In the northern skies of the Empire, atop the back of the manta ray–like Class Special Danger Beast known as Air Manta.
"...That's the proposal. The southern Revolutionary Army guarantees that as long as you, Milady, do not interfere, then once the new regime is established, the entire northern territory of the Empire will remain under your control. They're even willing to cede the Imperial Capital itself to you, if you wish."
Standing beside her, Sebas spoke with pride. Having served her since her youth, every one of Selene's accomplishments filled him with paternal satisfaction.
As he spoke, Sebas poured freshly brewed coffee from an enamel pot into Selene's porcelain cup.
"Oh, thank you..." Selene stirred in a sugar cube with a silver spoon, her tone laced with mockery. "How adaptable they've become. I annihilated their headquarters only a few years ago, and they've already forgotten that grudge?"
Sebas set down the pot, replying evenly, "Doesn't that show that their political understanding is maturing? After all, they've absorbed a number of Imperial officials who failed in the court's power struggles. Naturally, they've learned to be... more sophisticated."
"The art of compromise, hmm... indeed, they've matured," Selene mused. Just as she lifted a pastry from the tray and prepared to take a bite—her expression shifted slightly. "Hm? Alex?"
"What is it... oh, you've located Night Raid's headquarters and intercepted word of a collaboration between the Revolutionary Army's central command and the Imperial high council... and you're requesting permission to begin eradication?"
"Hold your attack for now. Continue surveillance... this alliance is, in fact, part of my plan. They're still of use to me."
"Oh? You also retrieved the Teigu Demon Armor · Incursio? Seal it and deliver it to Liver, who's stationed at the duchy."
"Hmm... you've done well this time."
After cutting off communication with Alex, Selene bit into the pastry, an irrepressible smile spreading across her face.
A complete windfall. She had originally dispatched Alex's Astartes squad to the duchy's estate merely to "harass" Honest—but instead, Night Raid had walked right into their path.
Eager to earn distinction, Alex had swiftly eliminated two of their number in a single engagement. Combined with the two killed by Akame and Cornelia, the group's fighting strength had been halved compared to their original formation.
And Alex, ever cunning, had played it perfectly—killing the strongest members, severely wounding another, then planting a tracking device in the injured body. From there, he'd traced Night Raid straight to their base.
Tsk. If Alex hadn't been prudent enough to report in after overhearing the Revolution's contact with Imperial officials—if he'd rushed in headlong—Selene's plan might have been ruined. The blade meant to eliminate the emperor (Night Raid) could have been destroyed by her other blade (the Astartes), forcing her to intervene personally.
My fault, she thought. I didn't brief Alex properly—I forgot how autonomous their judgment could be. Still, her decision to embed them with the Mental Seal had been correct. While their minds were bound to her will, their reasoning and tactical instincts remained intact—remarkably so.
Of course, Selene could easily kill the little emperor herself. But her moral fastidiousness forbade it.
As the Empire's model of virtue—its loyal and righteous servant—how could she possibly stain her hands with the blood of her sovereign?
Well... as the saying goes, "to play the saint while sinning behind the curtain"—no, no, that's far too crude!
This was merely the natural order: after the Imperial bloodline's unfortunate extinction, Selene, buoyed by the military's devotion and the people's acclaim, would ascend to the throne in accordance with the will of the nation.
Raising her cup of coffee, she offered a mock toast in the direction of the Imperial Capital, her grin unabashed. "Night Raid... do your best."
...
Meanwhile, along the forested road outside the capital—
Clop, clop... clop, clop...
A lone carriage moved leisurely down the path.
Suddenly—BOOM!
The ground split apart in jagged fissures. Massive chunks of earth shot skyward as clouds of dust enveloped the roadway.
BOOM! A towering, ten-meter-tall brown-yellow beast burst from beneath the ground, its enormous, clawed forelimbs slamming down upon the road, blocking the carriage's path entirely.
"Neighhh!"
"D-Danger Beast?!"
The two coachmen froze in terror. "It's a Class 1 Danger Beast... an Earth Dragon!"
"R-run! Run for your lives!" The two coachmen screamed, eyes wide in terror, pressing themselves against the wooden front of the carriage.
ROAR—!
The Earth Dragon raised its forelimbs and swung them down with terrifying force.
"N-no! Someone help us!" The two men wept openly, their voices breaking with despair.
Then—shing!
A sword gleamed upward from below.
With razor precision and fluid power, the blade cut cleanly through the air.
Splurt!
