Autumn. The season for reading, for art, for chowing down.
Some say it is the time for sports, but I couldn't disagree more. Fall was for hunkering down at home, nice and cozy. This summer had been jam-packed with all sorts of events, so I would need to take back some of my shut-in time during fall.
"Windows: check. Doors: check. Everything's locked."
No one was going to disturb my peace.
I had turned my room into a fortress while the sicko maid was in the bathroom. I had also posted a note that read Not working today. Go play outside, 'kay? on the door for good measure.
My peace and quiet now completely secure, I grabbed the latest volume of The Andronos Chronicles from my bookshelf and hurled myself onto the bed. The long-awaited sequel had just been published. The series was supposedly written by Crimson Lord Flöte Mascarail's older sister, by the way. Maybe I could ask her to get me an autograph. Or not. She'd likely murder me on the spot. Yeah, I shouldn't do that.
"All right! Vill's out and there's no work today, so it's time to have some fun!"
"I regret to inform you that I am here, you have work, and there is no time for fun."
"Whaaa?!"
I fell off my bed after hearing a strange voice. Was I hallucinating? My weary mind must've been playing tricks on me, or so I thought as I frightfully looked up at the bed…and found the sicko maid pushing away my stuffed dolphin (Mk. II) as she lay atop my mattress.
"Wh-what are you doing here?! Didn't you see the note?!"
"I pretended not to see it."
"So you did!"
"Either way, I have no obligation to obey it."
"…"
The worst part was that I immediately felt like giving up on trying to convince this shameless maid to leave me be. Did she really deserve her title? This girl was no maid—she was a stalker.
Vill maintained a composed expression even as I glared at her. I picked up my book from the floor.
"Let's say I forgive you for sneaking into my room. Deep down, I already knew you'd show up anyways. But how did you do it? You didn't smash the door, did you? Daddy scolded me when you did that last time, just so you know."
"Don't worry about that. I simply opened a hole in the ceiling of the lower floor."
"STOP DOING THAT!!"
Indeed, there was a big hole in the ground. I could see the room below. And a ladder leading to it. Goddamn it.
"This is even worse! Daddy's gonna kill me! And you can't leave this hazard open—do something!"
"Relax. I'll place a mat over it."
"You're making it a pit trap!"
I heaved a sigh. This was a threat. Vill was showing me that she would spare no effort to sneak in if I tried to shut myself away for so much as a second. She had been even more persistent about making me go outside as of late.
I placed some books around the hole to construct an off-limits area, then scowled at Vill.
"Why do you insist on doing this all the time? I just want some alone time."
"Life is short, so you'll be wasting it if you don't try to go outside."
"I've got more than enough time. Besides, staying inside and reading books is a perfectly worthwhile pursuit in my eyes."
"It would be more worth your while to work for the people. That's why I brought some work for you."
"No! Work can just blow up into smithereens for all I care!"
"Please, it's nothing huge. Look at this."
Vill handed me a letter. I already knew it had to be a declaration of war from that chimpanzee, so I opened it without a shred of hope in my heart, but my expectations were betrayed.
Party Notice
"I get nothing but bad vibes from this."
"There will be no danger this time around. This is a gathering to promote harmonious relations and peace. The Goddess of the Heavenly Paradise will be hosting it."
"Don't let them trick you. You know something annoying's gonna happen if we go."
"It won't. You remember the Six Nations War from last month, don't you, Lady Komari? Every nation is beginning to implement all sorts of peace initiatives to prevent something like that from ever happening again. Think of this as the first step toward building an alliance between the nations of the world."
"Hmm… It does sound like a reasonable event when you put it like that…"
The turbulent month of August had gone by in a flash, and it was now mid-October.
The war had left a scar on the world, and the most affected of the parties involved was the instigator, the Gerra-Aruka Republic. Following President Madhart's disappearance, the country rebranded as simply the Aruka Republic. According to the papers, they had celebrated their nation's new start for multiple days. The presidential election was held just last week, and Nelia Cunningham had seized the title. Her inauguration would be held in November, and I was invited, and planned on actually going.
