561 「Absolutely Not」
Now then, about the ceremony itself—honestly, it was so weird that even after experiencing it, I still don’t understand it.
I mean, technically, everything went according to the rehearsal. At least, the parts I had to do were. But there were these massive, over-the-top holograms depicting the creation of the universe, and dancers swirling around like it was some kind of space carnival. I had no idea what was happening. Is this really what a refined noble wedding is supposed to be like…?
Oh, and then the three brides descended from the heavens in their wedding dresses. I had to catch each of them, one by one, and lower them to the ground. Yeah, we did rehearse that part too, but don’t ask me what the symbolism was supposed to be. I have no clue. They all looked satisfied, so I guess it’s fine…?
Everyone other than Chris, Serena, and Elma was seated on a tiered platform near us, watching the whole thing unfold. Mimi and the others were in dresses that looked almost like wedding dresses too. A bit more modest than the main three’s, but still. Probably part of that ‘consideration’ Marquis Holz mentioned earlier.
The ceremony reached peak formality when His Imperial Majesty himself graced us with his presence and gave a congratulatory address. Huh? What did he say, exactly? Uh… sorry, I kind of zoned out. I think it was about blessing our union, but the phrasing was all so formal and archaic that it just went in one ear and out the other. Honestly, it was more like a sacred ritual chant than an actual speech.
「Were you listening to Grandfather’s speech properly?」
「I was. More or less.」
I mean, I heard it. Didn’t retain it, though.
Luciada, Imperial Princess and Mimi’s cousin, gave me a suspicious stare from across the table. Yeah, seeing her up close again… they really do look alike. Their details differ, but they share a lot of facial features.
「…Staring at me like that is a little embarrassing, you know.」
「My apologies. Just struck me again how much you resemble Mimi when I see you face-to-face like this. That said, you’re not quite the same, either.」
「We’re that different?」
「Quite. The face, maybe not so much—but your mannerisms and the air about you are distinct. Other things too, for that matter.」
From a psionic standpoint, their mental wavelengths—or spiritual frequencies or whatever—are totally different. Even if Luciada styled her hair like Mimi’s, wore her clothes, and fudged her body shape a bit, I’d never mistake her for Mimi.
「I was actually thinking of sneaking off disguised as Mimi, but with that level of confidence, it seems that plan’s a no-go. How disappointing.」
「Not even as a joke, okay??? That’s the kind of stunt that’d get the Crown Prince personally sending people after me, right???」
If, god forbid, she slipped me booze and I ended up drunk enough to lay a finger on her…? Yeah, I can already see my whole future going up in flames. Even before that—just the act of her boarding my ship alone, unescorted, would be enough to end me. So please just stop. I am not joking.
「Forgive my impertinence, but Princess Luciada… to hint at such an illicit act before me, on the very day of our wedding, at this very table—would you not call that… deeply inappropriate?」
Chris, seated beside me, smiled gently as she radiated a jet-black aura. Her tone and expression remained composed, but I could feel the presence of a black cat—or rather a black panther—baring its fangs behind her.
Neither Serena nor Elma said a word, but they wore the same kind of pleasant, spine-chilling smiles. Scary. Meanwhile, Princess Luciada just brushed off their pressure like a summer breeze. She might have Mimi’s sweet looks, but this girl’s nerves are steel.
「Ufufu, don’t worry. I have no intention of stealing your groom away. I simply wish to be free of the suffocating life I lead. Just like my great-aunt, Celestia-sama.」
「Please don’t. That’s exactly the sort of talk that would make His Majesty and the Crown Prince pass out.」
Incidentally, you might be wondering why we are having this conversation with the Imperial Princess at a moment when we should be busiest, just after the wedding. Normally, nobles and other attendees would be coming by in waves to offer greetings, but that whole process was skipped under the pretense of entertaining Princess Luciada. Marquis Holz and Elma’s father, Viscount Willrose, were the ones who suggested this—basically, they used the presence of the princess to cut out the parts of the event I’d hate the most.
As for the highest-ranked guest, the Emperor gave us his grand blessing… and promptly left. Apparently, the Emperor doesn’t have time to stick around for the whole show.
