“Thank you for choosing Earthguard Airlines today. We will be landing shortly, so please fasten your seatbelts.”

Sword and Reina settled into their seats.

The flight passed without incident—a smooth and uneventful journey.

But looking around, nearly everyone was a golden-haired Earthguard.

Reina with her silver hair and Sword stood out at first glance, drawing some curious looks, but no one paid them much mind.

Or rather, it might be more accurate to say everyone was captivated by Reina’s beauty.

How ’bout that—my little sister. Not blood-related, but damn, she’s cute, right?

“Let’s drop our stuff off at the house first. School starts tomorrow, yeah?”

“Yes, as transfer students.”

And so the two arrived in the Earthguard Empire.

Reina strode ahead briskly, while Sword took in the surroundings.

(This is the Earthguard Empire. Totally different from modern Japan.)

Earthguards as far as the eye could see.

Stepping out of the airport, luxurious homes and towering buildings lined the streets, like a neighborhood full of the filthy rich.

This was the capital, Valhalla—a city where the empire’s upper class resided.

If it were Japan, you’d get it by thinking Tokyo.

He didn’t know much about this world, but just from looking, it was obvious this was a proper metropolis.

Among it all, Sword and Reina walked through a particularly bright neon-lit nightlife district.

(Feels just like Kabukicho at night… not that I’ve ever been.)

“Ken… Big Brother? Let’s go?”

“Ah, yeah, sorry.”

It was already nightfall.

Guided by Reina, they headed to Zeke’s family estate.

Even with streetlights, the night roads were dim.

As they passed through one particularly dark stretch, they entered an area blazing even brighter with neon.

It was obvious at a glance—this was the red-light district.

The kind of nightlife that comes with any big city.

“The map says straight ahead from here.”

“We have to go through here…?”

Reina marched straight through the district without a care.

It was the very picture of minding one’s own business, cutting through like a barren wasteland. Sword had no choice but to follow.

He wouldn’t say he had zero interest.

But even from a distance, Sword could tell what was going on in that district, and it killed any enthusiasm he might have had.

Once he understood the kind of place this was and what happened here, he lost all interest.

“Hey, handsome halfie! Wanna go a round? Cheap rates!”

Sure enough, a tout called out to him.

And that man’s hair was black.

Probably Asian.

Glancing around town, plenty of women in skimpy outfits locked eyes and beckoned.

The old Sword would have been drooling.

Some were stunningly beautiful—honestly, he thought “sexy” for a split second.

But he couldn’t bring himself to feel that way honestly.

“Japanese… and other races too… everyone’s…”

“Yes. People whose countries were conquered. Third-class Earthguard citizens.”

The folks here were what the Earthguard Empire called third-class citizens.

Meaning no freedom in jobs—they had to take whatever was assigned.

Marriage, freedom, even emotions stripped away.

“A thousand rubies… No different from curry powder at the supermarket.”

The empire’s currency.

Comparing to the price of curry from that supermarket the other day, rubies and yen were roughly equivalent.

The sign Sword saw read one time for 1,000 rubies.

Just seeing that made their treatment crystal clear.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed his shoulder, pressing breasts against him.

“How ’bout it, big bro? No customers today… Help a girl out? Otherwise, I get beat.”

“Sorry…”

“Oh, you have a date already. My bad.”

He flinched for a moment, but she glanced at Reina and backed off.

She looked about their age—gorgeous enough to fall for at first sight in class, the idol type.

As she walked away, Sword spotted a large bruise on her back, hidden under makeup.

“This place is brutal.”

“Sorry. I should have been more considerate. Let’s take another route.”

“Nah, it’s fine. It reminded me why we’re fighting.”

If Kaguya had lost.

If they hadn’t risen up with the resistance.

That girl could have ended up here.

If it were free will, he wouldn’t care.

Whatever job someone chose was their freedom—no high or low professions.

But this town, this country that looked pristine and spotless at first glance.

It was built on grinding down lives.

Clothes, food, shelter—all propped up by slave-like people.

Fattening the pockets of those at the top.

And even now, expanding military might to enslave more.

