“Yes… well, it seems they are a resistance group, but we are still investigating.”
A muscular man in his late 30s, with a greatsword thrust into his waist.
His beard was neatly trimmed, and he possessed martial arts skills.
This man, who embodied the image of a soldier, was known as the War God, Zeke Sylphid.
Zeke was giving a report in front of a screen.
“A War God like you, what are you taking so long with? It’s only ten units, do you know how much they cost!”
The person on the other end of the communication was the military top brass of the home country.
“Under Lord’s command, we will carry out an operation to annihilate the resistance.”
“Hee, sounds interesting. I’ll go too.”
On the other end of the communication was a woman.
Her long golden hair reached her waist.
At first glance, she looked like a beautiful princess.
However, upon hearing the report, Zeke couldn’t stop sweating.
That was because her name was Asgard Ymir.
The First Princess, known by the alias of Torture Princess, was one of the rulers.
(Ymir-sama is coming… This will lead to a massacre…)
Zeke was the top of the stationed army in this area.
However, unless they took any conspicuous actions, he basically left the Third-Class Citizens alone.
The biggest reason was that it hadn’t been long since the occupation, but the resistance in this country was overwhelmingly larger than in other colonies.
That was because Zeke had not carried out annihilation by force.
Anyone who resisted without question would be killed.
That was the Empire’s philosophy, but Zeke had not taken that action.
His kindness was the reason, but since the Emperor was currently ill, there were no repercussions, so he had left it as it was.
“That concludes my report.”
“Oh, right, Zeke.”
“?… What is it?”
“Your daughter, Reina, right? Her dedicated machine is ready.”
“That is… Thank you very much. I’m sure it will be of great use.”
“I have high expectations for both of you, father and daughter.”
And then the communication ended.
“Reina’s machine has arrived… Reina is going to the battlefield. Then I must make up my mind too…”
Zeke muttered to himself in his room.
It seemed the time limit was near.
“I’m sorry, Sakiko. I might not be able to protect this country alone anymore…”
…
◇A few days later, morning
“Papa, is something the matter?”
The War God Zeke and the Ice Princess Reina were having breakfast.
The Sylphid Estate was not originally noble.
However, due to Sylphid’s contribution to the military, they became a Baron family.
“No… it’s nothing. More importantly, there was something I wanted to ask you.”
“What is it?”
Their conversation was businesslike for a family.
That was unavoidable, because Reina was an adopted child.
“I took you in when you were ten years old and gave you all kinds of education. You’ve been practicing KOG for two years now, right?”
“…Yes.”
Reina didn’t have many opportunities to talk to her busy father outside of breakfast.
She didn’t have many memories of playing, and they had never laughed together like a normal family.
She understood that she was adopted.
Even so, she respected Zeke, who had become her father, and trusted him enough to say she liked him if asked.
She didn’t dislike her father, who tried to make time for her every morning, no matter how busy he was, and she even wanted to surpass him in KOG someday.
“I thought there wasn’t anyone your age stronger than you, even in the home country… but it seems you lost.”
“!?… Where did you hear that?”
That day, Instructor Alfred learned from the simulator records that Reina had been defeated.
In the battle to determine the rankings, he had reported to Zeke about the existence of Kenyu Mitsurugi, whom she could not defeat even with the handicap system at its maximum.
“Is that true?”
“…Yes, I’m sorry.”
“Was he strong?”
“Yes, very…”
“More than me?”
“…I don’t know.”
(Hmm, she doesn’t know?)
Zeke was thinking.
About the meaning of Reina’s words, “I don’t know.”
He had never shown his full strength to his daughter. He had mock battles with Reina once a month, but he had never lost, nor had he ever struggled.
And Reina, who knew his strength, said she didn’t know.
What did that mean?
“He’s unfathomable… Interesting… Alright! Bring him tonight.”
“Eh!? But, but he’s a Second-Class…”
“I know that. I want to see what kind of man he is. You know I’m not a bigot, right?”
“…Understood.”
Zeke did not discriminate.
Perhaps Reina’s lack of prejudice was largely due to her parents’ influence.
Why didn’t Zeke discriminate?
Reina didn’t know the reason.
However, publicly declaring that he did not discriminate would be criticism of the Imperial Family, so he publicly stated that he was a meritocrat.
Therefore, there were many Japanese people in the stationed army, but he could not stop discrimination within the military.
…
“Eh!? To Reina’s father!?”
“Yes, Papa wants to meet you.”
Today, Kaguya, Reina, and Kenyya were practicing KOG after school.
“Yes, so how about dinner tonight?”
“I, is that… okay?”
“Papa doesn’t discriminate meaninglessly like me.”
(Even though he’s the top of the military… I did have the image of him being a great martial artist.)
“So, is it okay?”
“Okay.”
(Well, I’m technically part of the military, so I can’t refuse… What on earth does he want? Did he find out I’m part of the resistance?)
“Hey, hurry up and fight one of us. I’m starting to get a good feel for it.”
“Then, shall I go next, Kaguya?”
“Oh, I’ll make sure to win today, Reina.”
Since then, the three of them had been practicing together after school several times.
At first, the two had clashed because of Reina’s blunt way of speaking.
However, Kaguya gradually understood that Reina had no prejudice or discrimination and only saw Kaguya for who she was.
And unlike other Asgardians, she never called her a Second-Class, but always by her name.
She hated Asgardians, but she couldn’t hate Reina.
“They’ve really become close…”
“I understand what Kenyya-kun said before now. She’s getting stronger.”
Pulled along by the two strongest, Kaguya, who already had talent, was improving rapidly.
It was the same with everything, but improvement was faster when practicing at a high level.
So, being able to practice with Kenyya and Reina every day was the best environment.
“I’m going to defeat everyone in the next ranking test.”
So saying, the two got into the simulator.
However, they were still far from Reina’s level, so they would be defeated miserably.
“Alright then, Reina. Shall I go against you?”
“I’ll at least reduce your health by 10% today.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Reina had become stronger.
But Kenyya had become even stronger.
Coming to this world, KOG, which he loved, had turned into a weapon to protect his life.
That resolve was pushing Kenyya to the next stage.
There was a saying that talent was the depth of concentration.
Kenyya’s concentration had reached an even deeper level since coming to this world.
That growth was surpassing even Reina and Kaguya, and the gap was widening.
The difference in resolve, Kenyya, who had killed people in the previous operation and knew the weight of risking his life, had a resolve that was incomparably stronger.
And just as he was about to get into the simulator.
“May I watch?”
“Huh?”
A student suddenly entered the simulator room.
A blonde boy with slightly long hair for a male.
The boy with blue eyes looked about the same age as Kenyya and the others.
They saw him every day, but they had never spoken.
That was because.
“L, Lord Prince!?”
He was one of the family that ruled this world.
Asgard Lord, the Second Prince of the Empire.