instructor, I'll take my leave." Having adjusted her mindset, Kiana straightened her posture and addressed Esdeath without servility or arrogance.
"Wait." Whoosh!
Catching it in her hand, Kiana examined the silver-gray cube for a moment before asking, "What is this?"
"Something you'll need."
With that, a flash of violet light flickered, and Esdeath's figure vanished, leaving only her voice lingering in the air.
"Remember, you have three months. I'm giving you only three months. Don't disappoint me—and don't disappoint Her Majesty's favor."
Holding the small cube, no larger than a walnut, Kiana stood there for a long time.
"Kiana, are you alright? That attack from Esdeath..." After waiting and seeing her remain motionless, Raiden Mei stepped forward with concern.
"I'm fine... It's just that I've been looked after again." Kiana smiled at Raiden Mei to reassure her. "Let's go, Mei. It's time to rest for today."
"In two days, our destination is the royal capital."
...
Honkai Dimension, Imperial Capital, Grand Imperial Palace, Imperial Ministry of Internal Affairs Headquarters.
Over the past few days, Sebas had deliberately moved his office here to handle various administrative affairs more efficiently.
Creak—
"Enter."
"Lord Sebas, this is an urgent document forwarded by the Imperial Ministry of War."
The official clad in an iron-gray uniform stepped forward immediately and carefully placed the stack of documents on Sebas' desk.
"Mm, understood. Thank you for your hard work. You may leave." Seated behind his desk, Sebas spoke in his deep, resonant voice without lifting his head.
"Yes!"
"An urgent document..." After capping his fountain pen, Sebas naturally prioritized the file marked urgent. "Hm?"
A trace of surprise flashed through his sharp eyes as he murmured,
"Your Majesty, it seems your vacation must come to an end..."