Proving human greed knows no bounds, even aiming to conquer the world.

…

“We’re here.”

The two arrived at Zeke’s estate.

Exhausted from the trip, they turned in early that night.

Sword got Zeke’s old room.

Reina had her own prepared.

“Night, then. Up at 7 tomorrow.”

“Good night.”

Sword slipped into bed.

The room was spotless despite being unused—clearly Zeke’s.

“How do I contact Kaguya? Zeke said he doesn’t know since they’re enemies.”

No way to reach Kaguya came to mind.

Didn’t even know where in the Asia Union she was—that country was huge.

Earthguard Empire was bigger in landmass, but too vast for Sword to grasp.

Like searching for someone you only know by name somewhere in Asia back in the old world—no contact, wartime, no government help.

He’d thought it’d be easy, but in this world, there was no simple way.

“Maybe ask Road next time. Smart guy’s bound to have ideas.”

With that, he slept.

Tomorrow would probably kick off a grueling routine.

…

The next day.

“Good morning. Breakfast is ready.”

“You made this?”

“Yes, I love cooking. Picked up ingredients this morning.”

“Oh… Thanks. Dig in!”

He woke to find Reina had prepared breakfast.

He’d always wondered why she liked cooking.

Total gap moe— in a game, it’d be deliberate character design.

But everything in this world had a reason.

Reina must have her own backstory.

After breakfast, Sword and Reina headed to school.

The silver-haired siblings made for the Earthguard Empire’s elite pilot academy at the heart of Valhalla.

The school was straightforwardly named Valhalla Training Academy.

Back home, Tokyo’s top uni was just Tokyo U—same vibe.

“What’s the school like, Reina?”

“Well… I’m not too familiar myself.”

From what Reina knew, it was leagues above colonial schools in other countries.

Gathering promising nobles, elites, and talents from the world’s largest empire by land and population.

“Whoa, impressive. Way bigger than Japanese schools.”

“Indeed. The scale is incomparable. It produces the most Holy Knights.”

The gates alone screamed money—gleaming like they were made of solid gold.

“Let’s head to the faculty room first. Dad said he’d arranged it.”

Amid throngs of Earthguards chatting and enjoying their youth, the two walked on.

Feels like a university, Sword thought.

Silver hair wasn’t that rare; guys just buzzed around Reina, calling her cute and angling for contacts.

“Excuse me. We’re from the Silfield family…”

“Hm? Oh! You made it! C’mere, c’mere!”

They no sooner entered the staff room than a booming, jovial uncle type waved them over.

A rugged 50-something with an eyepatch, massive facial scar—intimidating as hell.

Yet that tough mug grinning and waving was kinda endearing.

“Long time, Colonel Star. Reina Silfield.”

(Oh, she knows him.)

“Reinaaa! Last time I saw ya, you were this big, now look at ya. That idiot still in the 13th?”

“Dad’s in charge of that sector.”

“Right, right. Wanna see him again someday… Anyway, that’s the one everyone’s talking about?”

“Pleased to meet you. Sword Silfield.”

“Likewise. I’m Star Friedrich. Call me Colonel Star or just Star. Who’da thought that guy had a hidden kid. Retired outta nowhere—your fault, huh? You look halfie, but no resemblance… Nah, none of my business. Forget I said it.”

(Of course not—we’re not really related…)

Colonel Star breezed through greetings, stood, and led them to the classroom.

Sword could tell he was a good guy from his speech.

Probably knew Zeke. Then Colonel Star spoke up.

“Zeke was my student. I was a rookie instructor then, but he was exceptional—head and shoulders above the other Holy Knight candidates that generation.”

“Really…?”

“Got high hopes for you too, kid? Not Zeke level, but aim for Holy Knight! Gahaha!”

“Haha… I’ll do my best.”

“Alright, here we are. Your new classroom starting today. Zeke said you’re strong, so I pulled strings for this class. Abnormal year—never seen such talent gathered.”

Star opened the door.

Inside, a handful of students—all sharp-eyed, tough-looking types glaring at Reina and Sword.

“Welcome, Sword, Reina. This is Special A Class. Where this generation’s strongest gather.”