"Oh..."
Under Setsuna's and the shipgirls' guidance, the girls brought from the current civilized era formed a tour group to visit the capital city of the Starsea Empire.
Theresa followed closely behind Setsuna, walking in the front, while Himeko, Shigure Kira, and other St. Freya teachers and students clustered in small groups behind.
Suddenly arriving in the capital of an interstellar empire, they were dazzled by the sight.
Everywhere they looked were magnificent and futuristic buildings, both on the ground and in the sky.
Anti-gravity structures extended from the surface all the way to the heavens. Without a guide, one could easily get lost among the layered architectures.
"Ah..."
Theresa was completely shaken. All her previous thoughts and emotions were swept away by the overwhelming sight of the interstellar civilization.
When she was accidentally brought to the space station, she had seen plenty of Starsea Empire data, but seeing it with her own eyes now, she truly felt like she had stumbled into Cybertron.
Mei, Bronya, and Durandal were trembling in awe.
"So you were pretending to be weak all along?"
"And I actually thought I needed to take care of you—ahhh!"
Raiden Mei even switched to honorifics without realizing it.
She couldn't imagine that her classmate and friend actually came from such a prosperous interstellar civilization.
Thinking back to how they had once pitied poor Kiana's background, Mei just wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
Who was she to pity Kiana?! Her father could conquer the entire Earth in just a few sentences!
"Eh, I haven't been here before either..."
Kiana craned her neck, staring at the shuttles and Angeloids flying about until her neck hurt.
"Hm? Wait, there seem to be many aliens here? I mean, non-human, actual aliens?"
Himeko quickly noticed the detail.
On the capital's streets, there weren't just shipgirls and little lolis. Some looked quite unusual at first glance.
There were catgirls, dragon girls with horns and tails, and even pale, gothic-dressed maidens who looked straight out of a vampire story.
"Yes, the Starsea Empire is home to companions from many worlds and races. They come from different universes and have all settled here," Yat Sen explained, walking ahead while introducing the capital's districts.
"This is the Chaldea outpost, where Heroic Spirits usually reside. That over there is the Umamusume Academy... Outside the Golden Horn Bay is the shipgirl residence area. Though sometimes, we also stay at the Starbase."
"Under the Commander's leadership, we all live together. If you're lucky, you might even get to meet an Old God."
The girls from different a universe were stunned by what they saw.
The Starsea Empire's capital wasn't just a technologically advanced sci-fi city—it also had a touch of fantasy.
Thud—
A playful little loli accidentally bumped straight into Shigure Kira's arms.
"Ah..."
Looking down, she saw a small girl with tiny goat horns and dark skin. Her chubby, baby-like face was irresistibly cute.
"Since there are catgirls, dragon girls, and shipgirls, is this one... a goat girl?" Shigure Kira asked curiously.
"Uh... to be precise, she's a Cthulhu girl. She's a Black Goat—one of Shub-Niggurath's familiars, gifted to the Commander long ago~" Yat Sen replied.
"Hoh? You have someone here with the same name as me?"
Nearby, a red-haired, green-eyed Valkyrie leaned in, teasing the little goat.
She was a member of the Snow Wolf Squad and an instructor at St. Freya.
"No, she's the real Shub-Niggurath," Nyarlathotep scratched her head.
"She's my colleague. If you don't believe me, she can show you her true form... though it might cost you your sanity."
"Eh?..."
"Huh???"
Recalling how Nyarlathotep often clung to Setsuna—and remembering seeing them coming out of the same bedroom that morning—Shigure Kira froze on the spot.
In her mind, she quietly drew an equal sign between the Commander and an Old God.
The Valkyrie nicknamed the "Spawn of Chaos" decided she would definitely change her name later.
Running into the actual Old Gods here... what kind of madness was this?
Everyone continued strolling along the main avenue, wandering through the city.
When they reached the commercial district, the dazzling array of goods left them overwhelmed.
Inside the shopping center were not only technological creations crafted by the Bulins and Angeloids, but also specialty products imported from various worlds, as well as magical items.
"Magic amulets? Handmade by goddesses themselves, granting blessings to their believers?" Durandal picked up a few to examine, her face filled with curiosity.
"The Eris Amulet increases luck, the Zenalis Amulet grants resurrection, and this one lets you use water magic... but decreases intelligence? Huh?..."
"Magic scrolls—scrolls that can directly unleash spells ranging from Tier 1 to super-tier magic?!"
It was their first time encountering true magic, and everyone was astonished.
"Since you haven't attended the Magic Academy yet, you currently lack permission to use them. Therefore, only non-lethal scrolls below Tier 3 can be provided to you for now," the Angeloid in charge stated seriously.
"Oh... buy a few to try then, let me see?" Himeko was just about to take out some money, when she suddenly realized something.
"Ah, wait... what's the exchange rate here? I have some US dollars and euros with me—can those be used? How much are they worth?"
