This country is under domination.

The Earthguard Empire—a massive power occupying nearly half the world.

In other words, an empire where nobles exist, royalty reigns, and an emperor rules.

I don’t remember the historical context all that clearly, but Japan was occupied in the blink of an eye.

Japan’s Self-Defense Forces are top-class on a global scale.

But that’s in the real world. In this one, there’s KOG.

Tanks? They wouldn’t stand a chance against KOG.

The invasion capabilities of the Knights of the Giant soaring through the skies are beyond measure.

KOG aren’t indiscriminate strategic weapons of mass slaughter—they’re tactical weapons, which probably makes them exceptional tools of conquest.

Japan, invaded.

That’s all in the past now, but the result was that this country lost its name—Japan—and became a colony of the Earthguard Empire.

That was the setup.

Just something from inside the game.

But in this world, it’s reality.

“Well then, I’m off. Be more careful next time, you idiot pervert Mikazuki.”

“Yeah, thanks. Kaguya.”

“D-Don’t call me by my first name!!”

“Ah, sorry. Kaguya.”

“…Hmph!”

Blushing bright red, Kaguya spun on her heel and walked away.

“Kaguya… So cute…”

Kenya watched her retreating back, lost in thought.

I’ve been calling her Kaguya every day lately, so switching to Kurokami-san now would feel off. Better just push through with Kaguya.

Might as well ask her to call me Kenya next time.

“What the heck is with that guy?!”

For the first time being held by a member of the opposite sex, Kaguya found herself unpleasantly flustered, her heart pounding.

And to top it off, being called by her first name so casually.

“Thinking back on it just pisses me off… But that guy stared right at the royalty, didn’t he…”

Royalty.

The rulers who dominate this world.

The Second Prince Road is known to be quite the eccentric, full of mercy.

Even so, he’s royalty—a ruler.

A colonial resident who doesn’t bow before him could be cut down on the spot without mercy, and no one could complain.

There aren’t even laws to judge royalty, so getting killed on a whim is just how it is.

And yet, that guy looked him straight in the eye.

“For us Japanese, royalty are the enemy… objects of fear…”

Kaguya decided to keep Mikazuki Kenya in mind.

Was he just a fool, or some big shot?

That he was a pervert, at least, was already settled in Kaguya’s mind.

“He might make for a strong ally to our comrades…”

Maybe he could help with Kaguya’s goals.

(Huh?)

That’s when Kaguya remembered hearing her name called.

“Did I ever tell him my name?”

The entrance ceremony was held on the parade grounds.

Not some place for gym class, though.

It was a training field, surrounded by KOGs lined up everywhere.

“Whoa, they’re really moving.”

For the ceremony, several KOGs were arrayed around the area.

Standing beside their “faces” were upperclassmen who looked like pilots, waving their hands.

About 300 new students in total, I figured.

Up front were around 200 blonde students—probably Earthguard Empire citizens.

The ruling race of this country, seated comfortably in chairs.

Behind them, our group of about 100 with black hair, looking Japanese, standing.

The ruled race of this country, listening on their feet.

Clear discrimination. Or maybe it’s to drill the hierarchy into us.

A single man ascended the platform before the students.

The crowd buzzed. A celebrity.

I knew him too—the empire’s spearhead.

Called the Military God, revered by Earthguard soldiers, dreaded by the rest of the world.

The empire’s grizzled veteran, a top-tier KOG pilot.

Even as a KOG character, he was a wildly popular silver fox.

Late thirties, if I remembered right.

A rugged, dapper hunk—the picture of a ripped soldier who showed no signs of slowing down.

“Gentlemen! Pleasure to meet you. I am Zeke Silfield, head of this 13th District Military Academy and representative of the 13th District garrison forces.”

13th Special District. They never say “Japan,” never let it be said—that’s the empire’s rule for conquered lands.

A measure to erase the very memory of a nation called Japan, no doubt.

“I judge by ability alone. The useful get used. The strong get deployed, 2nd Class or not. So give it your all, you 2nd Class Earthguard Empire citizens.”

2nd Class Earthguard Empire citizen.

An unfamiliar term, honestly.

I’ll look it up later.

The ceremony wrapped up smoothly.

A few unknown terms popped up, but I don’t have every setting memorized, so oh well.

It’s like knowing the characters in some famous street fighter game but not their full backstories.