I wondered how Nelia was doing. She was strong, for sure. Much more powerful and even charismatic than I was—but she was still a girl my own age. It sounded insane to me that a fifteen-year-old was to be the leader of a nation. I couldn't help but worry. Was she even eating properly?
I felt this strange affinity for her, perhaps because she'd been my mother's protégée. And because of that whole adventure we went through together in the Dark Core Zone. We'd even exchanged sips of blood. Also, she forgave me right at the very end of our battle the month before and settled for a draw. The audience had booed us hard, but whatever.
"If you're worried about Lady Cunningham, you should go to the party," Vill said as she buried her face into my pillow and sniffed it.
I immediately snatched it away from her. Gosh, I couldn't take my eyes off her for one second.
"Nelia's going, too?"
"Yes. All the bigwigs of each nation will be in attendance, as will the Six Valkyries."
"The who?"
"The six girls who have been drawing the most attention as of late. They consist of: Nelia Cunningham from the Aruka Republic, Karla Amatsu from the Heavenly Paradise, Lingzi Ailan from the Enchanted Lands, Leona Flatt from the Lapelico Kingdom, Prohellya Butchersky from the Haku-Goku Commonwealth, and of course, Terakomari Gandesblood from the Mulnite Empire."
"Don't just lump me in with that brutish-sounding group."
"It would be the perfect opportunity to pick a fight with them."
"Why would I do that?!"
I puzzled over the situation as I gave my retort. It really didn't sound like anything but trouble…but if their aim truly was to bring about peace, there was no way they'd suggest battling. Besides, I could also use my attendance as an excuse to turn down declarations of war from other commanders. Plus, I just wanted to see Nelia.
"Oh, fine. If you insist. I suppose it doesn't sound too bad."
"Very well. Let's go get you a dress, then."
"Why?"
"You're allowed to attend in uniform, but that would be a waste of your once-in-a-lifetime knockout beauty. Let's go buy you a new outfit."
"Hmm. Y-yeah. Charm like mine only comes around once in a lifetime."
"Indeed. We'll get you a dress that is sure to get all eyes in the venue on you. We could also have one custom-made. Let's level up your status to once-in-two-lifetimes beauty."
"Hold on, there's no need to go that far."
"But the people already say that the Heavenly Paradise's Karla Amatsu is a once-in-ten-thousand-lifetimes knockout beauty. You must show her who's the real—"
"What would that get me? That's just embarrassing, geez."
"What is there to be embarrassed about at this point? Besides, you seemed very happy to compete over your fake power levels last time. Like a couple of children."
I only did that because my life had been in danger.
Either way, I was also curious about Karla. She was one of my people—someone working toward world peace. I hadn't seen her ever since the day we parted ways at that prison in the Dark Core Zone, so the party venue would be a good place to chat.
"Let's go, then. We'll settle for a once-in-a-lifetime outfit."
"Yeah."
The maid grabbed me by the arm and pulled me away.
I had no way of knowing then about what awaited me for the next five hours. Five long hours of her undressing me, measuring my whole body with her bare hands, and making me her dress-up doll.
★
"What am I, a doll?! Is this what Imperial Sabers are to them?!"
Karla Amatsu grumbled furiously as she walked down a long hallway of a giant mansion at the heart of the Eastern Capital of the Heavenly Paradise. The Amatsu Manor.
She'd been hoping to spend this Sunday on something worth her while, but the head of the family had summoned her. Karla was never the type to make a stand, so there was no way she could turn this down. She'd also been told she would get killed if she didn't show up, so she had to give up on her nap and
hurry over there.
Complaints poured from her mouth in an endless loop. How she detested the Amatsu family for being so unfair to her.
