Chapter 123: The Millennial History of the Glorious Empire
[Three days after the Captain's departure, the coronation ceremony "The auspicious hour has arrived, Lord Stargazer."
Lita reminded the distracted Stargazer that it was time for her coronation. "'We shall meet again someday in the future'..."
"Lord Stargazer?"
Lita called again.
Only then did Stargazer snap out of her reverie: "No, it's nothing. Let us go."]
[Star]:"Congratulations on Your Majesty's coronation!!"
[March 7th]:"It's such a shame the Captain isn't here for such a grand ceremony."
[The scene shifts as a voice resembling Lita's begins recounting the history of the Glorious Empire:
In the 73rd year of the old calendar, the previous emperor perished during the chaos of the aberrant beasts.
The imperial grandson, Stargazer, ascended the throne, changing the nation's name to [Glorious], and declared a general amnesty! The second princess, Kiana, outwitted treacherous ministers and rendered meritorious service to protect the nation. Stargazer granted her seven northern cities, bestowing upon her the title of Destiny Marquis.]
[Bronya Zaychik]:"Kiana outwitted treacherous ministers? Bronya doesn't understand how these words can be connected."
[Raiden Mei]:"This must be referring to when Kiana captured Jackal through strategy, right?"
[Jackal]:"Another version of me! You actually fell into Kiana's hands? How embarrassing!"
[Kiana]:"Hehe! This young lady is peerless in wisdom!"
[General Durandal, the pillar of the nation. Stargazer wished to grant her dozens of cities and tens of thousands in gold, but she refused them all. Instead, she volunteered to garrison the western frontier with a long spear, never entering the imperial capital for the rest of her life.]
[Herrscher of Sentience]:"I know this one—the general's achievements overshadowed the ruler!"
[Lita]:"Lady Durandal and Lord Stargazer are not such people."
[Otto]:"Given Durandal's personality, this is likely meant literally."
[In the 7th year of the imperial calendar, governance was smooth and harmony prevailed as all neglected tasks were revived. Chancellor Lita submitted a memorial requesting an honorific title for Stargazer: [Sage King]. In the 68th year of the imperial calendar, barbarians from the northern territories raised armies to invade. The Sage King personally led the expedition but contracted a cold illness during the northern campaign, which lingered unhealed. In the 69th year of the imperial calendar, the King set an ambush at Slanted Valley River, capturing seven northern barbarian kings and unifying the realm!]
[Li Sushang]:"This part feels familiar too—the Seven Captures of Meng Huo?"
[Herrscher of Sentience]:"Haha, seven Meng Huos, huh?"
[March 7th]:"Didn't Stargazer attain immortality? Why would she still fall ill?"
[Fu Hua]:"Did you forget what that so-called wish-granting device said earlier? Immortality doesn't mean invincibility or immunity to illness!"
[Star]:"Long live the Sage King who unified the realm! Your loyal subject, whom you've never met, reveres you!"
[Silver Wolf]:"What kind of cybernetic loyalist is this?"
[In the 72nd year of the imperial calendar, the King revisited the undersea altar alone and vanished without a trace. Chancellor Lita temporarily assumed governance.]
[Kiana]:"Did Stargazer choose to go search for the Captain?"
[Star]:"Your Majesty, for a chancellor to assume governance is absolutely unacceptable! This old subject implores Your Majesty to rescind this decree!"
[March 7th]:"Alright, loyalist, your King Stargazer has already disappeared!"
[In the 937th year of the imperial calendar, the 31st-generation Destiny Marquis led armies from the northern territories in rebellion, establishing a new nation called [Schicksal], which clashed with the empire on the White Wall Snow Plains.
In the 991st year of the imperial calendar, the empire launched a northern expedition against Schicksal but, lacking favorable conditions, was defeated at Yangping Right Path. After this battle, no one in the empire dared speak of northern expeditions again.]
[Theresa]:"Is this... some distant descendant of Theresa's?"
[Bronya Zaychik]:"Bronya is more curious about who Kiana ended up with."
[Siegfried]:"Let me see who dares! Which brat is it?"
[Star]:"The empire must not abandon northern expeditions! Northern expedition! Northern expedition! Northern expedition!"
[That same year, pirates from the Blue Sea raided southern coastal cities while the empire was occupied with its northern campaign, seizing thirteen ports and plundering countless treasures.
In the 997th year of the imperial calendar, these pirates formed the [Jörmungandr Federation]. Henceforth, the realm was divided into three!
In the 998th year of the imperial calendar, Chancellor Lita sought the undersea altar for a method to protect the nation but found nothing. At the end of the 1000th year of the imperial calendar, the undersea altar reappeared in the world. The chaos among these three nations began from this point. Imperial Year 1001. Somewhere. Stargazer's appearance remained unchanged after a millennium as she lightly fanned herself with a feather fan, observing the tides of history. "The great tides of history—long divided, they must unite; long united, they must divide."
"Though this is destiny's decree, my Glorious Empire's thousand-year foundation cannot be severed today."
"It is only regrettable that despite my heaven-defying talents, I must rely on heroes from another world to reunite this fractured realm—truly a pity."
"So be it... It is time we meet again, my friend."]
[Kiana]:"Is Stargazer trying to summon the Captain now? That's amazing!"
[March 7th]:"That's great—I was worried something had happened to Stargazer. But... is this the price of immortality? Stargazer hasn't grown at all in a thousand years?"
[Star]:"Isn't that perfect? A legal loli, hehe."
[Firefly]:"Her body has been frozen at twelve years old."
[Theresa]:"No growth in a thousand years? No—it must be because of that wish."
Theresa was confident she was stronger than Stargazer—she would grow up!
[White candles were arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper. The energy-depleted little Tesla slumbered within the ritual array as a sacred relic. "The hour has come; the array is full."
"The Seven-Star Lamp ignites; the gate opens bright."
"With this as tether, I call thy name."
"With me as tether, thou shalt answer." "With......"
Beneath little Tesla's rear, an intricate magic circle formed on its own.
But Stargazer felt puzzled: "How strange... The incantation isn't complete yet. How could...?"
Amidst a puff of smoke, two figures with tails made their entrance.]
[Silver Wolf]:"This time, Stargazer pulled off-banner!"
[Star]:"How many times have you pulled off-banner to react like this?"
[Bronya Zaychik]:"Bronya thinks these two figures look familiar..."
[Rozaliya]:"Liliya, look! It's us!"
[Liliya]:"I see it!"
[Rozaliya]:"Vodka Girls—shining debut!"
[March 7th]:"They look like kids? For some reason, seeing these two makes me feel this plot won't turn tragic."
[Rozaliya]:"Of course! We're none other than the famous future idols—the Vodka Girls duo!"
[Siri]:"Want me to teach you how to be good idols?"
[Liliya]:"Can you teach us how to sing?"
[Siri]:"Well..."
[Siegfried]:"Don't even start singing!"
Episode: "Honkai Kingdoms"]
[Star]:"Yay! More Stargazer content!"
[Pela]: *"The title lacks a zero—this must be a sequel.
After a thousand years, Stargazer meets the Captain arriving in this bubble world for the first time..."*
A/N: Apologies—only one update today. SB Linear Algebra midterms are this Friday; cramming for a day. "The Black Exam: Linear Algebra Edition" is so fun. Damn it—midterms in university? What kind of nonsense is this? Three updates tomorrow to make up for it!