Kudou Asuka's POV
"Ojou-sama, we have received some grim news. The Emperor has passed away," one of the men in black suits reported to me, his face clouded with an air of somberness that I found completely unnecessary.
"He has, has he? But did I instruct you to waste my time with irrelevant details about the Emperor? No, I specifically ordered you to gather information on Morningstar Campione."
"I need to know exactly who he is and what his actions mean for Japan's future." My tone was cold and unfeeling, as if the Emperor's life—or his death—had no significance to me.
And that was the absolute truth.
The Emperor was nothing more than a figurehead, a puppet whose strings were pulled by more powerful hands.
Even Princess Hatsune wielded more authority than that spineless man.
Why should I care about him?
Why waste my time mourning the death of a powerless man when there were far more pressing matters demanding my attention?
Morningstar Campione was what mattered.
He was part of the same chat group as me, existing in the same world.
I needed to know who he truly was, what his plans were, and how his actions would ripple across the fragile fabric of this country.
Most importantly, I needed to decide whether I should assist him in his conquest of Japan and beyond—or destroy him and his schemes altogether.
The chat group had assigned me a quest, leaving the choice squarely in my hands.
Fortunately, I had the confidence to handle either path, bolstered by my natural-born abilities, my overwhelming personal power, my immense wealth as the empress of a global corporation, and, of course, my unparalleled mind-control gift.
"I'm afraid, Ojou-sama," the man continued in a low, hesitant tone, "the one responsible for the Emperor's death appears to be the very same Morningstar Campione."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? Go on."
"We've been following Princess Hatsune, hoping to learn more about him, given her enrollment at Suuchin Academy and her subsequent meeting with the Campione on the rooftop of the academy."
"And?" I prompted, my voice sharp.
"To our surprise, Ojou-sama, after that meeting, Princess Hatsune...she murdered her own father in cold blood. The Imperial Family and the divine forces behind them are now hunting her down as a traitor and fugitive."
The news hit like a lightning strike, though I masked my surprise behind a calm exterior.
My mind raced.
Was the Emperor's death truly orchestrated by Princess Hatsune alone, or had Morningstar Campione manipulated her into committing such an act?
If this were true, he was indeed terrifying.
It seems, Morningstar Campione had wasted no time in executing his plans, and this sudden chaos had his fingerprints all over it.
Whether he had truly planned it or not, no one cared; the sudden turn of events suggested it was all part of his plan. The Emperor's death sparked the promise of chaos to come and marked the beginning of his conquest of Japan.
"Did you obtain any details about their rooftop conversation? What exactly transpired between them?" My voice remained even, betraying none of the curiosity now swirling inside me.
"We're sorry, Ojou-sama," the man replied, bowing deeply. "We couldn't get too close without risking exposure. We apologize for our failure."
I rolled my eyes at their groveling.
Pathetic.
"Fine, contact all our forces immediately," I commanded, my voice sharp and unyielding. "Rally our allies, leverage every resource at our disposal, and prepare for what's to come. Tomorrow, we ready ourselves for war."
"Yes, Oujou-sama!" they responded in unison, saluting before retreating to carry out my orders.
As they left, I turned my gaze upward, the cold twinkle of the stars reflecting in my sharp eyes.
Now, my decision was made.
I would assist you, Morningstar Campione.
But don't misunderstand—this is no altruistic act. I want to see what chaos and entertainment you can bring into my otherwise tedious, monotonous world.
For too long, this world had been dull, a monotonous cycle of predictable events that failed to stir my interest.
But you, Campione—you promised chaos, excitement, and the thrill of the unknown.
I look forward to the chaos you'll unleash.
Let's see just how far you can go.
A sly smirk spread across my lips as I continued to stargaze, my thoughts venturing into the vast, uncharted darkness of the universe.
Whatever your plans may be, Campione, I'm ready to see them unfold.
Let's see just how far we can push this world into the abyss and chaos.
.
.
.
Hoshino Kun's POV
"Did you invite me to the wrong place, Princess? Of all the places you could have chosen, you picked a love hotel to meet me?" I teased, smirking as her head drooped, her gaze fixed firmly on the ground.
"I'm no longer a princess, unfortunately," she said with a bitter laugh, her voice dripping with self-loathing. "I am nothing now—nothing but a criminal and a fugitive, hunted for crimes I didn't choose to commit."
"Something happened, Princess?" I asked softly, deliberately choosing a tone devoid of judgment or reproach.
My voice carried the gentleness of someone genuinely concerned, though my words remained carefully neutral, giving her the space to open up without pressure.
"I need your help, Campione," she said, her voice breaking.
She dropped to her knees before me, an act that shattered the last remnants of her pride.
Tears streamed freely down her face, each droplet a testament to her desperation.
"I have nothing to give you, not like before. I am stripped of everything—my wealth, my title, my royal privileges. All of it is gone, leaving me with nothing to offer, not even a token of gratitude for your aid." She paused, her chest heaving with the force of her sobs before she continued with newfound resolve.
"But I will give you myself—my entire self. My body, my soul, my everything. All of it, if you promise me one thing, Campione. Promise me that you'll make Susanoo suffer—make him feel every ounce of the pain he inflicted on me. Don't just kill him. Destroy him."
Her voice dripped with venomous hatred, her eyes blazing with a fiery intensity that contrasted with the humbleness of her lowered posture.
She trembled like a fragile thing teetering on the edge of collapse, but the fire in her eyes refused to die.