"Don't they understand? Imperial Sabers are entrusted with the important duty of protecting the nation. They should be chosen based on their sheer aptitude and merit alone! To allow people like me to take up that space for nothing is to make a joke out of our nation!"
"I agree. You are a joke, Lady Karla," said the ninja girl following behind her. Her name was Koharu, and she led the Kidoshu, the ninja squad that had served House Amatsu for generations. She was Karla's right hand and was always around to protect her. "This is no job for your useless butt."
Her right hand also happened to be quite irreverent.
"Yes, I know that! Gosh, what are My Goddess and my grandmother thinking? What's the point of having a pretty doll just sitting there? They should know the answer: none. There's no point."
"Do you know why they called for you?"
"No. But I'm sure they'll tell me to go to war again."
"That, too, but I think this could be about the sweets shop."
"Oh…"
Karla had recently started an Eastern-style confectionary shop called the Fuuzen out in the capital. No one knew the commander was running it, of course, but it was decently popular. A magazine had even put out an article about them. Karla's dream of becoming the capital's top pâtissier was slowly coming to fruition.
"They found out about the Fuuzen? I suppose they'll tell me to close up shop."
"Shall we close up before they say so?"
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves!" Karla turned to Koharu and clenched her fist. "It's finally the time to tell them, then. I've learned a lot seeing Nelia and Terakomari. One must be firm and clear in their wishes! God smiles upon those who do!"
"Go get 'em, Lady Karla."
"I will!"
"Let's practice. Repeat after me: I don't want to be a commander!"
"Huh? B-but…"
"You're too faint of heart to do this without practice. I can already see you bowing like a bobblehead the moment you face your grandmother. So repeat after me: I don't want to be a commander!"
"I-I don't want to be a commander!"
"Louder. I want to be a pâtissier!"
"I want to be a pâtissier!"
"Good, good. I won't do as you say anymore!"
"I won't do as you say anymore!"
"Eat shit, Grandma!"
"Eat shit, Grandma!! Aaahh… Yeah, I think I can do it now. If I ask as valiantly as I did just now, I'm sure Grandma will…"
"Eat shit?" came the voice of a reaper.
Karla turned around, her head squeaking like an old door.
Her grandmother was standing right behind her.
The woman's eyes shone as sharply as a blade beneath her wrinkled brows.
The head of the Amatsu family was going on seventy, yet she hadn't lost any of the power that had been at her disposal back when she was feared as "Hell's Windmill" during her time as a commander. A servant had spilled her miso soup recently, so she'd decided to spill their brains as punishment, bursting their forehead open with her bare hands. She had also been the Heavenly Paradise's Goddess ten years prior, apropos.
Karla winced as her grandmother stared at her. She never failed to start trembling and lose all ability to speak whenever she faced the woman. Her face turning paler and paler, Karla looked at her ninja.
"Koharu?! Why didn't you tell me she was right there?!"
"Hmm." Koharu thought for a second before facing Karla's grandmother.
"Did you hear that, ma'am? Lady Karla says you are so forgettable she didn't even notice you were here."
"Koharu please shut up I'll give you some candies later so please."
"Sorry I don't make much of an impression, then. You were taking so much time, I decided to go look for you. And now this? Speaking behind my back? Are you taking your position as commander seriously?"
Her elder's pointed words gouged into Karla's chest. She turned to face her grandmother and bowed meekly.
"…I'm sorry."
"You carry the fate of our nation on your shoulders. As a daughter of the Amatsu, you have a duty to better the Heavenly Paradise. And you say you don't want to be a commander? Ridiculous. You really don't understand the responsibilities you bear, do you?"
"…"
"We can't have this. The Heavenly Paradise has to lead the rest of the Six Nations, and that won't be possible with your cowardice. Grow a spine already."
Karla cursed the shackles of her family now more than ever.
Her grandmother had always wanted Karla to become a leader for the next generation.
But she couldn't give up now. She could lead an easy life, but if she wanted to make her dreams come true, then she had to stand her ground.
