Beneath the solid gold was a rhombus-shaped relic centered on a delicately crafted double-headed eagle sculpture.
Exquisite and intricate, every feather and pattern intertwined and overlapped to form a complex contour. It resembled a woven vine craft, and its entire surface shimmered with a golden hue, glowing faintly with a violet-gold luster.
"Gordes Musik Yggdmillennia..."
"Truly cautious, aren't you..." Selene muttered, gently brushing her fingers over the double-headed eagle insignia. After a moment of contemplation, some ideas began to take shape in her mind.
The long silence had honestly surprised her.
"Let Me think... It seems that after the Romania Holy Grail War, that fat man Gordes probably realized his own limits, fled far away, and didn't participate in any subsequent Grail Wars."
Selene wasn't surprised that someone like the amusing yet cautious Gordes could resist temptation. But that the entire Yggdmillennia and Musik families held back too?
Magus families—no need to explain their nature.
Could it be the pressure she exerted on them was too much?
Impossible. Given a magus's arrogance, even if she was a temporarily incarnated Servant—even if she was a divine spirit in Heroic Spirit form—she would still be seen as a tool in their eyes.
Selene knew the pressure she brought was time-limited. Once she left the physical realm and returned to the Throne of Heroes, any threats or promises she made became essentially worthless.
To them, the Age of Gods was over, and the decline of mystery was inevitable. What god could possibly pop out again to mess with them?
Selene understood this well. No matter how humble and obedient Yggdmillennia's leader Darnic had acted before her, it had all been mutually beneficial.
"Unless... after My departure, the Yggdmillennia clan broke into civil war over sole access to the Greater Grail's wish-granting power, and Gordes, protected by Siegfried, managed to retire in peace."
So who ultimately obtained the Greater Grail? Was it Darnic, who had planned so carefully for years? Vlad III? Or maybe Jeanne d'Arc pulled some divine intervention nonsense and burned the whole thing under the will of the Counter Force.
"Whatever. It has nothing to do with Me. If I happen to meet any of those 'old friends' from the Romania Holy Grail War again, I'll just ask them myself..."
Knock! Knock!
Tapping the table, Selene chuckled. "In that case, maybe that fat Gordes really was the biggest winner of that Grail War."
After all, while Selene had gifted Gordes a portion of alchemy knowledge related to the creation of imperial artifacts and noble tools under the guise of a knowledge trade, that didn't mean others couldn't steal it.
Aside from some kind-hearted protections Selene added for Gordes, like "bloodline recognition," "hardening," and "knowledge solidification," she hadn't embedded any tricks into it.
"Hardening" was self-explanatory. "Bloodline recognition" meant only someone with magus lineage or sufficient magical circuits could use it.
The most important part was "knowledge solidification." In Selene's design, it didn't directly inject the knowledge into the user's mind. Instead, the user had to actively study it. The knowledge was stored inside, with no limit on how many times it could be read.
In other words, this item could easily serve as a family heirloom, with the potential to build an entire magus lineage specializing in mechanical alchemy (a different path from the Einzbern's homunculus-based alchemy).
Beyond that, Selene didn't believe the magi were unaware of the sculpture's secondary value.
What's the specialty of the Type-Moon world?
Heroic Spirits!
And what do you need to summon one?
A relic!
A holy relic—within the Holy Grail War system, more specifically, the Spirit Summoning System of the Grail War—is, under certain conditions, the catalyst required for summoning a Heroic Spirit.
A catalyst can be an item once held by a Heroic Spirit, or anything closely related to them. While compatibility between the Heroic Spirit and the summoner in mind and body is a given, the most crucial element is the deeply linked catalyst—the holy relic.
In other words, the double-headed eagle sculpture that Selene gave to Gordes could very well be her "holy relic" in the Type-Moon world—and the only relic with such a deep connection to her!
After her initial appearance in the Type-Moon world and leaving behind a data imprint of herself in the Throne of Heroes, Selene's next plan was to have a native of the Type-Moon world take the initiative to summon her.
After all, at that time, Selene didn't yet have the means to fully consume the Type-Moon world without breaking it. To leave behind a foothold, she deliberately transmitted a good deal of false information.
According to her proud and divine persona, after reaching an agreement with the Type-Moon world's Counter Force, Selene allowed her physical form to be "accidentally" destroyed within the world, leaving behind only a fragment of her soul, her spiritual remnants, and her data in the Throne of Heroes. After that, she had no motivation to return.
Now, of course, Selene could go with brute force—dispatching her legions from outside the cosmos to punch through the Type-Moon world's barriers. But such action would inevitably provoke desperate resistance.
And the Type-Moon world is no weakling. Don't be fooled by the fact that most beings live small lives on a tiny Earth, or that Heroic Spirit wars seem quaint. There are plenty of monsters and gods sleeping within bounded fields, voids, the galaxy, or world seams.
One such being Selene was vaguely aware of: the original universe deity of the Type-Moon world, "Cosmic Rin" — Ishtar Ashtart.
The "original universe" refers to a cosmos more ancient than the current one, a time when humans existed as humans.
Before mammals even arose on Earth, in this prehistorical cosmic era, a goddess worshiped by ancient civilizations was Ashtart.
Back then, the word "goddess" referred to [a star domain where life could survive].
Whether that concept gained a form, or a way of life became a concept, no one could say. But in that original universe, Ishtar Ashtart became a [humanoid galaxy].
Her true form, like Selene's, was beyond human comprehension and could never become a Servant.
A god beyond the stars. A cosmic divinity.
There were also beings like the Star-Eating Wanderers, Chaos, and the true form of the Awakened.
If all of them were to awaken together...