「By the way, I’ve been reading all kinds of books about Celestia-sama recently. And my favorite show these days is The Rampaging Emperor.」
「Please enjoy that on your own time, far away from me.」
Celestia is that totally unhinged lady who, being an Imperial Princess, stole a ship and went on playing merc for decades, rampaging all over the universe. And that show is based on a lunatic Emperor who disguised himself and turned corrupt nobles into bloodstains. That’s your role model!?
Hey! This Princess is secretly obsessed with the most dangerous weirdos in Imperial history! Someone in the imperial household needs to do something about this walking threat, now!
「Alas, rejected once again…」
「Please don’t sneak aboard my ship. If anyone tries to take my head, I’ll have to take theirs instead.」
「Oh my… how bold. You’re not even entertaining the idea that you might lose to an assassin or agent?」
「Of course not. I’m strong, you know. Probably far beyond anything you’ve imagined.」
The truth is, at this point, it’s nearly impossible for an ordinary human to kill me. And that includes physically enhanced nobles. Even if several dozen—or several thousand—came at me, I’d still come out on top. At this stage, I doubt I could even be sniped from outside my perception range—because doing so is probably literally impossible.
「Then I suppose I can sneak aboard without worry.」
「I said no, damn it!」
Maybe she finally picked up on my seriousness, because she puffed out her cheeks and pouted. Yeah, that’s cute, but no. No is no.
「Very well then. I’ll find a legal way to board.」
「Legal or not, just stop. Seriously. And how exactly do you imagine that playing out? What reason could possibly justify an imperial princess stowing away on a mercenary’s ship and gallivanting across the galaxy? After this, we’re heading to the Dareinwald domain for another ceremony, and then it’s off on our honeymoon. There’s no opening for you to squeeze into. It’s just the newlyweds from here on out.」
I made it absolutely clear. I’ve already given up on avoiding political entanglement due to my relationship with Serena, but taking on an imperial princess? That’s way above my pay grade.
「Grrr… it’s not fair. I want to run wild out there too. Let’s go take down some corrupt nobles and pirates together!」
「Absolutely not.」
This violent princess is seriously terrifying. I don’t know how strong she is, but as a member of the imperial family, she’s definitely had some serious enhancements. Who knows how much raw power is packed into that cute Mimi-like body… and it’s not just strength. She’s got authority too. That’s a deadly combo.
「Okay! That’s enough of that conversation! Let’s change the subject! Flowers! Let’s talk about flowers or something!」
Feeling genuine danger radiating from the princess’s enthusiasm, I forcefully steered the conversation elsewhere. No way I’m gonna let her wrangle some kind of verbal agreement out of me—not today.
I have a theory as well as something I’m curious about
What I’m curious about is visitors relics, specifically what the other 2 in the holy empire have. We can assume the one who came here from a FPS has a gun or something similar as their relic. But what would the RTS players relic be? Only thing I could think of is maybe a mouse.
I also have a personal theory about why Hiro is so powerful. We know that Stella online had a ton of player freedom and even has FPS gameplay, exploration gameplay, mercenary space fighting, planet exploration including searching new planets for relics and ancient ruins ect. And there’s the fact it was pointed out player groups could increase their standing with space empires and work with them giving them access to the worm hole gates, so there was probably a level of RTS in Stella to. So I think the reason Hiro has so much potential and power is likely the fact the game that brought him here simply had so much more power and potential then the other visitors access games. Stella compared to a simpler FPS like halo would blow it out of the water after all.
I don’t want to see the number of wives or concubines increase for Hiro. Let Neve be the last. Please. With that said, even if Hiro does get more added in the future, I don’t think Luciada would be one of them for 2 reasons: Mimi is already Hiro’s wife (not a good idea if 2 potential heirs to the throne could be taken out in one assassination attempt), and harems aren’t the best example to set for the everyday citizen (one explanation as to why the emperor and prince both seem to be monogamous).
Basically, I’m calling the royal family an AI psy-op that helps keep the empire together through setting an ideal, and if Luciada marries Hiro, it would conflict with one of the ways the AI tries to keep their psy-op alive and one of the ideals the psy-op is trying to instill in the general populace.