"Grandmother." Karla looked at her with unwavering determination. "Won't you accept my wish to become a pâtissier?"
"Our family has protected the nation for generations. This is your mission as well."
"Please, try this."
Karla took a wrapper out of her pocket. The only thing that she thought could convince her grandmother was a show of her abilities. Her grandmother stared at her creation with suspicion as she opened it up.
"I made this fruit youkan. I bet you'll enjoy the springy texture mixed with the crunchy freshness of the peach and apple slices inside. It is my greatest masterpiece, or so they say. Please, give it a try. And if you recognize my abilities in this field, then give me permission to quit as commander."
Karla's grandmother struck Karla's hand, and her painstakingly crafted gelatin treat flew out of her palm. A heavy thunder struck once the sweet hit the cobblestones of the courtyard.
"Quit as commander?! You seriously dare suggest that?!"
The sheer look on her face almost made Karla well up, but she clenched her fists and glared back at her.
"Y-you're so terrible! How could you waste food like that?!"
"Use your Core Implosion if you're so upset about it. You can easily put it back together."
"What are you talking about?! Only special people like Nelia and Terakomari are capable of that! You vastly overestimate me! Stop forcing me to do this! Have you ever thought about giving your granddaughter a break?!"
"I have to be strict like this because you're such a coward! I even heard you've been selling sweets at the capital! Who gave you permission to do that?!"
"You have no right to complain about my shop! The Court gave me a business license! Right, Koharu?!"
"I'm sorry, Lady Karla. I forgot to get that."
"So we're doing business illegally?!"
"I'll make sure not to forget to report us."
"You're putting effort into all the wrong places! You dummy!"
"You're the dope here!!"
"Agh!"
Her grandmother grabbed Karla by the collar. Unbelievable as it was to think someone would do this to her own granddaughter, Karla wasn't surprised by it—her grandmother had beaten her up multiple times since she was little. She'd transformed into an insanely aggressive woman after she stepped down as Goddess for health reasons.
Yup, I'm getting killed.
"How many times have I told you? The Amatsu are warriors who work for our country."
"I-I know that. I know, but…"
"If you really want to quit being a commander, then fine."
"Huh? Huhh??"
"You have a message from the Goddess." She shoved Karla away and pushed a piece of paper to her chest. Her eyes gleamed like a demon's as she said, "You're aware of the party the Heavenly Paradise is holding, right? All six nations are invited."
"Y-yes." Karla nodded as she grabbed the paper.
"The Goddess said she's taking the opportunity to hold the Heavenly Ball. The details are right there. Read them. I've had enough talking to you for today. It's about time you steeled yourself," she said as she left.
Karla couldn't understand what was going on, but Koharu was furious, puffing up her cheeks.
"After she summoned you? Rude."
"Well…you know how she is."
"She didn't even serve us a snack."
"That's what you take issue with?"
"Oh well, I guess I'll settle for your sweets."
Koharu reached for the jelly on the ground. Karla grabbed her hand.
"Don't do that. You'll get sick."
"But you put so much work into making it…" Koharu immediately shut her mouth in regret.
Karla smiled.
"I'll give you as many as you want once we're back home."
"No, I just wanted to eat this so as not to waste food. I don't really want to eat your food."
"Is that so? Still, don't eat that."
"Okay… Anyways, shouldn't you read that letter?"
Koharu's blunt tone got a wry smile out of Karla. Just accept you like my sweets, she thought, opening the letter. She read through its contents and…
"…What?"
…felt her heart stop.
Koharu peered over from her side to read it.
"Let's see. The Heavenly Ball will be held with Karla Amatsu and Karin Reigetsu as candidates. Oh… Hey, so you can quit being a commander. Good for you, Lady Karla."
"…uh."
"Uh?"
"Uhh! Ugggh! UUUGGGHHH!"
Karla threw the letter away.
The Heavenly Ball was a huge event that only came around once in a generation. It decided the future of the Heavenly Paradise. She never thought she would have to participate in it. How could the world be so unfair?
