Tap tap tap—
"How adorable..." Selene remarked softly, watching Arisa's cheerful figure practically bounce away with excitement.
"Indeed, little Arisa is... quite adorable," Sebas replied with a faint sigh, rubbing his temples helplessly.
That easy to fool? He had even prepared several elaborate excuses—no, reasons—just in case, yet a bit of cuddling and a single kiss from Selene were enough to settle everything.
Sebas couldn't help but concede: that girl, who once dared argue with him the day she was born, was now nothing but a bundle of energy and innocence. Though she was Selene's companion Honkai Beast and possessed formidable power, her heart was pure and simple.
Since all of Arisa's education and training duties fell under his supervision, Sebas couldn't help but recall the days when he had been responsible for teaching a young Selene.
The same extraordinary talent—yet the only difference was that Arisa was lively, mischievous, and full of childlike wonder, whereas Selene... had none of that from the very start.
Not little to none. None at all.
Ever since Sebas had taken up the role of Selene's personal butler, he had never once seen her behave like a normal child—no pouting, no tantrums, no clinginess.
And as time passed and her power grew, such moments became even more impossible.
Sebas had no ulterior motive in these thoughts—only a quiet sense of regret. Childless himself, he had raised Selene from birth, and some of his paternal sentiment had naturally been projected onto her.
He had always wanted to see Selene smile like a carefree child... but that was something long beyond reach.
Arisa's arrival, however, had brought the opposite energy—her playfulness and warmth filled that void. Teaching her felt like raising a mischievous daughter.
"Your Majesty, do you truly intend to appoint Arisa as the head of the new military unit? Forgive my frankness, but her personality may not be... suited for command," Sebas said carefully.
Selene couldn't help but laugh at his serious tone. "Oh? Her actual master hasn't said a word, yet you, old man, are already anxious?"
"To put it simply, I honestly hadn't thought that far ahead. I was merely improvising at the time... But sometimes, inspiration strikes that way, doesn't it?"
She gestured for an attendant to refill her tea, then took a slow sip before continuing.
That little episode—Arisa demanding a gift—had become a spark that led Selene to reconsider the Empire's entire military structure.
Of course, Arisa's... interpretation had gone far beyond her intentions. The girl had internalized it as a serious mission of destiny, weaving her own emotional narrative with a conviction even Selene hadn't planned for.
"Besides, regardless of how this new military unit develops, even if Arisa serves as little more than a ceremonial figurehead, the position of supreme commander must still belong to her," Selene said, setting her cup down and tapping a finger toward Sebas.
"And you, Sebas—there's new work awaiting you as well."
...
"Your Majesty, the Legion Commanders have arrived!"
After receiving Arisa's imperial summons, Budo, who had been working at the Imperial Guard headquarters in the outer palace district, immediately made his way to the Schönbrunn Palace.
Along the way, he encountered six others also en route: Liver, Hak Foo, Azem, Jaghatai, Leman Russ, and Dorn.
Among them, Liver and Hak Foo belonged to the Astartes Third Legion. Liver served as Legion Commander, while Hak Foo held the title of Company Champion.
Yes—Champion Boxer, not Swordsman. Though Hak Foo mastered nearly every form of martial combat, his greatest strength lay in pure hand-to-hand fighting.
Because of that, his power armor had been specially modified. In addition to standard bolters and Honkai Energy combat knives, he wielded a pair of incredibly rare Honkai Energy Power Gauntlets.
The remaining four—Azem, Jaghatai, Leman Russ, and Dorn—were all candidates for the positions of Astartes Legion Commanders. They had survived brutal competition to earn that distinction.
Once their legions completed structural formation and achieved battle readiness, each would earn official recognition after successfully conquering a world.
"..."
When Great General Budo's tall figure appeared, the other giants exchanged brief nods before following him into the Schönbrunn Palace. Under the attendants' guidance, they arrived at the golden latticed gates leading to the garden courtyard of the royal bedchamber, waiting silently for Selene's summons.
