The Great Unification War Begins!

"Your Majesty, please save my companions! They are not traitors!"

Bang!

Before the soldier could finish, the commanding officer kicked him hard, sending him sprawling. He yelled angrily, "Tatsumi! You've shamed the Eighth Imperial Guard Corps!"

The soldier's helmet fell off, revealing his short brown hair—this was none other than Tatsumi, a soldier in the Imperial Guard.

The officer grabbed Tatsumi by the back of the neck and pressed him to the ground, then knelt and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, this soldier's actions are my fault. I failed in my duty to maintain discipline, and I accept any punishment."

Despite being held down, Tatsumi continued to struggle, calling out, "No, sir, this isn't your fault... Your Majesty..."

"Enough noise!"

In front of Tatsumi loomed the imposing figure of Budo, now even more towering and powerful after being healed by Selene. He shoved the officer aside and grabbed Tatsumi by the head, swinging him violently to the other side.

Boom!

Tatsumi's body flew through the air like a ragdoll, crashing into the ground with a heavy thud, raising a cloud of dust.

Budo crossed his arms, his face cold and stern. "Soldier, I see no discipline, no obedience, and no organization in you at all!"

"You've disgraced the army with your lack of discipline! Arrest him!"

"Yes, sir!" Without hesitation, two soldiers stepped forward, grabbing Tatsumi by the arms and lifting him off the ground.

"Wait... Wasn't he trying to plead for justice? Also, what's his name?" Selene asked with mild curiosity, gesturing for Gensa to step aside. "You're blocking my view. It's just a soldier appealing for justice—why make such a fuss?"

Selene's interest was piqued. She hadn't expected her first inspection to be interrupted by something as dramatic as a plea for justice. How interesting...

"His name is Tatsumi, Your Majesty," Gensa quickly answered, stepping forward. "I found him while returning to the capital. He wanted to enlist, and he's quite strong—capable of fighting a Class One Danger Beast, the Earth Dragon, by himself. So, I personally recruited him."

"Tatsumi? Earth Dragon?" Selene furrowed her brow, the name tugging at her memory. Wait—this was the Tatsumi! The protagonist she had almost forgotten amidst everything else.

"So, you recruited him?" Selene's smile widened as she turned her gaze on Gensa, a hint of teasing in her tone.

"Y-yes, Your Majesty," Gensa stammered, sweating under her sharp, crimson gaze.

"Well then, he's your responsibility. You handle it," Selene said with a dismissive wave. "Do with him as you see fit."

Turning to the officer still kneeling before her, she added, "Stand up."

For someone like Selene, Tatsumi wasn't important enough to warrant her personal attention. This small plea for justice wasn't worth interrupting her over. (She hadn't even been aware of Ieyasu and Sayo joining Night Raid—such minor details were beneath her notice.)

As for showing Tatsumi mercy? He wasn't worthy of such a favor yet. Offering him leniency would only ruin him—he wasn't ready.

The officer, visibly shaken, stood up as Selene used a gentle force to straighten the creases in his chest plate.

"A soldier should maintain proper appearance. Your care for your men hasn't gone unnoticed. Keep up the good work," Selene said warmly.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" the officer replied, pounding his chest in salute, his voice filled with renewed confidence. Nearby officers looked on with envy.

"Let's move on to the next barracks," Selene commanded, and with that, she departed from the Upper City garrison, escorted by her golden-armored guards. As her figure disappeared from view, the tens of thousands of soldiers in the Eighth Corps stood silently in awe.

Only a towering, four-meter-tall figure remained, standing alone in the cold wind.

"Uh... What should we do now, commander?" a soldier asked hesitantly.

"Bah! How should I know? That brat Tatsumi has caused nothing but trouble for me! We're heading to battle tomorrow, and he pulls a stunt like this!" Gensa growled in frustration.

"Tatsumi is unconscious from General Budo's blow," another soldier reported.

"Wake him up! I want to hear his so-called grievance. Let's see what made him bold enough to interrupt the Empress's inspection!" Gensa demanded.

...

"Sir, this is what happened," Tatsumi said weakly, his face pale from the beating.

"Alright, I've got the gist of it. Your companions may have been coerced into joining Night Raid, so there's a chance they could be pardoned. I'll speak to Alex and see if we can delay the execution."

"Thank you, commander!" Tatsumi said, his voice filled with gratitude.

"Don't thank me just yet," Gensa said, his arms crossed, his expression cold. "This pardon comes with conditions. You'll need to earn it through military merit. If you don't, the execution will proceed as planned, and it'll be much worse than a simple beheading."

"I'll argue for your chance, but from here on out, it's up to you. Tomorrow, I'm assigning you to the vanguard for the southern campaign."

"And now... you'll face your punishment! Men, take him and give him 80 lashes for breaking military discipline!"

Gensa called over a medic. "Keep an eye on him—just don't let him die. Patch him up after and send him straight to the vanguard."

"Yes, sir!"

...

The next day, the sun had risen high in the sky, casting golden light over the grand, sprawling buildings of the Imperial Capital.

The South Lake Avenue, a massive thoroughfare built under Selene's orders, was bustling with activity from dawn onwards. The sound of military horns echoed through the streets as soldiers, having rested overnight after the inspection, eagerly prepared to march south and make their mark in history.

Each participating corps assembled in perfect formation, orderly and efficient as always—no chaos, only the strict discipline of the Imperial army.

On either side of the avenue, crowds of civilians gathered, cheering and shouting words of encouragement.

Among the spectators near the city gates was a young woman with long purple hair, dressed in a violet cheongsam—Sheele, holding the hands of her parents. "Dad, Mom, do you think we'll win?" she asked excitedly.

"Of course! Empress Selene is invincible!" her father replied confidently.

Sheele nodded slowly, gazing up at the shining, black-armored soldiers whose weapons gleamed in the sunlight. The soldiers marched with an imposing presence, their powerful war cries mixing with the endless chants of "Long live the Empress! Victory to the Empire!" from the crowds.

Yes, this was Sheele, still living an ordinary life with her family. Thanks to the visit from Selene and Esdeath at her family's shop, business had been good. Protected by the Imperial Police, she hadn't fallen into any trouble with gangsters, avoiding a tragic fate. Life remained peaceful, her parents safe by her side.

Blushing slightly, Sheele shouted, "Good luck! Make sure to win!"

The nearby soldiers, hearing her enthusiastic encouragement, couldn't help but smile. Although strict military rules prevented them from chatting, they each pounded their chests in response.

The true war for the unification of the Empire had begun!