“Lord Road, Odin is getting away. Is that really okay? If we act now…”

Right after the Empire Sword Martial Festival ended, a subordinate spoke up to Road.

They could take down Odin right now, couldn’t they?

Wasn’t that exactly why they’d assembled such a massive force outside the arena?

The limited military strength that Road could command before becoming emperor had been gathered near the arena.

And it was no small number, either.

“No, it’s fine. As long as he doesn’t come at us. The worst thing that could happen is a war breaking out right this instant. I was sweating bullets inside, but I’m glad my brother didn’t go off the deep end.”

The subordinates stood by in position, just as Road had ordered. But they couldn’t understand why he’d pass up such a golden opportunity.

They’d grasp it soon enough, though.

“That’s…”

A huge detachment appeared in the sky to pick up Odin.

It was Odin’s personal military force—a number that, if they clashed head-on, could turn the capital into a wasteland.

“Even I’m impressed by my brother’s thoroughness. Preparing for defeat even in that situation… Or maybe it was for victory, to kill me.”

Road knew Odin had been amassing forces for this very day.

He’d caught wind of the abnormal stockpiling of ammo and supplies—flows that screamed war.

If he’d lost today, he might have been killed on the spot.

He’d prepared as much military power as he could muster beforehand, but as someone not yet emperor, his reach was limited.

“It’s also thanks to my knight. He held out until the very end without falling. Without him, things might have gone differently…”

If Odin had come at Road with everything he had right then, Road’s forces would have been outnumbered.

But Kenya had stood his ground until the end, buying time—and that made Odin choose retreat.

Because if Kenya kept him stalled long enough, the nobles who sided with Road upon his ascension to emperor would send reinforcements.

Odin would be the one defeated then.

“I see… It really was that close, huh.”

“Yeah. If my brother had chosen war, Earthguard would’ve been in real trouble. Especially now, when we can’t afford to fight the World Alliance.”

Odin commanded half of Earthguard’s military might. An internal war would leave them wide open for the World Alliance to invade.

That was the one thing Road absolutely wanted to avoid, and he knew Odin wouldn’t pick it.

Because…

“Losing to a foreign power would be even more unacceptable to him than losing to me. That’s the kind of man you are, brother.”

And so Road simply watched Odin flee.

Understanding that this was the final, irreparable parting from the brother he’d once admired.

“Hey, Road! This is chess! Let me teach you how to play!”

“Brother… Is that okay? I’m… tainted…”

“Hm? Doesn’t matter! Don’t sweat the small stuff! Come on over and sit next to me! No need to hold back—I’m your big brother! Looking after my little brother is a big brother’s job!”

They would never laugh together like that again.

…

Let’s rewind the clock just a bit.

To the day Kenya was still imprisoned in Odin’s scheme.

In other words, the day after the Empire Sword Martial Festival was decided.

The location: Asia Union, the nation called Chūwu.

The leader-like powerhouse within the world’s largest alliance.

The world’s biggest country aside from Earthguard, with a population exceeding 10 billion.

Its capital, Kamui—the city housing Asia Union’s headquarters.

The military’s central command was here too, drawing together the tops of Asia Union’s political, financial, and military worlds.

A massive metropolis rivaling Earthguard’s imperial capital, Valhalla.

In one of its military facilities, a single girl was throwing herself into training.

This was the gym, a place for physical conditioning.

A soldier called out to her.

Long black hair—the pitch-black, flowing locks typical of an Asian man, tied back.

He looked to be in his mid-twenties.

“Pushing yourself this hard again today… You’ll wreck your body at this rate, Kaguya.”

“Byakuren… It’s fine. I have to do at least this much if I want to get stronger.”

The girl had been at it since morning: simulators, weight training, lectures.

She’d devoured every scrap of knowledge on KOG for over half a year now.

Training like her life depended on it.

“As expected from the girl who rose from grunt to one of Asia’s 13 Gods in just half a year. I’m in awe. I’ve never seen you take a break.”

“If you’re in my way, beat it. Or are you gonna spar with me?”

The girl was hoisting a barbell heavier than she was for physical training.

It tied into KOG piloting, too.

They said if you couldn’t do a move yourself, your KOG couldn’t either. Though rare geniuses existed who excelled more in the cockpit—that was exceptional.