Furthermore, if Luciada doesn’t have a fiancée lined up, I think that also lends credence to the psy-op claim, as even viscount houses have arranged marriages for nth daughters, and allowing Luciada to choose her own fiancée could be for the sake of the ideal the AI wishes to project for the general populace, and they probably don’t want it to be Hiro in the end.
That’s how I see it, anyway. I might end up wrong. Please correct me if I got some details wrong.
I guess I should still qualify this by saying I don’t think the royal family has always been an AI psy-op, and that I still don’t like the idea that the AI won because of how the story has been written (things make less sense now than they did if the AI was assisting the Empire as part of their treaty instead of controlling everything—it closes all the gaps that allowed the Dareinwald and other noble betrayal plots to happen).
Based on already established rules, if Hiro desires her to join the crew, even on a subconscious level, the Fate and Destiny will bend to make it happen. Look at Serena for an example.
As for Neve being the last? Not a chance. For one, Tamamo already added herself to the mix. Linda is still a probationary member (though I am totally OK with her having her happily-ever-after elsewhere). There is still a chance for Tinia, though it’s stronger in the LN. Konoha is more likely (though again, a lot more likely in the LN). There are a few others from the Holy Empire that I won’t be surprised if they follow later.
I don’t think Luciada will join now, but I give it a better than even chance she will later. Look how long it took for Serena to join. I suspect that the Emperor might either give her permission to join or manipulate Hiro into taking her aboard to avoid losing her as he did with his little sister. Worth Hiro, at least, she be safe and he location known.
Remember, the author likes big harems. Also based on his part works, i won’t be too terribly surprised if a woman with a huge rack (of horns) joins while losing said rack and it being a point of cultural humiliation for her. If I had a nickle for every time this happened in one of Ryuto’s works, I’d have 10 cents. But it’s weird that it happened twice.
@40902nd I know about Hiro’s fate-bending, but at least with this chapter, I don’t think Hiro really wants her on that subconscious level. At least not yet. Just how I see it, anyway. As for hoping Neve would be the last, that was a plea, not an expectation. I consider Tamamo to be part of the harem already, and am hoping those like Tinia and Linda find their happily ever after elsewhere.
I do agree that what you say is possible, and I like the reasons you gave for why the emperor might be okay with giving Luciada to Hiro. But on that note, the emperor is a puppet, and I do believe the AI has more say with that decision… if we’re trying to be consistent with the “AI won the war” BS, that is. Now, maybe the AI want Hiro to become emperor for their own reasons… or maybe they understand how much he doesn’t want to be tied down and won’t try it. Or maybe the AI will try to do what I’ve thought it might.
I won’t claim to know what’s going to happen; all I can do is say what I think could happen and maybe ask (but not expect) for some things that I see as harmful to the story to be corrected.
Also, the AI take a relatively hands-off approach. They are not in control of the government and only act as a watchdog to prevent the Nobles from going out of control.
Also, based on what has been said before, the AI is actually more likely to assist Luciada than hinder her, since they find enjoyment in those sorts of settings. While they might not actively interfere, Mei has already shown willingness to provide advice on how to manuever around the system.
Looking back, I had forgotten that they are looking to get a new Maidroid to assist Chris. Add that one to the harem, too.
With all due respect, I think the story has shown the AI aren’t in control at all, if half the events and the number of pirates available to kill are any indication. I think what Mei said doesn’t fit with what we’ve seen in the story until now. I would believe that AI aren’t doing anything. I would believe the AI only monitors and reports things to the government, and has no real power outside of those things, but that’s not what Mei said. I just don’t believe that half of what we’ve seen in the story would happen if AI really were active the way it was told. As far as I’m concerned, whether anyone agrees with me or not, it’s just bad writing, and a retroactive change to what the story has shown us.
And AI winning the war, to just to step back so far that I don’t believe Mei when she says different to what the story has shown, makes me question if AI are incompetent to the point either they never should have won the war or the Empire should have broken up before now.