She had a feeling that in such a prosperous city, the prices might be ridiculously high.
"There's no currency here. Everyone simply takes what they need," Yat Sen replied calmly, while the Angeloid swiftly packed the scrolls Himeko had chosen and handed them to her.
"Later, we'll arrange a place for you to stay. The Angeloids will handle your daily needs. Food, clothing, housing, and transportation are all completely free. If you need anything, you can ask a Bulin or an Angeloid—just don't be wasteful."
"If you have any special requests, apply through me or the Commander."
"Ah!!!—" Himeko accepted the gift, her face full of disbelief.
"Everything's free? Meals? Rent? Buying clothes—all of it costs nothing?"
"Yes."
"And these magical weapons and scrolls? They're free too? Aren't they usually super expensive?"
"As long as you have usage authorization, you can take them anytime."
"What about spaceships? If I wanted to pilot one, could I?"
"...That's even easier." Setsuna smiled.
Raising his hand, he manipulated Honkai energy in the air. In moments, a small shuttle materialized out of thin air.
"If you want to take a trip into space, have the Bulins make you a ship—or I can just conjure one myself."
"Ah..."
Some of the girls who had even prepared gold and other valuables before coming here—thinking they might need to work to make ends meet—were dumbfounded.
Now, they truly understood what it meant to live in a paradise.
For a civilization spanning dozens of universes with nearly infinite resources, traditional economic systems had long ceased to apply.
...
By evening, everyone gathered once more at the central administrative hub of the capital.
"Today, you've had a basic introduction to the Starsea Empire. Here are the living regulations within the capital—please make sure to follow them," Yat Sen instructed as Angeloids distributed the information.
"As for distant territories and the Empire's vassal worlds, I won't take you on tours there. If you're interested, you can explore them yourselves in the future."
"Oh..." The newcomers tried to suppress their excitement and curiosity.
To them, the Starsea Empire was like discovering a whole new continent. They couldn't wait to start exploring and adventuring here.
Those strange races and the uniquely styled vassal worlds—each surely had countless stories waiting to be uncovered.
"Um, excuse me, do we have any duties to perform here?" Theresa asked the question most on her mind.
She felt uneasy about freeloading, especially since she didn't have the life or production skills that Bulins or Angeloids possessed.
"...When we set out to other worlds in the future, you may have your chance to participate," Setsuna answered.
"Until then, you can focus on learning and training here. I plan to rebuild an academy within the Starsea Empire, following the St. Freya model."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Courses, huh... naturally, they'll focus on Valkyrie training," Setsuna said, "but there will also be general education suited to the Starsea Empire's context—astronomy, physics, biology, and so on."
"All Valkyries here can undergo meta-morph surgery and genetic ascension, integrating Honkai Beast powers."
"You were originally trained according to A-rank Valkyrie standards? Here, that's just the starting point."
"Ah..." Everyone gasped in astonishment.
Technology changes life. They'd heard of meta-morph surgery—a relic from the Previous Era—but only a few could handle its side effects back then. Now, with the Life Sciences Division capable of mass-producing Emperor-class Honkai Beasts, they could freely choose whatever type of Honkai Beast gene they desired.
"The academy will still be under your management."
Bonk—
Setsuna patted Theresa on the head.
"Stop patting me! I won't grow taller!!!"
The little loli clutched her head and shouted.
"Sirin, you'll be going to class with them too."
Setsuna pinched Sirin's cheek next.
"...Okay..."
Sirin, who had been sticking close to Cecilia, shyly nodded.
"Through entrance exams, Valkyries with greater Honkai adaptability and outstanding grades—I can grant them a portion of Herrscher authority," Setsuna said calmly.
"Besides the Valkyrie Corps, we'll also be forming a Herrscher Corps in the future."
Herrscher powers originated from the Cocoon of Finality. Since Setsuna had mastered the Cocoon and the Power of Finality, he now possessed the ability to create Herrschers.
At the moment, the only legitimate Herrscher was Senti. Counting Kiana's Herrscher Core of the Void, that made barely two.
"Hiss—Artificial Herrschers?"
The St. Freya students and teachers pondered the concept.
In the past, Herrschers were humanity's greatest enemies—each of their appearances had brought chaos and bloodshed.
But seen from another angle, if they could master even a fraction of Herrscher authority...
They could become truly transcendent beings.
"Wait, if the Commander is the Herrscher of Finality, then wouldn't all the other Herrschers be your subordinates?" Tesla blinked.
"Yes. Just like Mio and the other Spirits. Is there a problem?" Setsuna replied casually.
"No, not at all. I mean—count me in."
The lobster-headed scientist paused.
"Is there a Herrscher power that increases intelligence?"
"...Go twelve kilometers out, take a right at the Life Sciences Medical Center, file for a genetic ascension application, and choose the dolphin gene. Go on."