Outside the Imperial Capital, on a quiet country road.
Setsuna strolled down a tree-lined path, accompanied by a group of shipgirls and Heroic Spirits.
As a customary ritual after conquering a world, he always stayed behind for a few days for so downti.
The Aka ga Kill world was a true dieval setting, completely different from the previous worlds they'd visited.
It carried the romantic air of pastoral life.
The countryside stretched with endless wheat fields, windmills spun slowly, and the scent of earth lingered in the breeze.
A group of more than a dozen people walking along the road drew the attention of every passerby.
The shipgirls were strikingly beautiful, and the armored Heroic Spirits were clearly not ordinary folk.
Farrs in the fields paused their work to look up, curiosity and reverence in their eyes.
They didn't know who Setsuna was, but judging by the elegant clothing and fair complexions, it was obvious they were of a different class.
So no one dared approach, let alone speak—even standing too close might bring trouble.
"Mm..."
"The scenery here really is nice. I kind of get why so many stories are set in dieval tis. Swords and magic do feel pretty romantic."
Gudako plucked a stalk of wheat and stuck it in her mouth as she walked.
After seeing the bustling capital and the chaos of human society,
Returning to a rural setting was a refreshing change.
Any earlier in history would feel too savage, and any later—once tech surged into the Industrial Revolution—would lose so of the charm.
Knights, princesses, adventurers... all these elents fit perfectly in a dieval backdrop.
"Whew—"
Jeanne d'Arc took a deep breath and showed a nostalgic expression.
"This is such a familiar feeling."
"Master, it reminds of my life in the Lorraine countryside."
"Back then, I was like them, working the land and living a simple life..."
She saw a farm woman carrying straw, dressed in rough cloth, and it reminded her of her past self.
"You an when you were a village girl?"
Gudako asked curiously.
"I thought your parents owned a fairly large farm? You probably lived better than most peasant farrs."
"You're the village girl."
Jeanne d'Arc rolled her eyes.
"If not for the calling of Archangel Michael, I would've just lived out my days as a normal farm girl..."
"Though then none of what followed would've happened."
She sighed, clearly lost in her mories.
"Yeah, and you wouldn't have been burned by that mob either. Tch."
Jeanne Alter clicked her tongue, then paused to think.
"Wait, if that didn't happen, I wouldn't have been born either? I wouldn't have t Master?!..."
"...Interesting."
As Jeanne d'Arc and Jeanne Alter bickered with Gudako,
The shipgirls curiously looked around at the rural scenery, clearly fascinated by the dieval atmosphere.
Warships were born from eras of steel and blood—they had never experienced this kind of life.
"Commander, wouldn't it be nice if we could buy a large estate in the countryside like in fairy tales? Work at sunrise, rest at sunset, and live a peaceful, simple life?"
Yat Sen said softly.
The other shipgirls also showed longing expressions. It sounded incredibly romantic.
"..."
Setsuna seriously considered it.
"You might have so unrealistic fantasies about dieval life."
"It's fine for a short vacation, but there's no electricity, no holo-interfaces, and none of the capital's entertainnt tech. How long could you actually last?"
"..."
"Then we can bring a few Bulins and Manjuus over to help farm, and build so basic infrastructure."
Formidable began scheming.
"You want to bring over Bulins that can build starbases just to play house?"
Richelieu knocked Formidable on the head.
"...And how is that any different from pioneering a colony?!"
"Might as well build you a dieval-thed resort back on Earth."
"...True."
The chubby dino gave up on her unrealistic fantasy.
The group wandered down the country road and eventually arrived at a small town.
Since this world had just been conquered, the universal angels were still busy asserting control over the major cities. Small towns and rural areas were temporarily left to self-govern.
At dinner ti, following Jeanne d'Arc's enthusiastic suggestion, everyone decided to fully experience dieval culture and sat down in a tavern.
The rough stone walls, slightly worn wooden bar, long communal tables and benches, and the wooden cups and plates all scread authenticity.
The air was filled with the scent of barley and strong liquor, and a bard was singing so unknown ballad.
It was just like a scene out of a fantasy ani where the protagonists gather in a tavern.
The reality, however, wasn't all that great.
"You guys ate this stuff back then?!"
Gudako knocked the black bread on the table with a thud thud thud. It didn't even dent.
She took a bite and almost broke a tooth.
"That's not how you eat it."
Jeanne d'Arc and Artoria patiently instructed the clueless shipgirls and Gudako.
They tore the bread into pieces, soaked it in at stew, and stirred it into a strange porridge-like mix.
dieval bread was nothing like the soft, sweet, refined flour loaves of modern tis.
It was made mostly from oats and rye, and bakers often added wood shavings or iron filings to increase the weight.
Setsuna and the shipgirls took a few bites.
And concluded... it wasn't even as good as chick feed.
"Yat Sen, can I get a midnight snack when we get back?"
The graceful Eastern shipgirl nodded. Out of politeness, she still finished her portion.