Maybe I just care too much? This is just a story, right? Maybe my own instincts as a writer are just frustrated because there are several moments of unbelievable writing where the author’s hand is seen forcing the characters into acting out of character, and the more that happens, the less my suspension of disbelief holds. I’m already writing my own version of a fantasy isekai because of how irritated I am at the constant slop, and maybe some of this is paranoia because I’d read pver a million words into the Solo Leveling WN and it lost my suspension of disbelief, and it feels awful to realize you’ve wasted that much time on a story I’ll never get a satisfying ending to.
I guess the TL;DR of this is: as a writer, I’m seeing things that worry me about my future suspension of disbelief in a story I really enjoy, and I’ve been burned before. I’m already of the opinion Hiro should have left Space Dwerg and gone to another ship builder before getting to know Tina and Wiska. Hiro put up with stuff like he already knew them; I’ve never seen Hiro put up with that much BS under other circumstances where he’s not doing it for the sake of one of his harem members, with exception to Marie, where he also uncharacteristically held back as well, and the story ignored previously mentioned elements that would have her mining in a space prison already.
Maybe those are controversial takes, but that’s how I see it. On a different note, and in relation to the mention of Christina’s future maidroid: I’m not so sure that’s going to work out between both Chris being part yandere and Mei also having made it clear she does not want another maidroid in the harem. It might happen anyway, considering the author’s love of large harems, but there are at least two strong reasons as to why it might not happen.
If it gets too much bigger, I may just drop this anyway, as it already feels like Hiro is at his limit in regards to physically and intimately (1 on 1 time) satisfying his harem—and he can’t even remember the one time he did get the full orgy experience, which, fair, considering the circumstances, but also a bummer.
Inb4 the Princess requests an escort mission for a goodwill/inspection task aroung the Empire
I’d put my money on the Emperor doing something to put her with Hiro to keep her from ruining away like his sister (better she be in a known location with one of, if not THE deadliest bodyguard in the Empire). Heck, maybe the royal guard swordswoman might join along for the ride? Hiro is in need of a bigger mothership, and the Emperor might temp Hiro like he did with Serena’s ship.
Princess luciada just wanna have fun hiro lmao.bet she is very jealous of mimi and the gang fun life.wonder if they add volume 13 & 14 illustration soon in this site.Tetsuhiro Nabeshima illustrations on the novels are wonderful drawn.Cant wait till volume 13 & 14 drop in stores.Again great translation on this site.Enjoy your rest and break authors and translators.keep up the great work
It does make me wander if the princess will sneak into his bed one day down the line. Sigh… another wait for the author to return. I am rather excited to get vol 13 of the LN. It seems to be something new that we haven’t seen here from what can be seen on the japan page.
LOL, it’s like that, the most wanted man is the one unavailable. Maybe it’s his powers too, but dang them thirsty girls are going all cougar on Hiro.
Thanks for the chapter! Awesome translation! May God bless you!
Is this a hint that the princess wants to be his lover or just a joke?
Thanks for the treat.
My personal take: the princess is in love with what Hiro does more than she is with Hiro as a person. And because Hiro is the best possible option, she might even try to make herself fall in love with Hiro in order to experience that part of the adventure.
The Emperor himself just showed some nerdiness in ships in the previous chapter, wouldn’t be surprised if each direct member of the Imperial Family had some desire for freedom
Why do I have an image in my mind where the Princess is floating in front of Hiro, flailing around like a child, while Hiro carrying her out with his mental tentacles with a deadpan face x’D
Thanks for the chapter
Thanks for the chapter…. And once again the author is on a break 😐😐😐😐😐😐
He’s mentioned working on a manuscript so possibly its related to the Anime Adaptation of this or Survival with my Mistress
Like a great aunt, like a great niece
Thanks for the chapter.
So, the “schedule” would be:
1. Finish the ceremony in the capital
2. Finish the ceremony Chris home
3. Go honey moon (that resort planet again?)
So when will Hiro sort out the mother ship before his “empire tour” ? Otherwise Serena would ended up isolated in her own ship……
Hiro should just send Luciada to her great aunt leave her the chance to live the life while saying this way she gets a chance to get to know Celestia.
Problem is her whereabouts lol…
Oh, that’s an easy fix though. Just send a message that mimi is pregnant, and she’ll come running.
Thanks for the chapter