Focus Shifts to the North

"Please grant me permission!"

Selene could easily understand Esdeath's mindset. It was clear: the "child" had grown up, ready to leave and strike out on her own.

On one hand, Esdeath wanted to escape Selene's overwhelming shadow. Throughout her time in the Imperial Guard, Selene had been a towering figure, and Esdeath had lost every challenge she issued to her superior. Though she had grown immensely stronger over the years, her confidence had taken a hit from her constant defeats.

Esdeath, though now more powerful than in the original storyline, had become slightly less wild and rebellious, adopting a bit more restraint. Some of this newfound refinement was thanks to Sebas, Selene's ever-dutiful butler. He had made it his mission to turn Esdeath into a proper lady, perhaps out of guilt for having failed to properly instill etiquette in Selene during her childhood.

However, the results of this effort were... questionable. Esdeath had grown to dread Sebas's lessons, even though she knew the old butler meant well. She couldn't bear the rigorous training in ladylike behavior and often found herself wanting to flee whenever she saw him.

But the most important reason for Esdeath's determination was her desire for revenge.

Her father had once told her to let go of vengeance, but the fire for retribution still burned deep in her heart. The massacre of the Partas Clan by the northern tribes was a blood debt she could not leave unpaid. Now that she had the strength and the opportunity, she could no longer stand idly by.

Every second those barbaric tribesmen continued to live felt like a desecration of her clan's honor. Worse, under Selene's influence, Esdeath had adopted the philosophy of instant retribution: if you have the power to enact revenge, you don't wait—you act immediately.

Of course, Esdeath could have relied on Selene's power or the overwhelming might of the Imperial Guard to crush the northern tribes with ease. But her pride wouldn't allow it. This was her battle. Not even Selene, her long-time mentor and guiding figure, could interfere.

"I will personally annihilate the northern tribes, burying them beneath ice and snow. This is the vow of the Partas Clan's daughter," Esdeath declared, her voice unwavering as she looked up at Selene with steely determination.

"Understood."

Selene smiled, narrowing her eyes slightly. She reached out and helped Esdeath to her feet. "I never intended to keep you in the Imperial Guard forever. If you want revenge on the northern tribes, that's a perfect excuse."

Selene continued, her tone almost proud, "Building your own independent army and crafting a legion with your mark on it is a good thing. An eagle must eventually take flight. Keeping you tethered to my side forever wouldn't be right."

She then added a warning, "But the northern tribes aren't pushovers. They've formed a fledgling nation outside the Empire's borders, with fortified cities and an army of over 400,000. You'll need to train your troops for quite some time before you can launch a full-scale campaign. How many soldiers you can command will be entirely up to you."

The northern tribes were the largest and most powerful of the Empire's border threats. Over the years, they had established a fortified kingdom just beyond the Empire's Great Northern Wall, swallowing up all the Empire's border settlements and gradually encroaching on Imperial lands. It was these same tribes that had wiped out the Partas Clan, a clan of danger-beast hunters, to which Esdeath's family belonged.

Though small in comparison to the Empire's full might, the northern tribes were still a considerable force to reckon with.

"Follow Honest's plan," Selene said with a nod, officially confirming Esdeath's request to leave the Imperial Guard. "You'll be completely independent from the Imperial Guard system."

"But remember this—once you're out, I won't be providing you with any men or supplies. Anything you need, you'll have to get from Honest himself. Make sure you squeeze that fat pig dry," Selene added with a wink, her voice light but filled with hidden meaning.

Esdeath grinned, understanding perfectly. "Understood. All military funding will come from Minister Honest."

"Alright, now that we've settled that, you'd better go inform Honest of the 'good news,'" Selene said, dismissing her with a wave.

As Esdeath turned to leave, Selene couldn't help but reflect on the situation. Esdeath, once again, would be falling back into Honest's camp. But Selene had no illusions about the minister's intentions.

"That fat pig really thinks he can do whatever he wants just because he has the boy-emperor in his hands..." Selene muttered in disgust as she watched Esdeath's retreating figure. Honest had grown increasingly arrogant over the years, and his political finesse had taken a nosedive. Where once he operated with subtlety and cunning, now he resorted to blatant and brutal tactics.

Gone were the carefully crafted charges, the public trials, the pretense of legitimacy. Instead, Honest's new approach was straightforward assassination, striking fear into the capital and leaving people terrified to even breathe wrong. The once-bustling commercial districts had visibly declined under the oppressive atmosphere of fear.

Looking toward the towering walls of the Imperial Palace, Selene felt the weight of impending change. The sun was setting, and the once-glorious Empire seemed to be slipping into shadow. The rapid, brilliant resurgence it had experienced now seemed like a fleeting illusion. The country was deteriorating, its strength slowly unraveling as it approached its inevitable collapse.

The year was Imperial Calendar 1019, and the Empire didn't have much time left. The world was beginning to enter a rapid decline, with even the heart of its civilization crumbling into decay. Selene's long-awaited opportunity was drawing near.

The more crimes Honest committed, the greater the eventual reward for Selene. When the time came to bring him down, her victory would seem even more righteous. One day, she would make herself appear as the shining beacon of justice, and Honest would be the scapegoat for the Empire's downfall.

"Just hang on for a few more years, Honest..."

Upper City, Habsburg Estate.

Selene massaged her temples as she grimaced at the flamboyant scientist standing before her.

"Dr. Stylish, please... no more reports on your 'Fashion Squad,'" she said with an exasperated sigh. The designs were painfully ridiculous.

Stylish, ever the eccentric, spun 720 degrees on one foot before saluting dramatically. "Ah, Grand General, you flatter me! It's just a personal hobby of mine—nothing more."

Selene closed the file containing pictures of bizarrely dressed soldiers and tried to ignore the headache forming in her mind. "You've made excellent prosthetics for the military—functional, well-designed, and effective—but why do you insist on these... peculiar creations?"

With exaggerated flourish, Dr. Stylish bowed again. "It's simply my passion, dear General! Now, what can I do for you today?"

Selene, shielding her eyes from the absurdity of the designs, got to the point. "Pack your things. You're relocating to Habsburg Province in the northern territories. Sebas has already prepared a lab for you there."

"...What?!" Dr. Stylish stammered in confusion. "I don't mean to question your orders, but why the sudden move? Isn't the Imperial Science Bureau more than sufficient?"

"Not for long. The resources around the capital are running low, and we'll need much more material to support large-scale weapons production. The north is rich in untouched mineral deposits and vast frozen forests. Plus, it's my territory—no one will dare interfere with us there."

Selene's voice turned firm as she explained, "Our future development needs to shift northward. Sebas has been there for a year now, preparing the estate. Everything is ready for us to expand. Now, do you have any other questions?"