"Enter!"
After a moment, Selene's voice echoed from within. The gathered commanders followed Budo inside.
Upon seeing them, Selene gestured for everyone to take their seats at the prepared dining tables—each covered in red velvet cloth and arranged in a divided, formal manner.
She sat on the main throne atop a three-tiered dais, with a beautifully carved arched screen behind her. To her left sat Great General Budo in the place of honor, while Liver and Hak Foo were seated opposite one another on her right. The four—Azem, Jaghatai, Leman Russ, and Dorn—occupied the secondary seats further down.
As the commander of the Royal Guard, Kinshasa stood behind Selene alongside Sebas.
Once everyone was seated, Selene spoke directly. "Now that you're all here, let us begin. I have a few announcements."
"These are the proposed drafts for the reformation and expansion of the Imperial military system. They're placed before you—review them as you will."
At her words, the assembled Astartes officers immediately began flipping through the documents laid out on their tables.
Rustle—
The hall fell into near silence, the only sound being the faint turning of pages. Even the attendants stood motionless, hardly daring to breathe for fear of disturbing these towering figures.
"Tonight, I've called you here to gather your opinions regarding the Imperial military's restructuring," Selene continued once sufficient time had passed.
"Your Majesty," Budo began, setting down the document and placing both hands on the table, his tone steady yet respectful. "This 'Sisters of Battle' Corps you propose—this minister has no objection to its creation. However, since its members are to be formed entirely from captives of conquered worlds, might that not be... problematic?"
"You mean local integration? That's not an issue," Selene replied calmly. "In fact, there's another new military unit being formed as well."
Her gaze lingered briefly on Budo, an amused spark glinting in her eyes—an unspoken cue for him to continue.
"In that case, Your Majesty," Budo said, "I believe multiple tiers of evaluation must be implemented. Since these recruits are still in early development, forming them into a functional force will take time—but their malleability is a significant advantage."
He unfolded the reform document, pointing to an attached conquest report.
"I've reviewed Legion Commander Alex's report in full. The captives, having been infected by the 'Gastrea Virus,' possess physical and latent potential far beyond that of normal humans. They are indeed exceptional candidates for soldiers."
"However, the core issue remains—how do we ensure a sustainable supply of manpower?"
As the military's supreme commander, Budo's question struck directly at the heart of the matter.
He needed to understand what kind of force Selene envisioned the 'Sisters of Battle' to be. A main combat corps? A support division? Or perhaps a specialized, covert task force?
If they were to serve as auxiliaries, then the thirty to forty thousand captives Alex had brought back were far from sufficient. Accounting for losses during training and loyalty vetting, only twenty to thirty thousand might remain combat-ready. On the ever-expanding battlefields of the future, that number would be consumed swiftly without replenishment from a designated recruitment world.
If they were intended as a front-line army comparable to the Astartes Legions—did they truly have the qualifications?
After all, even the Astartes Third Legion under Liver had only just completed its foundational structure, while the Fourth through Seventh were still awaiting troop allocation.
And if they were meant to function as a secretive or special-operations force—again, how would loyalty be guaranteed? Their origins as captives would naturally raise concerns. (Budo, of course, was unaware of Selene's Mental Seal.)
"That," Selene said calmly, stirring her teacup with a spoon, "is precisely why I've gathered you here—to refine its structure."
Professional matters should be handled by professionals. The result might not be perfect, but it would certainly be the most suitable for the current era.
"Besides," she added, her tone light but edged with authority, "if I, the Empress, must handle everything personally—then what use are all of you? Decoration?"
"As for recruitment worlds," Selene continued, tapping her finger lightly against the table, "Alex's conquest is nearly complete. Aside from the remaining Gastrea creatures in the wilderness, the final pockets of resistance are on the verge of collapse."
Thump, thump!
At her signal, the Complete Book of the World activated. In the center of the hall, holographic projections flickered to life, displaying scenes from the Black Bullet world—city after city, settlement after settlement falling under Imperial rule.