A burst of hot blood sprayed across the road. The beast's massive forearm was severed clean off, spinning midair before crashing to the ground with a thunderous boom.
A figure landed gracefully before the coachmen.
"A Class 1 Danger Beast, an Earth Dragon... Not a bad opponent."
The newcomer was young—brown hair cropped short, a cream-colored shirt, and blue-gray trousers. In his hand, he held a longsword slick with fresh blood.
He looked like a novice mercenary out on his first journey.
ROAR—!
The Earth Dragon's blood-red eyes glared in fury. It twisted its enormous body, drawing back its remaining claw as if to fire a massive bowstring.
"Come then!" The young swordsman gave a confident nod, spinning his blade into a ready stance—
When suddenly, BOOM!
A massive gust swept over the field. Before his eyes, a towering figure appeared, pinning the Earth Dragon effortlessly beneath one golden-armored hand. No matter how the beast struggled, the giant's grip did not yield an inch.
"A specimen of this size is rare. Earth Dragon meat is quite tender... I imagine the Great General would enjoy it." The golden giant muttered in a deep voice.
"S-so tall... so strong! He's holding down a Class 1 Danger Beast with brute strength alone!" the young man gasped. "Sir, my name's Ta—"
But before he could finish, the ground trembled again. From the distance came the rumble of marching—heavy, rhythmic, like rolling thunder. Dust rose high into the air, and pebbles danced across the road.
Cautiously, Tatsumi turned toward the sound. Was it another Danger Beast?
Soon, the horizon darkened under a moving tide of armored troops. Infantry and cavalry, their armor black as ink, their formation flawless and unyielding like a wall of steel.
"The Imperial Guard Legion?!" one of the coachmen stammered, his hand trembling as he pointed.
Tatsumi's heart pounded with excitement. He steadied himself, bowed to the golden giant before him, and said earnestly, "Sir! My name is Tatsumi! I want to enlist in the Imperial Guard!"
"Enlist? Sorry, I'm just an ordinary soldier. I don't have the authority to recruit." The golden-armored giant knocked the Earth Dragon unconscious with a single punch, then straightened to his full height.
"W-what? You're... an ordinary soldier?!" Tatsumi stared in disbelief. The man was over three meters tall—more like a walking fortress than a man.
"He's telling the truth. He doesn't have the authority," came another voice, deep and metallic. "But I do. Boy, are you sure you want to enlist?"
Tatsumi turned and looked up—way up. Another figure had approached, even larger than the first. His golden power armor gleamed with intricate designs, his height towering over four meters.
"Th-this guy... he's even bigger!" Tatsumi's jaw dropped.
The towering, unhelmeted giant had dark golden skin and a booming voice. His armor was adorned with ornate engravings, each line shimmering in the sunlight. To Tatsumi, he looked like a war god.
"Of course! A soldier must be robust and towering! Look at you—so scrawny! If you hadn't managed to wound that Earth Dragon, I'd have rejected you outright. You'd ruin the formation's look!" The giant—Kinshasa—laughed heartily, clapping Tatsumi on the back with a massive hand nearly as big as the boy's torso. (Tatsumi's height: 165 cm)
"Young one, how old are you?" Kinshasa asked.
"Fourteen," Tatsumi answered honestly.
"Good! Still room to grow taller. Well, what are you waiting for? Didn't you want to join? Get in line!"
"Commander, he's barely of age," one soldier muttered.
"Hah! Commander, you're recruiting child soldiers now? What'll the Great General say?" another teased.
"Shut it! Keep that up, and I'll knock your heads off myself!" Kinshasa barked, laughing as he waved them off. "It's not like I'm reporting this to Selene herself!"
"Yes, sir!"
Still reeling with excitement, Tatsumi saluted. At the soldiers' beckoning, he joined the nearest squad, grinning from ear to ear.
"Alright! Leisure's over! Reform the lines! Continue the march! And bring that Earth Dragon along!"
"Yes, sir!" × N
And so, amid the good-natured ribbing of his new comrades, Tatsumi officially began his life as a soldier of the Imperial Guard Legion.
Sayo, Ieyasu... I wonder how you two are now? he thought silently. Did you see that? I've joined the Imperial Guard! Soon, I'll be able to save our village!
...
Meanwhile, outside the Imperial Palace, in a hotel near the outer walls—
"Boss, our scouts have confirmed it. The defenses along this route are minimal. The Imperial Guards have all been strangely redeployed."
"So, she's honoring the agreement. According to the map, this passage—left behind by an old tutor of the late young emperor—leads directly into the Imperial Palace itself."