"Why…? Why the Heavenly Ball…?"
"It says they want to reform the country. Oh, and also that it's to fight off terrorism."
"Where are these 'terrorists'?! There's nothing but peace in the Heavenly Paradise!"
Karla's groans dissolved in the air of the Eastern Capital, blown away by the autumnal wind.
She was an Imperial Saber, so she had no right to oppose the Goddess's decision. Otherwise, she'd meet an explosive end. And she obviously didn't want that.
Come to think of it, she had lived her whole life at the behest of someone else.
Will the day I'm free to follow my dreams ever come? Karla thought, gazing at what was left of the youkan on the ground.
★
The terrorist was right around the corner.
A waning moon shone gold in the night sky.
The City of Flowers. The Eastern Capital of the Heavenly Paradise's elegant townscape was already quiet under the shroud of darkness. Its citizens were deep in their dreams, oblivious to the threat to their country.
"Complacent idiots."
A figure stood atop the roof of the Osui Palace—the Cherry Jade Palace—where the Goddess resided.
It was a small-framed girl, carrying a blade on her hip. She looked down upon the Eastern Capital as she produced a Correspondence Crystal from her pocket. Her pesky boss always called late at night to check on her status.
"How are you doing? Any problems?" came the calm voice of a man.
Annoyed, she answered, "We would be done for if we were having issues at this stage. Terakomari Gandesblood isn't even here yet."
"Take care. We're going up against some real monsters this time. They're capable of using Core Implosion."
"Don't worry. Core Implosion or not, I'll take care of it."
She heard a sigh from the other end of the line.
"Don't forget that our objective is obtaining the Heavenly Paradise's Dark Core, not starting a massacre. Her Highness will be very pleased if you can manage just that."
"Her Highness, eh?"
The Wicked God Slayer's motto was: "Life is meant to be in the shadow of death."
Which was why Inverse Moon schemed to destroy the Dark Cores that granted the people eternal life. They sure have their work cut out for them, she thought, before remembering that she, too, had the Inverse Moon emblem engraved on her chest through contract magic. An eerie emblem crafted in the shape of a crescent. The moon was the Mulnite Empire's trademark, which was why Inverse Moon's symbol was upside down, as the name suggested.
"Also, make sure that Kakumei Amatsu doesn't find out about you. It would only cause problems."
"Is this about tension between factions? I can't believe you have the energy to compete internally. Please leave me out of that nastiness."
The girl crossed her arms as she made the Correspondence Crystal levitate in midair with magic.
It was fall in the Eastern Capital, and the nights were chilly, but this level of cold was just enough to quell the fires of bloodthirst burning inside her chest.
"I'll do as I please, got it?"
"No, you will do as I say. We have to stick to the plan."
"Let me tell you, this 'plan' of yours is full of holes. We shouldn't leave anything off the table if we really want to kill who we're after. Keep worrying about the rules, and everything will go down the drain."
"Says the girl whose pride dictates everything she does?"
"Hah. Yeah, yeah. I'll do it my way."
"Don't do anything unreasona—"
She smashed the Crystal on the roof.
The girl saw no point in constant reporting. She needed only complete her objective. The top brass wouldn't be able to complain about her methods once she showed them results.
A cool breeze stroked her hair.
The rustling of the leaves of an eight-hundred-year-old cherry tree echoed throughout the Eastern Capital. It was still in full bloom, despite it being fall. The tree itself was an object of worship at the Celestial Shrine connected to the Osui Palace—a magic cherry tree that stayed in full bloom all year round. What a joke.
"…So cold." The girl trembled.
Fall. The season for reading, for sports, for chowing down… Many motifs were popularly attributed to this season, but she didn't think any of them fit. What best suited fall was art. Revolution that would paint the world in blood and screams.
"The pursuit of strength is an art in itself. You know what I mean, don't you, Terakomari Gandesblood?"