I Am Honkai

"Empress... Her Majesty?"

Hearing the answer from the middle-aged Imperial Guard, the group of "Cursed Children" trailing behind him tilted their heads up, mumbling in a daze. Admiring beautiful things, things that shine—perhaps this is an innate trait in women.

Even for these young girls, infected with Gastrea Virus DNA as "Cursed Children," there was no exception. In the past, within the Black Bullet world, stationed in outer Tokyo Area beyond the Monolith Walls, they didn't show this reaction simply because they didn't have the opportunity. Survival pressures left no time for such fantasies.

At most, they would stare across the sea at the bustling human settlements within the Monolith Walls, daydreaming about entering them someday, about not being despised by people.

Now, confined within the Empire's prisoner holding camp, with the pressing need for survival relaxed, the children's hearts could not help but be drawn to the enormous and splendid stained glass windows, the first sight they'd had of the outside world since they'd been led from the towering walls.

The ground in view, apart from designated green lawns, was paved entirely in marble, with carved patterns and ornate columns. Bright red and gold-trimmed double-headed eagle flags fluttered in the wind, and at the end of this open space stood a towering statue of an Astartes warrior, sword in hand.

But what caught the "Cursed Children's" eyes the most was a fortress that seemed to pierce the sky. Set into the central wall facing them, an enormous stained glass window depicted a woman in gleaming white robes trimmed with gold, her silver hair flowing under a golden halo. Her armored shoulders and arms shone in the light as she held a strange weapon that resembled an axe, a staff, and a hammer all at once.

Head tilted slightly, eyes closed, she seemed to radiate eternal brilliance, like a sun shining across the mortal world. At this moment, behind them lay the barbed-wire gates of the holding camp, while before them was a vast expanse, a place that seemed to promise freedom from the darkness. But the future... who could tell what it would bring?

The middle-aged guard, standing at attention, looked at the stained-glass portrait, solemnly saluting and holding the pose for a full ten seconds before slowly straightening up.

"Alright, girls, let's go. The time to change your fates has come."

Finally, the guard's words pulled the children back to reality.

"Remember what I said: don't ask where you're going, don't speak about what you see, stay in line, and stay silent. Otherwise... you'll lose everything."

The guard offered a sincere warning. The "Cursed Children" named Ann, Fuu, and Lai were lucky, meeting a relatively kind-hearted guard to watch over them.

This wasn't to say that other guards would punish or mistreat the young prisoners, only that they wouldn't go out of their way to help them either, instead sticking closely to the regulations.

"Yes, Guard Sir, we understand."

Although "Cursed Children" had all been abandoned by their parents and were illiterate, through the books distributed by the Empire and the guard's reverence and obedience, they'd come to understand something of what this image represented.

...

They walked silently through layer after layer of guarded checkpoints, drawing closer to the central fortress of South Lake Camp. Along the way, they encountered other groups of "Cursed Children" being led by their own Imperial Guard supervisors, many of whom were companions they recognized.

Although some wanted to call out, the guard's stern reminders and the oppressive atmosphere around them made them too afraid to make a sound.

In a brightly lit, grand hall, a few Astartes stood silently with boltguns and chainswords in hand, as still as statues.

"Oh? So the first batch has already arrived?" A sharp voice cut through the silence as a palace official dressed as a royal attendant entered the hall.

"Well, let's start with you, then," he said, pointing toward one of the groups led by a middle-aged guard.

"Yes, sir!"

As soon as the palace official left, the guards began preparing their groups to await further instructions, with the air thick in the quiet, tense hall.

No one spoke, and no one complained—everyone was waiting in silence.

After an indeterminate period, a steady, heavy sound of footsteps began to echo through the hall.

The instant it began, all attention turned to the hall's entrance, where the "Cursed Children" huddled closer together.

With more experience, the guards straightened to attention at the approaching sound.

Somewhere along the line, people in the Empire had begun to judge the rank, status, and power of a person based on their build: the larger the figure, the greater the power and authority they held.

And soon, a group of grey-armored Astartes soldiers entered, and amid the flowing tide of gray, the glints of gold stood out strikingly.

"Imperial Guard?!"

Seeing the more towering golden-armored figures, whose weapons and armor were far more advanced, the guards and others present felt a chill of awe.

Imperial Guards—the Empire's most elite military unit, rarely appeared before ordinary people.

Their primary role was to guard Empress Selene personally, mainly stationed in the Imperial Palace, rarely setting foot outside.

Even Imperial Guards in the outer palace could only glimpse them during rare shifts; otherwise, they were an out-of-sight enigma.

Was there something extraordinary about the formation of this new unit, the so-called "Sisters of Battle"?

