The Distorted Prosperity of the Imperial Capital

"Mm, mm... so tasty." Selene was in her element, happily devouring two eagle legs at once, while the massive roast on the spit visibly shrank in size.

Sebas, turning the spit and observing Selene's satisfied expression, displayed a rare, fatherly smile. His typically stern face softened as he nodded with approval.

But... watching Selene's rather unrefined eating habits, Sebas couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. It reminded him of Lady Katie's instructions: to train Selene into a textbook example of a proper lady.

Uh... I must have failed in that regard, he thought. Though Selene managed to eat without staining her clothes or spilling any food—a sight that was even somewhat pleasant to watch—Sebas still felt guilty about not fully adhering to Lady Katie's expectations.

"Forgive me, my lady... I'll make sure to correct this next time," Sebas muttered to himself.

Suddenly, Selene handed a piece of roast meat to Sebas. "Hm? Sebas, you should eat too!"

...

"Oh, thank you, Miss."

Sebas decided to let it go for now. First, he would focus on roasting the meat to perfection for Selene. As for Lady Katie's instructions... he chose to forget about them, at least for the moment.

"Here you go, Miss. This is the breast meat of the danger beast; it's ready."

"Mmm, mmm... got it," Selene replied, her mouth full as she continued to eat.

...

After finishing their roasted lunch on the hill, Selene and Sebas resumed their journey toward the capital.

Now that she was full, the danger beasts they encountered along the way were not so fortunate. Selene killed them all—whether alone or in pairs—leaving none of them intact!

Along the way, they also took in the vast landscapes of the Empire, until they finally reached the capital.

Even though she had prepared herself, the grandeur of the capital exceeded Selene's expectations. Compared to the rural towns she had seen on her journey, it was like comparing the heavens to the earth.

"This truly is a magnificent creation!" Standing in the sky, looking down at the towering and grand palace, Selene couldn't help but express her awe.

The towering palace, of which she had only heard rumors, still managed to surprise her. Her heart was stirred.

Beneath the towering city walls, an endless expanse of buildings stretched as far as the eye could see. The palace in the center of the capital was dazzlingly golden, majestic, and soaring into the clouds, like a celestial palace.

It truly was the capital of a thousand-year-old empire.

Over a millennium, with the resources of an entire nation poured into one city, it was no wonder people from all over the world flocked to the capital like moths to a flame.

Perhaps, to the people of the Empire, this place was paradise—the ultimate goal of their lives.

"This could be mine!"

"Ah, what a grand ambition!"

At this moment, Selene's heart surged with boundless ambition. She had to admit... she had a bit of a craving for power, and her desires were beginning to stir uncontrollably.

To rule the world with a clear mind and enjoy life's pleasures... she longed for it too!

However, as Selene gazed at the bustling capital filled with throngs of people, the fire in her heart quickly cooled. "Without power, everything... is just an illusion."

This most prosperous city of the Empire was also its darkest... especially for those naive outsiders. For them, this place was a true hell on earth.

But that only applied to the weak. As for Selene and Sebas—

Were they weak in this world?

...

Soon, Selene and Sebas found themselves outside the bustling gates of the capital, where people were coming and going.

Selene quickly realized that the citizens of the capital were quite superficial.

When they saw someone from a rural area, they looked down on them with disdain. But when they saw someone of wealth or power, they quickly adopted a fawning attitude.

And when they saw Selene in her resplendent silver armor, they hurriedly bowed and stepped aside, not daring to make a sound. Even the capital's security forces, who had been extorting tolls from commoners, shrank back, not daring to show off.

It seemed they had mistaken Selene's silver armor for that of an Imperial officer.

It wasn't entirely their fault. The reputation of the Empire's military officers was fearsome, and only after Selene had moved on did the people resume their gossip.

"Could she be a returning general from the provinces?"

"Or perhaps a noble?"

"Why isn't she riding in a carriage?"

...

Amidst the capital citizens' murmurs, Selene and Sebas entered the city.

The capital was lively, full of vibrant, bustling scenes.

At least, from what she had seen so far, the capital was indeed prosperous. Although it lacked the technological advancements of Academy City, its hustle and bustle surpassed even that. As for the rot and corruption lurking beneath this façade of prosperity, that remained to be seen.

I wonder if there will be any "kind" nobles willing to take me in, Selene thought as she led Sebas on a leisurely stroll through the commercial district.

Typically, a crowded tavern would be the best place to gather information. But Selene disliked the environment and atmosphere of such places, so she decided to explore the marketplace instead.

As they walked, Selene's exquisite appearance did not go unnoticed. Some were tempted to take a risk for fortune, but one sharp glance from Sebas was enough to make them reconsider.

Better not to mess with them.

Aside from these minor incidents, Selene thoroughly enjoyed herself, marveling at the variety of foods from all corners of the Empire.

She hadn't forgotten her objective, though. Despite the noisy surroundings, her sharp hearing easily picked up on the conversations around her.

From these conversations, Selene picked up on a few key phrases.

"Minister Chouri is about to retire," "General Budo becoming the new 'Empire's strongest,'" "Royal Fist Temple Martial Arts Tournament," and so on.

The most frequently mentioned, by far, was the "Royal Fist Temple Martial Arts Tournament." Apart from a few other topics, nearly everyone was discussing this upcoming event in the capital.

The Royal Fist Temple, as the Empire's highest martial arts temple, had been offering blessings to the people ever since it started receiving donations from the Empire. In exchange, the temple was required to send its most outstanding disciples to serve the Empire.

This time, the Royal Fist Temple and the Empire were jointly organizing a martial arts tournament to recruit fresh talent and find elite soldiers. With so many rebellions in recent years, the military's suppression efforts were becoming increasingly strained.

Those who performed well in the tournament would receive generous rewards from the Empire. Beyond basic material wealth, the winners could even gain an official position in the Imperial military! As a result, many of the military's elite were participating.

Hearing this, Selene's interest was piqued.

"This sounds like it was made for me."