Once the ceremony ended, we moved straight to class assignments.

My admission slip read E Class.

Followed the directions to the classroom and opened the door.

There was…

“Kaguya!”

“Stay away, pervert.”

Kaguya, already seated in the same class.

About 30 kids per class, probably.

Less like a school, more like a university—teacher’s desk down at the front.

“Heave-ho.”

“Huh? Why are you sitting next to me?!”

“Pleased to meet you! I’m Kenya Mikazuki. Nice to meet ya!”

“Even greeting me with those honest eyes won’t make me forget what you did…”

I’d tried for a fresh, cheerful first impression, but it seemed pointless.

Kaguya stared at me with damp, deadpan eyes, like she was utterly done.

“C’mon, let’s get along—we’re both Japanese, right?”

“Are you dumb or something? Don’t throw around ‘Japan’ here. It’s grounds for punishment.”

“Just for saying ‘Japan’? No way…”

“What are you, been cryogenically frozen or what?”

“I don’t know much, so… mind filling me in?”

“Why me? Such a pain.”

With that, Kaguya turned away sharply.

As expected of the tsuntsun princess. She wouldn’t let her guard down that easily.

Tsuntsun Kaguya was cute, though.

Kenya slipped back into otaku mode, grinning as he admired her profile.

Then came a guy surrounded by his lackeys.

A black-haired student—Japanese-looking—stood and dropped to his knees.

(Guess I should too…)

“At ease. And it would hinder classes and training going forward. Within these school grounds, you’re exempt from kneeling.”

Road addressed the students.

“Show some gratitude, you 2nd Class scum!”

His entourage clamored about appreciating the royal mercy.

The ex-Japanese raised their heads and took their seats.

“Hey, Kaguya. What’s this 2nd Class stuff?”

“Sigh… You really know nothing? How have you survived this long? Just look it up on that device.”

Kaguya pointed at the KOG device sitting on her desk.

(It has a search function…)

“Thanks!”

Kenya searched.

The UI was almost identical to back home, so it wasn’t hard to figure out.

“Lemme see… 2nd Class… searching.”

Up came the empire’s brutally inhumane laws.

At the top: the 98th Emperor, Orgord Earthguard, of course.

Followed by the two princes and one princess collectively called royalty.

Then nobles—dukes, earls, and the like.

Probably structured like medieval Europe.

Those were the elite.

Next up: 1st Class Earthguard Empire citizens.

The so-called regular folk, granted basic human rights and freedoms.

Then 2nd Class Earthguard Empire citizens.

These were 3rd Class folks who joined the military or contributed to the empire somehow.

2nd Classers had marriage freedom among themselves and a decent chunk of rights.

And finally, 3rd Class Earthguard Empire citizens.

The pitiful ones.

Mostly natives from conquered lands deemed unworthy of 2nd Class status.

No freedom of occupation—they had to do whatever jobs the empire assigned.

No freedom to marry or have kids, either.

“This is… basically slavery.”

Kenya had glimpsed one facet of this world.

To become 1st Class, at least one parent had to be 1st Class.

A system barreling straight toward chosen-people ideology.

Anyone living in the Earthguard Empire aimed for 1st Class.

The result? The bloodlines of survivors from invaded nations gradually thinned out.

A nation is its people. To truly dominate one, you have to plant your own folk there, like the word “colony” implies.

That’s why they’re trying to wipe out Japanese bloodlines in this country.

Realizing this, Kenya imagined the treatment he’d endured, his heart aching.

He sighed, staring at his KOG device.

But the classroom erupted in murmurs, pulling his gaze up.

“Hey, is that the Ice Princess?”

“No way, that long silver hair—gotta be.”

“So beautiful. Her looks live up to the hype…”

A single girl entered the classroom.

Silver hair cascading to her waist in waves, swept to one side.

Her nape was exposed—sexy as hell.

Pale skin, ample chest, and a sensual figure overall.

Yet her eyes gleamed an icy blue, devoid of emotion.

Her proportions were flawless.

She strode in with perfect posture, like a runway model.

I knew her name.

Zeke Silfield—the empire garrison commander stationed here, known as the Military God, and the school principal.

The young lady of House Silfield.

The Silver Ice Princess, a top-tier female knight even in the world of KOG.

“Reina…”

The second heroine Kenya had to protect.