The next day, after leaving the matter of rewards to Honest, Selene followed Budo's example and used the old excuse that "a warrior must not meddle in politics" to skip most of the court sessions (though the annual grand assembly was, of course, still mandatory).
Listening to the endless political bickering of those civil officials had been mildly entertaining at first, but now Selene found it utterly unbearable. Their ceaseless squabbling gave her headaches—far better to leave such nonsense for Honest to deal with.
And what was Selene doing instead? Naturally—she was going out to enjoy herself!
Walking through the bustling commercial district of the Capital's Middle City, she found it strikingly different from the serene, aristocratic Upper City. The streets here teemed with life, as vibrant and noisy as any modern-day marketplace.
From the main street entrance, the crowds stretched endlessly—people of all walks of life mingled together: paupers in coarse linen, well-dressed citizens, merchants shouting their wares with vigor... even a few nobles wandered about, accompanied by guards, shopping with indulgent smiles.
Selene couldn't help but find the Empire's strange blend of old and new fascinating.
The architecture, too, was a curious fusion—Roman-style market gates, neon signs straight out of a modern city, and elegant wooden pavilions in the style of the ancient East. Somehow, all these disparate elements blended together harmoniously, creating a unique and captivating aesthetic that made even Selene pause to admire the craftsmanship of the Capital's builders.
The only problem? Selene herself was far too conspicuous.
White hair, intricate crimson diamond-shaped pupils, a delicate-looking face of flawless beauty, and a striking outfit that blended elegance with danger—an alluring blue minidress trimmed in silver armor accents, leaving her smooth, shapely thighs exposed, paired with tall, armored high-heeled boots that clicked sharply against the stone paths—she was unmistakable.
As she and Esdeath walked down the street, the previously lively atmosphere instantly fell silent. Passersby stopped, bowed deeply, and even the nobles halted to remove their hats in respect.
"Salute!" a patrol from the Imperial Security Division called out upon spotting her, snapping to attention.
Selene nodded slightly in acknowledgment and waved for them to carry on.
"Little Esdeath, is there anything you want to buy?" she asked, glancing at the girl beside her.
Seeing Esdeath staring blankly, Selene patted her own chest confidently. "Don't worry, I won't scam you this time—and you don't have to spend your pitiful little stipend either. This General is treating you."
"General... honestly, I think it'd be better to spend this time training at the camp," Esdeath said seriously.
"Hah..."
That's... not normal. Everyone else who gets isekai'd finds girls who go wild for shopping sprees, yet hers was obsessed with combat and power-ups.
With a helpless sigh, Selene ruffled Esdeath's hair, completely losing her excuse for the outing. What could she even say? That she just wanted to stroll around for fun?
No way—that would ruin her dignified image!
Then she spotted a nearby barbecue stand and quickly changed the subject. "Boss, you got any earth-dragon meat?"
The vendor trembled as he replied, "R-reporting to the General... yes, I do."
"Relax, I'm not some villain. Give me twenty skewers of earth-dragon meat."
Seeing the poor man nearly on the verge of tears, Selene couldn't help but laugh. Am I really that scary? I'm giving you business, not eating you alive.
"General... mmmph—" Whatever outrageous thing Esdeath was about to say was promptly cut off as Selene used her armored hand to grab a freshly roasted skewer from the grill and shove it straight into the girl's mouth.
"Eat your food. Less talk," Selene ordered dryly. "And remember—you're the one who wanted to come out and have fun today!"
...
And so, for the rest of the afternoon, Esdeath effectively became Selene's life-sized doll. The General dragged her from shop to shop, buying her countless outfits and accessories.
"General, can we stop now? I'm exhausted..." By the time dusk settled over the city, Esdeath had lost track of how many dresses she'd tried on. The fatigue she felt now was worse than when she used to hunt Super-class Danger Beasts alone in the northern frontier.
Despite her exhaustion, a faint warmth bloomed in her heart—a feeling of being cared for, something she hadn't felt in a long time.
But seeing her General still brimming with enthusiasm, Esdeath knew she couldn't keep this up much longer... or she really wouldn't survive.
Spotting a cozy little restaurant by the street, the quick-thinking Esdeath suddenly had an idea.
"General, I'm getting a bit hungry. How about we go eat?"
Tugging lightly at the hem of Selene's azure miniskirt, Esdeath pointed toward a small restaurant by the roadside and said softly, "General, let's eat there."
"Alright," Selene replied without hesitation. She was starting to feel hungry anyway.
Hearing her General's agreement, Esdeath let out a silent sigh of relief. Thankfully, her superior was a certified glutton—the kind who'd cross mountains for a good meal.
"All of your signature dishes—bring them all out!" Esdeath hurried into the restaurant as if afraid Selene might change her mind. But before she could even finish her order, a clumsy waitress suddenly came rushing out from the kitchen.
On instinct, Esdeath shifted into a combat stance—
Bang! A loud crash echoed through the small establishment, followed by the sharp sound of shattering ceramics.
"Ah! Hot... ow... it hurts... ugh..."
"What's going on in there?" Still outside, Selene frowned at the sudden commotion. From the noise alone, she half-expected Esdeath to have started a fight. "You were supposed to order food, not destroy the place."
Pushing open the door, Selene stepped inside—only to find a purple-haired girl sprawled on the floor, clutching her arm and wincing in pain.
"Did you do this?" Selene asked, raising an eyebrow at Esdeath.
"I didn't hit hard... she ran into me," Esdeath muttered defensively. She hadn't meant to—it was just an instinctive reaction.
"You..." Selene sighed, glancing down at the purple-haired girl, who was now sitting up, rubbing her bruised shoulder and whimpering softly.
Healing Technique.
A sphere of pure white light formed in Selene's hand, radiating a gentle warmth that filled the entire restaurant. The soothing energy washed over everyone present, easing their tension and fatigue.
Then, with a flick of her wrist, the orb of light drifted toward the injured waitress and sank into her body.
Instantly, the girl's pain faded. The tears she'd been shedding stopped mid-fall, and even the red burns from the spilled soup on her arm vanished before everyone's eyes.
"Th-thank you..." the purple-haired girl murmured timidly, gazing up at the imposing figure of the Imperial General towering above her.
"It's fine, it was my—" Selene began, but before she could finish, a pair of middle-aged owners rushed out from the kitchen.
The moment they saw Selene's ensemble and insignia, their faces turned pale. They dropped to their knees with a thud and pulled the girl protectively into their arms.
"General... please forgive Sheele for her offense!" the man pleaded in a trembling voice.