"Your Majesty, judging by these images... some of the natives have surrendered, haven't they?" Liver asked respectfully, hands folded before him.
Selene nodded. "Yes. The cities untouched by war are the ones that chose to surrender directly."
The First Legion under Alex had extended its conquest across the globe. At this point, anyone with a modicum of intelligence could tell these invaders were not of Earth.
Humanity might be fractured and divided, but it was unthinkable that they would kneel to extraterrestrial conquerors—or so one would assume.
Yet, reality had proven otherwise.
The Black Bullet world's humanity was not united under a single rule. They fought separately, each clinging to their own territory, and the constant devastation wrought by the Gastrea left them without any shared purpose or interest.
Against the overwhelming might of the Astartes Legions, they saw no hope of victory.
"How to survive under the gaze of new apex predators"—that was the grim question every leader now faced.
Where there is a forest, there will be all kinds of birds. The first coward to kneel was spared, and Alex, ever pragmatic, had wisely halted the slaughter, rewarding the surrender with generous treatment.
The difference between those who resisted and those who yielded became painfully clear. Since death or defeat was inevitable, some concluded it was better to sell out early—and profit.
After all, if someone else could betray humanity, why couldn't they?
Not everyone had the courage to fight to the last breath.
"This conquered planet," Selene declared, "will henceforth serve as the recruitment world for the 'Sisters of Battle.' How should I put it... the people of this world are quite unique."
Unique, indeed.
They despised and ostracized the very warriors who protected them, branding them with the title 'Cursed Children.' A few might have seen them as heroes—but in that world, those few were the outcasts.
"I understand," Budo said, bowing slightly. "With the recruitment problem solved, the next issue is training and augmentation—"
"Great General," Liver interjected, "the most crucial factor is loyalty."
"Indeed," Budo agreed. "Loyalty is paramount. To ensure it, we must rely on ties—of material comfort, kinship, bonds, and honor..."
Thus began a long and thorough discussion. Budo and Liver exchanged ideas, with Azem, Jaghatai, Leman Russ, and Dorn occasionally contributing their own thoughts.
Before long, the framework for the Sisters of Battle began to take shape, piece by piece.
When it came to securing loyalty, they reached a unified conclusion: one word—Hope.
Unlike the despair that defined their previous existence, the Empire would offer them a vision of purpose.
Whether it be the promise of better living conditions, the ability to protect and rescue their sisters, or even the chance to change their world's perception of them—such hopes would kindle a fire in their hearts.
And if the ordinary people of their homeworld still refused to change their views, then Selene wouldn't need to intervene personally. Budo and the other Legion Commanders would gladly teach those ingrates the meaning of Imperial might.
Those who once lived in despair, when granted even a glimpse of hope, would cling to it desperately—never letting go.
By allowing them that hope, the Empire would gain soldiers burning with gratitude and conviction—adding new bricks to the road of its ever-expanding dominion.
...
Thump, thump.
"With that, the first agenda is approved." Selene tapped the table lightly. Seeing that the framework had already been fully discussed, she smoothly transitioned to the next item.
The assembled officers nodded. None were foolish enough to ask where this new unit would be stationed or who would command it—such questions were self-evident.
"Next," Selene continued, "the Imperial Local Defense Forces and Border Garrisons will be abolished and reorganized into a unified Imperial Auxilia."
"The Imperial Prison, the Imperial Assassination Unit, the Imperial Security Division, and the Imperial Guard will all have their authority and jurisdiction redefined and partitioned accordingly..."
"The establishment of the new department—the Inquisition—and the formation of the new Palace Guard Regiment under the Imperial Guard's purview."
"The large-scale acceleration and expansion of the Astartes Legions..."
"The reorganization and consolidation of the logistics department with the Imperial Science Bureau..."
"And lastly, the modernization of the Imperial Navy—upgrading and merging its two major fleets..."
...