"A very... regionally characteristic and era-specific dish."
Chen Hai gave it a high-charisma review.
"Garbage. Even Tohru's cooking is better."
Gudako didn't hold back.
"???"
The dragon girl who was used as a comparison looked annoyed.
"Say that again and I'll smack you."
...
Nightfall.
Setsuna lay on a bed made of straw and leather, gazing at the starry sky outside the window.
To give everyone a full dieval experience, he had rented out the entire inn.
The owner and all other guests had been politely kicked out.
The guest room was simply furnished—a bed, a table and chairs, and a wardrobe. Nothing else.
But it was clean and tidy, so still acceptable.
The oil lamp on the table flickered with a warm yellow glow. Compared to the spacious, brightly lit rooms aboard the Eternal Snowfall, this felt much smaller.
Outside, it was quiet. Only the occasional chirp of birds could be heard.
"Strange, no shipgirl has co to find yet?"
Setsuna found it hard to believe they would actually let him spend the night alone. Soone was bound to knock within ten minutes.
Of course, if too many ca at once, they'd have to move back to the starship. One night wasn't enough ti otherwise.
Knock knock knock—
Just as he was thinking about it, a light knock ca at the door.
"Master? You awake?!"
The visitor sounded a bit rude.
A silver-haired, golden-eyed Heroic Spirit clad in black armor walked in.
"Jeanne Alter? Sothing up?"
Setsuna looked a bit surprised.
"Tch."
Jeanne Alter glanced around the room, then pulled a chair and sat down across from Setsuna.
"You, just lying here stargazing all relaxed?"
"Or are you waiting for one of your oath-bound shipgirls to show up?!"
"..."
Setsuna was already used to Jeanne Alter's slightly aggressive tone.
That's how tsunderes are.
"The war's over. Can't I relax for a bit?"
"Tch—"
Jeanne Alter naturally crossed her left leg over her right and leaned on her hand, staring at Setsuna.
"Hey, Master, did you forget sothing?"
"Before we set out, we signed a wager, didn't we?"
"You rember that? Wasn't it because of Tohru that I beat Esdeath?"
Setsuna was a bit surprised.
Was Jeanne Alter here to settle the score, thinking he owed her sothing?
"I already admitted defeat, okay? I admit I was a little weaker than her. Isn't that enough?"
Jeanne Alter knocked on the table twice in frustration, arms crossed.
"Since I lost, I should honor the terms."
"Keeping it in the back of my mind all the ti isn't healthy. Co on, Master, what do you want to do?"
She leaned back in her chair, acting all high and mighty.
Didn't look like soone who lost at all.
"..."
"Didn't Gudako say the loser has to beco a Star Fury?"
Setsuna grinned, teasing her on purpose.
"You?!..."
Surprisingly, Jeanne Alter didn't get angry or argue.
She just turned her head away with a defiant expression.
"If you want, Master, then whatever."
She spoke bluntly and without hesitation.
"You're serious?!"
Setsuna was caught off guard.
"..."
A faint blush crept across Jeanne Alter's cheeks. She said nothing,
But she peeked sideways at Setsuna.
"Forget it. I never force anyone."
"Just pretend it never happened. I told you, Gudako was just ssing with you."
Setsuna shrugged.
"Hey?!"
"You jerk! Are you doing this on purpose?!"
"I went out of my way to beat the shipgirls here, and you're kicking out?!"
Jeanne Alter slamd the table and leaned in toward Setsuna.
"You say that, but you won't leave—so you do want ?!"
"Never seen soone ask like this before."
Setsuna chuckled.
Teasing a tsundere was always fun.
"Master, you're the worst..."
Jeanne Alter lightly bit her lip and pinched Setsuna's cheek.
"Want to see what it feels like to be burned by the Dragon Witch?"
"You can't beat ."
"..."
"Arghhhhh!!!"
Jeanne Alter lunged at him, the two of them tumbling together.
Though she had rare A-rank strength, she still wasn't a match for a starship-class being.
Within monts, Setsuna had her pinned.
"You... I won't forgive you!!!"
Jeanne Alter gritted her teeth.
"Just say it straight. What's there to be shy about?"
Setsuna pulled her into his arms.
This Heroic Spirit was quite the handful.
The only downside was her armor—it was a bit uncomfortable.
"Isn't it obvious enough?! Master, you're ssing with on purpose, right?!"
"I'm not letting you off easy!!!"
Jeanne Alter struggled again.
She was about to launch another verbal assault when her lips were gently sealed.
"I know. But teasing you is just too fun."
Setsuna gave her a soft kiss.
The girl in his arms instantly lost all strength, going limp.
"M-Master... y-you... how dare you..."
It took her a while to recover, her face completely red.
"What? You don't want it?"
Setsuna looked at her with a smile.
Thump—
Jeanne Alter pushed him back, then straddled him, tossing her armor to the floor with a defiant glare.
"Master, do you know Heroic Spirits don't need sleep or rest? You better be ready, got it?"
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