553 「Would Ye All Cease Calling Me A Bother, I Pray? I Shall Weep, Dost Thou Know?」
「Yeah, you’ve pretty much stopped being human at this point.」
「Coming from you—a superhuman noble with the full enhancement pack—that feels a bit unfair. I’d say we’re both in the same boat.」
「My enhancements are still within the realm of science and common sense. Yours are clearly beyond that.」
「You’ve got a point.」
「Could you not talk directly into my head, please?」
Serena gave me a sharp glare.
After that, Serena had asked to see the powers I’d acquired in the Holy Vuelzarus Empire, so I showed off a few tricks: making random objects float with psychokinesis like a poltergeist, disintegrating an empty drink bottle into dust with lightning from my fingertips, and manipulating fate just enough to make the coin she tossed land heads-up ten times in a row. By the way, the odds of flipping ten heads in a row are one in 1,024. But for me, it was simply a matter of choosing heads each time out of a fifty-fifty outcome.
Honestly, depending on how you approach it, the difficulty can vary. It’s actually easier to choose heads one at a time, ten times in a row, than it is to select a future where ten heads happen all at once. The longer and more complex the sequence of events you’re manipulating, the harder fate manipulation becomes.
「If you were to fully master this ‘fate manipulation,’ wouldn’t that basically make you a god? You could bend everything entirely to your will, right?」
As she spoke, Serena kept scrutinizing the coin, probably still suspicious I’d somehow tampered with it. She wasn’t wrong, though.
「In theory, aye. Yet to achieve such a feat, one would require Spiritual Power far beyond the limits of man, the mastery to wield that power at will, and the perception to behold and unravel fate itself. Thus far, but a single being hath reached such heights—whether on this side or the other.」
While I was wondering how to explain, Kugi offered a lifeline. Well, it was Kugi’s voice, but not quite.
「I see… Wait, Kugi-san… right?」
「Indeed, this is her body. Yet within, I am another. I am the woman whom my lord did name Tamamo. I am, for the moment, borrowing Kugi’s vessel. Well met.」
With that, Tamamo produced an elegant folding fan from somewhere, hiding her mouth behind it as her eyes narrowed. Was that a smile? Or did it carry some other meaning?
「Hold on, what’s going on? I was told you didn’t add any more women.」
「I said that, physically speaking, our numbers haven’t changed. And that’s the truth— physically speaking anyway. It’s… complicated. Well, maybe not that complicated. Anyway, she’s mostly harmless, so try to get used to it.」
「Things grew heated, and in the end, I did assail my lord. He struck me down, mine own body torn asunder—and thus, I now dwell within Kugi’s vessel for the time being.」
「Things grew heated, you assaulted him…? And your body was torn asunder…? Hiro, just what were you two doing?」
「Tamamo, you’re deliberately making her misunderstand, aren’t you?」
「Hohoho, I but speak truth.」
Tamamo narrowed her eyes, clearly enjoying Serena’s increasingly dubious expression. Yeah, she’s definitely toying with her.
「Thou art the one who doth ever brush aside proper explanations, saying but ‘stuff happened.’ Is that not somewhat irresponsible?」
「I was planning to explain everything once Chris was here too. Saves me from having to explain twice.」
Talking about astral life forms, dimensional shifts, and all that is exhausting enough to explain once, let alone multiple times. Even I’m still trying to fully grasp it. Just trying to explain psionic matters to Serena, Chris, and His Excellency the Marquis is already a headache.
「If thou hadst thy reasons, I cannot rightly fault thee. In any case, know this for now: there is another woman dwelling within Kugi’s body, and she too doth enjoy my lord’s favor.」
「…Sigh. I don’t even know what to say anymore.」
Serena exhaled heavily and rubbed her temples. She must be overwhelmed by how much is beyond her comprehension. Frankly, I’d probably react the same in her shoes.
「If you’re going to explain everything once Chris arrives, then fine. Let’s move on to the main topic.」
「This is getting complicated.」
「It’s getting complicated.」
「Complicated, huh.」
「Things’ve gotten kinda complicated, huh?」
「Sure has gotten complicated.」
「It really has.」
「No denying it’s complicated.」
「Would ye all cease calling me a bother, I pray? I shall weep, dost thou know?」
Everyone except Mei declared Tamamo a pain, leaving her genuinely teary-eyed. Well, that’s only natural. That’s probably why even in the Holy Vuelzarus Empire, she was so feared that no one dared speak her name aloud.
「Ahem. So, first things first—about the ceremony itself, we’ll be holding two separate weddings. One in the Imperial Capital, and one in the Dexer System, the capital system of Earl Dareinwald’s domain. That’s the usual format for nobles with territories. The capital ceremony is the official one for nobility, while the domain ceremony serves as a kind of public introduction to the local citizens.」
「And there’s no need for a ceremony in the Holz Marquisate territory?」
「If I were the direct heir to House Holz, we would. But I’m only somewhere in the middle of the succession line, and I’ll be formally renouncing my claim to the title with this marriage. So for the people of the territory, just broadcasting the Imperial Capital ceremony will suffice.」
「I see. And as for House Willrose, since they’re nobles of the robe based entirely in the capital, the capital ceremony alone covers their obligations, right?」
「Exactly. Just to be clear, it’s not that I’m disregarding the Willrose name by not mentioning it—」
「I know. No need to be so careful about it.」
Elma smiled wryly and waved her hand.