I reached down, lifting her chin with a single finger, forcing her to meet my gaze.
A sly smile played on my lips as I leaned in slightly closer, speaking in a playful, almost mocking tone.
"Are you certain this is what you want?"
Her eyes darted away, avoiding mine as a flush of crimson spread across her cheeks.
Despite her humiliation, she didn't pull away from my touch, though I could see the hesitation beneath her tough façade.
She bit her lower lip, her reluctance obvious, but still, she said nothing.
I caressed her cheek gently, allowing my fingers to linger there for a moment before withdrawing my hand.
My playful expression vanished, replaced by a blunt, cutting seriousness.
"You don't have the determination. You don't have the heart to give me everything you claim to offer. You're not ready to pay the price for vengeance, Princess."
"I..." Her voice faltered, her words failing her as she realized the truth of my statement. She let out a frustrated sigh, her shoulders slumping in defeat.
"So, you won't help me after all," she murmured, lowering her head as the weight of despair settled over her.
I shook my head, pitying the once-proud princess now reduced to this shadow of her former self.
"Not in the way you expect," I replied. "But I will give you a tool for your vengeance. Take it, and follow my lead."
I stood from my seat, retrieving my cursed gear, Mujika.
Without a word, I tossed it to her, the blade gleaming ominously as it sailed through the air.
Her hands shot out instinctively, catching the weapon as her expression shifted to one of confusion.
"What... what is this?" she asked, her voice uncertain as she trailed behind me.
Together, we stepped out of the cramped hotel room and into the dimly lit hallway beyond.
"Mujika," I said simply. "A weapon that will grant you extraordinary power and strength. As a princess, even a fallen one, you should understand that power is the only deterrent that matters. It's the only thing that will allow you to control your destiny and protect yourself."
I watched as she processed my words, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth when her eyes rolled in irritation.
"I know that already," she retorted, her tone carrying a hint of her former self-assuredness.
"But no one ever gave me the chance to wield that power. They're not stupid—they'd never allow royalty like me even a sliver of strength to fight back against the chains they've bound us with."
Her solemn, defeated demeanor began to shift as she clutched Mujika tighter.
I could see it in her eyes—a glimmer of hope, the faintest spark of determination reigniting in her soul.
She was starting to stand on her own two feet again, piece by fragile piece.
The way she held herself just a little taller, as though the weight pressing her down was lifting ever so slightly.
"Thank you... Hoshino-kun," she murmured softly, her voice almost too quiet to hear.
I shrugged, saying nothing in response.
Because sometimes, silence speaks louder than words ever could.
"Campione... I am fully aware of the fact that you could take complete advantage of me—bend me to your will, make me yours in every conceivable way—and there's absolutely nothing I could do to stop you."
"I am trapped, reduced to nothing, stripped of all power. Not even my title as Princess could shield me from this reality."
"I have no friends, no allies—absolutely nothing. You could easily claim me as yours, and no one, not even Susanoo himself, would dare to oppose you."
Her voice trembled slightly, a mixture of vulnerability and reluctant acceptance.
"And yet... you didn't." Her tone softened as a faint blush crept across her cheeks. "Even though I know... I know your touch lingered longer than it should have, and you're a shameless pervert for daring to touch me there... and there... I didn't hate it."
Each word she spoke carried an unguarded sincerity, her usual tsundere facade crumbling before me.
Her face lit up with an uncharacteristic mix of happiness and bashful honesty, no longer veiling her true feelings behind a wall of stubborn pride.
Every phrase, every confession, poured out from her like an unrestrained flood, each one directed at me.
Her gaze refused to meet mine, her embarrassment evident in the way her head tilted downward slightly, though she continued to speak.
As we walked side by side, her eyes remained fixed straight ahead, unwilling to turn toward me, even as her words grew bolder.
"Thank you... for giving me this confidence, Campione—Hoshino-kun—my king." She paused in her steps and turned to stand directly in front of me, her face now unashamedly sincere as her eyes locked with mine.
"Hoshino-kun," she began, her voice trembling slightly as her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, "could you... um... lower yourself just a little?"
I couldn't help but chuckle at her shy request as I knelt before her.
"Close your eyes," she added, pouting in mock annoyance when she realized I had already guessed her intentions.
Obliging her request, I shut my eyes, and within moments, I felt the delicate softness of her lips pressing against mine.
Her kiss was clumsy, almost desperate in its fervor, as her tongue shyly intertwined with mine.
She moved with a lack of finesse, occasionally biting my tongue in her eagerness, but the raw passion between us more than made up for it.
By the time we broke apart, our lips were swollen from the intensity of our shared kiss.
"Anyway... don't get the wrong idea, Hoshino-kun," she said, her voice stumbling over her words as she tried to regain her composure. "This Princess doesn't like you or anything! This is just... a reward! Yes, that's it, a reward for your efforts, humph!"
Her hands flew to her cheeks, attempting to hide the furious blush that now engulfed her face.
She refused to look at me, turning away sharply with an indignant huff.
Before I could respond, she spun on her heel and bolted down the hallway of the hotel, her long hair flowing behind her as her footsteps echoed in her wake.
I stood there for a moment, watching her retreating figure, unable to suppress the amused chuckle that escaped my lips.
How cute...
I followed her quietly, my steps light as I trailed behind her.
It seemed the night was far from over.
Hah...
What a night, indeed.