Some of the Imperial Guards quietly wondered.

For the "Cursed Children," however, the sheer size and power of the golden-armored Imperial Guards were too much; their legs shook, their breaths caught.

It wasn't until the Astartes and the Imperial Guards split into two lines that everyone realized the true focus of the entourage.

"So, are these the soldiers I'm supposed to be selecting?" A dainty figure emerged, Alyssa, surrounded by a crowd of giants.

She walked in, dressed in a white top and black shorts with a feathered headpiece in her gray hair. Almost immediately, her presence brought a hush to the hall.

To the Imperial Guards, she was a favored confidante of Empress Selene, someone who wielded influence and authority; but to the "Cursed Children," she represented something simpler—pure beauty.

Her voice was gentle and clear, her demeanor like a lily swaying gently in a quiet breeze, and her long, silky gray hair gleamed under the crystal chandeliers. Her sky-blue eyes sparkled with warmth, and her attire looked like the kind of outfit the children had never seen before—elegant and almost holy.

"Yes, Lady Alyssa, these are the girls our Empress mentioned."

The palace official who had earlier strutted with pride now showed fawning deference, almost like a dog wagging its tail for its master. The transformation was stark.

Alyssa examined the girls brought in as the first round of recruits and sighed.

"But… they're so young. How long will it take before they're combat-ready?"

She'd expected the troops to be fully trained in a short time, but what she saw was a group of tiny children.

Just how long would they need to train? This would only delay her plans to shine!

"Lady Alyssa, Lord Sebas is awaiting your report," reminded one of the golden-armored guards assigned by Sebas.

In many ways, Alyssa represented a unique presence within the upper echelons of the Empire's power structure.

After all, look at the others: Empress Selene, Sebas, Budo, Leiva, Esdeath, and Gensa—these were not just hard-hearted leaders; they were tyrants, sadists, strict disciplinarians, and more.

But here was Alyssa, like a husky amidst a pack of wolves.

While she wasn't afraid of killing, Alyssa's gentleness made her feel like a beacon of warmth compared to the Empire's other figures of power.

Selene's brilliance was unquestionable, but her radiance, like the sun's blazing flame, put most people, including the Imperial Guard and the Astartes, under immense pressure, leaving them with trembling hearts.

Alyssa, by contrast, was the gentle glow, the easier warmth.

"No, I can't let Sebas laugh at me. I'll pick a few for the Empress...uh, I mean, for Her Majesty to inspect."

Thinking about Sebas's insistence that she wasn't fit for command only stirred her determination. I'm going to prove myself!

"Next group—you, you, and you. Come with me."

...

Elsewhere, Selene continued to work through the mountain of documents on her desk.

Suddenly, a servant entered. "Your Majesty, Dr. Stylish has arrived."

"Show him in," Selene replied, her head still down, reviewing another report.

Soon, footsteps shuffled in, and Dr. Stylish entered. After the servant left, his face broke into a bright smile, and he bowed dramatically.

"Your Majesty! Mission accomplished! The production model of the Honkai energy particle weapon is complete. Now, only the energy shield remains, and once it's mass-produced, the Titan unit will be ready for battle!"

"Tell me more," Selene said, putting down her pen and straightening up with a tired expression.

Upon hearing her question, Dr. Stylish adjusted his glasses and began, "The Empire's Science Bureau has used the Academy City technology you granted us as a foundation, with added modifications inspired by the Teigu Roman Artillery: Pumpkin."

"We have found an energy formula suitable for mass Honkai energy output. Ordinary people can use these weapons, provided they can withstand the recoil."

Selene nodded. Now, with both physical and energy weapons complete, only the fleet was missing. Once assembled, the units would soon be able to undertake independent conquest missions.

"As for energy shields and the Titan mechs, I'll let you reverse-engineer the Teigu Twin of Fate and the National Defense Machine God."

After a pause, Selene continued, "Titan mechs don't need to reach the level of Primus Imperator— even one-thousandth of its power is fine as long as it can be mass-produced."

"Truly brilliant, Your Majesty!" Dr. Stylish praised eagerly. He had longed to study the Primus Imperator, and now that Selene was granting him the opportunity, he felt his energy surge back to full.

Snap!

Descending from her throne, Selene snapped her fingers, and a pair of silver bracelets appeared in Dr. Stylish's hands.

"These are the Twin of Fate, which I acquired in the Teigu Treasury. They provide energy shielding and amplify power output. They should be helpful to your research."

"Additionally, as we speak, Alex's First Legion should be nearing full conquest of the Black Bullet world. Dr. Stylish, you may accompany me on an inspection."