In a composite-dimensional world with sentient functionality, if all beings rose in defiance, even Selene couldn't hope to occupy the Type-Moon world without destroying it.
Fighting against those eldritch horrors, her data fragment in the Throne of Heroes would be useless.
And if Selene's true form descended, then forget Earth—countless composite universes within the Type-Moon realm would be reduced to rubble and annihilated completely.
So, with caution in mind, playing it safe never hurt.
War was inevitable—but it would have to wait until Budo's Second Legion fully occupied Universe 117 and Selene had finished integrating her new subjects.
"No rush. There's time to plan slowly."
Stretching lazily, Selene stood up and pointed to the stack of reviewed documents on her desk. She waved to the attendant beside her. "Distribute these to the departments and urge them to meet their quotas swiftly."
"Also, bring Me the recent tax reports from the Statistics Bureau."
"At once!"
The attendant bowed respectfully and backed out with small steps.
"Your Majesty, General Budo and Supreme Fleet Commander Xytan 'Jar Wattinnee have begun the trials of the captured San'Shyuum."
"At the same time, it has been publicly revealed that the San'Shyuum Prophets sold out the Sangheili of the Covenant for political gain, as well as the truth behind their so-called 'Great Journey' being a complete fraud."
Appearing as a graceful blue holographic woman, Cortana continued reporting to Selene with her hands behind her back.
"In accordance with Your will, the San'Shyuum have all been sentenced to death. Would you like to view the execution in real-time?"
"I'm not interested in hearing the death wails of a bunch of ostriches."
With arms folded, Selene asked, "Cortana, after the Solar System campaign, what is the current active defense force strength remaining to the UNSC?"
...
Meanwhile, the attendant who had left the control room was headed toward the fixed teleportation gate when he encountered a group slowly ascending the grand stairway under a guard's escort.
"Meow~ huff huff... Why is this staircase so high? How many steps even is this? Up and down... isn't this exhausting? I'm done for..."
"Not exhausting—for those who use teleportation. But Pardo, you really should work on your fitness," Raiden Mei replied calmly.
Behind Li Sushang, a pair of tall, fuzzy brown-yellow cat ears perked up, twitching as if searching for something. Hunched behind her, the cat-headed Pardo finally peeked up with mismatched eyes (left blue, right green), barely half-open, fixed on the final step ahead.
"Durandal and Rita couldn't make it because they're overseeing Valkyrie troop training. What a pity," Li Sushang said.
"Lady Kaslana, just ahead is the control room where Her Majesty awaits. She has been expecting you all for some time."
The guard led Kiana to a grand, open metal doorway, then gestured for her to proceed alone.
"Thank you."
Nodding to the guard, Kiana stepped inside. Instantly, she saw Sebas and Bias Monk in a lively debate. At the far end of the hall, up a three-step platform, sat Selene at her desk, speaking to a female-form AI.
Stacks of folders, a dozen uncapped red pens...
At that moment, Kiana felt this image of Selene would be burned into her memory forever.
Under the crystal chandelier, Selene's features were clearly illuminated. The light washed over her face, as if even her beauty emitted a soft glow—a gentle smile in her eyes, focused as she worked.
So diligent. Selene had just returned from the front lines, barely finished her meal, and even though her palace wasn't fully built, she was already back at work.
Kiana felt a twinge of shame.
Back when she served as a regent for a small native kingdom in the 5th Trial World (Goblin Slayer) under the Military Affairs Department, her attitude toward governance had been... reluctant, her eyes dull and joyless.
She had slacked off far too much!
No more. Kiana, you must change!
"???"
Seeing Kiana's sparkling eyes, as if she were viewing her through some kind of filter, Selene was momentarily stunned.
Kiana, what's going on with you... what are you getting emotional about?
Another sudden epiphany?
Selene was baffled by the way Kiana was looking at her.
"Kiana, what is it? Is there something on My face?"
Selene asked curiously, observing Kiana's reaction.
Startled out of her own thoughts by Selene's question, Kiana's wide eyes blinked, and her face shifted through a series of adorable expressions.
Perhaps because she had come to see Selene as a true family figure, Kiana often showed a childish side in front of her.
"Sister Selene... no, Your Majesty. I've made up my mind."
"Kiana Kaslana of the Valkyrie Corps has completed the assessment. I formally request deployment."
Realizing the moment, Kiana quickly stepped forward and knelt on one knee at the base of the platform before Selene.
"Ho? Requesting deployment?" Selene gestured for Cortana to stand down. Her expression turned serious as she uncrossed her legs and rose from the chair.
A powerful, intangible aura began to emanate from her. Kiana felt as though a colossal mountain shadow had suddenly loomed over her, its weight pressing down.
"Are you sure?"
"I am." Kiana replied without hesitation.
"...Very well."
"Huh? That's it? I thought—" Kiana looked up.
"You thought I would test you again?" Selene raised her hand slightly, and invisible force gently lifted Kiana to her feet.
"I'm not so free as to indulge in such things. You are responsible for yourselves. At most, as a matter of duty, should you die in battle, I will annihilate that world as tribute to you. That is all."
"Besides, My method of testing is brute force. I beat you until you improve. What, want to go a few more rounds?" Selene asked with a teasing smile.
"Uh... no, thank you, Your Majesty."
"Alright, that ends this topic."
Selene leaned against her desk and gave the small double-headed eagle sculpture a little shake.
"Perfect timing. I happen to have a mission for you. High combat intensity, highly capable opponents—great for gaining experience and tasting life-and-death moments. And best of all, extremely low risk. No danger to life."
"There's really something that good out there?" Kiana asked skeptically.
"Of course. Aren't you the hero with noble ideals?"
"Believe me, the hero who guards the world will not be refused."
"Eh?"
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