Secret Or the Reunion the World Knows Not Of
Imperial capital.
The utopia powered by machines, the Empire’s core.
It was the land where, about a century prior, the first gigantic geyser of astral energy—a vortex—had been discovered. Though the city had been reduced to ash by the Founder Nebulis, it was reborn as a city of steel.
And this was the innermost area of the Imperial capital.
The topmost floor of the four buildings, the Heaven of Insight and Nonsight.
“Hwaaah.” A silver beastperson stifled back a small yawn.
The beast’s entire body was covered in a thick coat of fur like a fox’s, but their face was oddly friendly and resembled something between that of a girl’s and a cat’s. Their eyes were large as a kitten’s, and though sharp fangs protruded from the corners of their mouth, there was something charming about that.
An inhuman beast.
How shocked would the citizens of the Empire be if they were to learn this was Lord Yunmelngen?
Even the Lord’s direct guards, the Saint Disciples, were only allowed an audience through a thin cloth curtain. This person held supreme authority over the Empire and was the nation’s greatest secret.
“It happened years ago.”
The Lord sat cross-legged on top of a space covered in tatami mats, relaxing.
Clack.
Clack.
The Lord was playing an old board game called sengi by themselves.
“You told me about it before, didn’t you? When your silly pupil got on the wrong intercontinental train, and it was attacked by a stampede of wilderbeasts.”
“I don’t remember that.”
The voice had come from the entrance.
Though the Lord only had visitors from outside once in many years, their eyes remained on the board game in front of them.
“You already forgot? You told me about it yourself back then. That a powerful witch happened to be on that train. You had me look into her, too.”
“And?”
“You were right.”
The Lord pushed the piece on the board that read “queen” forward, their sharp claws flicking in and out of view.
The Sovereignty and the Empire.
The Lord moved both sides all on their own.
“The current queen…uh, I believe she’s the eighth right now? Her daughter just so happened to be out on an excursion at the time. She was riding on the same train as your foolish pupil. Don’t you want to know her name?”
“You called me over here just for that?”
“What else would I call you for?”
Lord Yunmelngen raised their head.
It had been years since the man had appeared before the Lord.
The former Saint Disciple of the first seat, Crossweil Nes Lebeaxgate, was there.
The Lord’s former guard. The man had retired from his post some ten odd years ago, and left the Lord.
“Crow, where have you been wandering lately?”
“…”
The former Saint Disciple—or Crow, as he’d been called—let out a small sigh.
“The astrals had a request for me.”
“Then you must have come a long way. Have you finished that business?”
“Only partially.”
“You should hurry.”
The beastperson raised themself to one knee.
“Nebulis will soon grow impatient and awaken. She’ll likely respond to the astral swords.”
“Very likely.”
“How troublesome. All she can think of is taking revenge on the Empire.”
The Lord shook their head heavily. For a moment, they squinted nostalgically at the tall man who looked down upon them.
“She’s your sister, isn’t she? You really ought to do something about her this time.”
“I gave up on that a century ago.”
He looked resigned as he—the Black Steel Gladiator Crossweil—answered Lord Yunmelngen without any emotion in his voice.
“If I make a move, it’ll be like adding fuel to the fire. I can’t save this planet. I told you that when I left.”
“I remember. And that you also entrusted the astral swords with another for that very reason.”
“…That’s right.”
His black coat fluttered.
“It’s time.”
“Already leaving, are you?”
“I can’t leave the astrals waiting. They’re rather capricious.”
“I see. Then off you go.”
“…”
“Oh, before I forget.”
The former guard was about to leave.
Until Lord Yunmelngen had stopped him—that is.
“I forgot to tell you something important.”
“What?”
“It was Unit 907, wasn’t it? Your foolish pupil is about to return to the Imperial capital. It seems he was in the Sovereignty for a while, but I’ve called him back.”
“…”
“Wasn’t there something you had to tell him?”
As he looked down on the beastperson smiling at him from the tatami room, Iska’s teacher sighed.
“Tell me something as important as that first, will you?”
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