「We’re the lowest in rank anyway. Compared to landed nobles, nobles of the robe like us are nothing special.」
「You say that, but truthfully, both House Holz and House Dareinwald owe a great deal to House Willrose for this whole wedding arrangement. As a house deeply rooted in the capital’s nobility, they’ve got a completely different kind of network from us landed nobles.」
「Ah, I see…」
「Boss’s got that face he makes when he don’t get a thing, huh?」
「Big sis, you don’t really get it either, do you?」
「‘Course not. I’m just your everyday back-alley guild dwarf. Ain’t no way I’d understand all this fancy noble talk.」
「Your shameless honesty is kind of refreshing… Same here, I’m just an ordinary citizen of the Empire.」
「Me too, I haven’t got a clue!」
「Mimi-kun, you aren’t precisely… well… yeah, that’s probably true…」
Shouko-sensei chuckled at Tina and Mimi, both puffing out their chests as they proudly declared their ignorance. Honestly, if we’re talking bloodlines, Serena’s family is nothing compared to Mimi’s lineage—but she was raised entirely as a normal person.
「Chris is busy preparing for the ceremony in her territory. She should be finished soon and join us here. As for preparations in the capital, House Willrose and my family have everything under control, so no worries there. Tomorrow we’ll be doing final fittings for everyone’s outfits.」
「Everyone work hard, okay? I’ll just be relaxing in my room.」
「What are you talking about? Neve, you’ve got an outfit too—you don’t get to sit this out.」
「Eh?」
Neve blinked in surprise, apparently thinking she was exempt.
I’m a little surprised myself, honestly.
「You just got back, so you might not know yet, but you’ve become quite a hot topic in the Empire, you know? The tragic victim of the Vereverem Federation’s inhumane weapon experiments—a girl robbed of even her name and lifespan. And then you were given a name by Princess Luciada herself. Your story’s full of appeal. Naturally, we’ll make use of it.」
「Ah… propaganda?」
「Exactly. ‘The Vereverem Federation—hypocrites who spout freedom and democracy while committing atrocities!’ That’s the narrative. The Federation denies your and your sisters’ existence entirely, claiming we fabricated everything. But we have physical evidence and your vital data. Surrounding nations are more hostile toward the Vereverem Federation than ever before.」
Serena smiled wickedly. Neve smiled too—looking a little too pleased for comfort. Scary girls.
「Which is why, as the tragic girl reborn into happiness, you’ll help us show off the Empire’s goodwill. The propaganda is working beautifully.」
「Man, that’s kind of a dirty move…」
They weren’t even all that keen on protecting Neve at first, saying it might not hurt Vereverem much. But now that it’s working better than expected, they’re more than happy to cash in. Well, I guess that’s just how governments are. And if Neve herself is happy, it’s probably better not to overthink it.
Yeah. Let’s leave it at that.
First of all, thanks for the chapter.
Seems this vol. will focus on Hiro’s wedding and his harem management, wonder how he can adapt to the life of aristocrat as a mercenary. As Hiro’s mercenary job is a family business, then:
Chris: the manager of the home base
Elma: Chift advisor, the second in command, Captain of the Antlion
Mimi: Manager of the merchant business, (future captain of a huge cargo ship?)
Tina and Wiska: Chief Mechanics/engineers
Shouko: Chief (mad) scientist/medical officer
Mei: Captain of Black Lotus, jack of all trade
Kugi: Operator on board krishna, “obi wan” of the force
Neve: Coordinator of Hiro’s fleet? Tactical advisor against federation?
Honorable mention (not in the harem…yet?):
Tinia: She would be useless in space combat, but may help managing Hiro’s wealth for financial investments
Konoha: dedicated bodyguard for the girls
But for Serena….will she quit the fleet and join Hiro? To be frank, I have a feeling that Serena may ended up confronting Hiro because of the fxxking Emperor….
We know from those little story of the future that Serena becomes higher ranked in the military (i think it was lt. general – still really weird for me that they didn’t use wet navy ranks.. would make more sense.. but o well)
i’m sure the freaking Emperor will do some shit at the wedding… or after.. otherwise he wouldn’t be the freaking Emperor.
Maybe we get another book about the aftermath of the wedding… plus HIro would just marry and jump right into the universe.. i’m sure there’s 2 brides what might hunt him down.
Neve, should be more like a tactical AI… since that was pretty much her function when she was canned.
We know that Black Lotus is going to get exchanged for a larger Mothership… who knows maybe Neve gets her own craft…. or Mimi gets the Black Lotus with neve and Mei the new one… tho i dont think the author will “break” up the Harem (on the ship) so soon… but ya never know.
I think Serena will be stay in military but raise to highest rank and fucking emperor won’t let her go cuz keeping her in will keep hiro to their country lol
Thanks for the chapter and the speed up^^
So, from that wording, it sounds like there are several other “Empires” to scout for less “noble-poop” to deal with.
Hiro, you got a mission: run from this poopshow x’D
… let me dream ffs …
Anyway, Neve in a cute dress, now thats revolting xD (Not that I actually am able to picture her in my mind at all … mh)
Thanks for the chapter! Awesome translation as always! May God bless you!
Thanks for the chapter
Thanks for the treat.
Thanks for the chapter!
Thanks for the chapter
Thanks for the chapter