So the girl never skipped her workouts.

Sleek limbs, a slender waist, flat-as-a-board chest…

She never missed a day of combat training.

“If that’s what you want, I’ll spar anytime.”

“Fine, then. Do it.”

“Of course, Princess.”

“I’ve told you to stop calling me that.”

“It’s from your country’s fairy tale, Kaguya-hime. And I want to be the knight who protects you. Even if it’s not Earthguard.”

Those words brought it all rushing back.

The man she’d loved, who’d literally shielded her with his life.

That feeling hadn’t faded in the slightest within Kaguya.

Its intensity had only fanned the flames of vengeance hotter over these six months.

“…I’ve told you a million times, I can’t return your feelings. There’s someone I love.”

“Better than me? One of the 13 Gods, the strongest?”

“Yes. A better man than you. At least stronger than me… and you.”

“Hahaha! A man who could beat me? There’s only one guy in the world like that.”

The young man pictured the world’s largest nation.

Earthguard Empire’s strongest knight.

Once they’d clashed on the battlefield, he’d realized it.

That guy was on a whole other level.

Rumors said he’d cleaved through 50 KOGs with just a sword—rumors that rang true.

Osiris Halberd. An existence no one would surpass for eternity.

“Looks like I’ll have to add one more to the list.”

“…The past always gets romanticized, Kaguya. But you’ll choose me in the end.”

The young man gazed at her with a smug look.

Kaguya sensed something behind that expression.

“…What are you getting at?”

“Heh, I’ve got a nice present for you. Something you’ve been dying for…”

“!? What do you mean?”

“No rush. My father will decide it at today’s meeting. You’ll know soon enough. So, wanna spar for now?”

“It’s getting decided at today’s world conference…? Fine, spar with me.”

“Let’s hit the simulator, then.”

And so the girl and the man climbed into the simulator.

She’d never beaten him yet.

But holding her own against one of the world’s strongest? That was the fruit of insane effort.

So today, too, the girl…

“I’ll win this time.”

Fueled her flames of revenge even brighter.

…

“Isshin-san, everything gets decided today, huh.”

“Yeah. Xuanwu said it’s basically a done deal. All we can do now is pray.”

The same facility.

Where Kaguya and Isshin, along with the other Japanese, had gathered.

In this half year, Isshin and his crew had carved out a solid position within Asia Union as the former Japanese military.

Kaguya’s achievements were huge—she’d grown into an ace pilot, selected for Asia’s elite 13.

Thanks to that, she alone was allowed to live in Kamui’s military facility.

And tagging along, Isshin’s group—Amaterasu—had secured status as Asia Union’s Japanese forces.

“If it goes through… does that mean war again?”

“Yeah. I’ll go get Kaguya.”

With that, Isshin headed to Kaguya’s room.

…

A dimly lit room.

“Ah… Nn… Kenya… Kenya… Ahh…”

Alone, the girl closed her eyes and pictured the boy.

The one time in her day that was purely for herself.

Lying on the bed, tears in her eyes, but in that moment alone, she was happy.

Just from imagining the one she loved.

“Nnn! …Haa… I did it again… I’m hopeless.”

Still, she always ended up hating herself a little.

Knock knock knock.

A knock at the door.

Kaguya bolted upright from the bed.

“Kaguya… You there?”

D-Dad! Wait a sec!”

Kaguya’s panicked voice. Isshin waited a bit outside the door.

“S-Sorry. What is it?”

“What’s with the flushed face? Were you training in your room?”

“Y-Yeah! A little. Got carried away.”

“I see…”

Isshin patted Kaguya’s head.

“Don’t overdo it. I get how you feel all too well.”

Isshin too had that boy from that day etched deep in his heart—the one he couldn’t save.

That’s why he’d worked tirelessly, day and night, toward reclaiming Japan.

“Yeah… So? What is it?”

“You know Xuanwu? Byakuren’s father.”

“Yeah, I’ve met him a few times. He’s the top dog in Chūwu, so of course.”

A politician, the leader of Chūwu: Xuanwu.

Age similar to Isshin’s, father to Asia’s mightiest warrior, Byakuren.

Or rather, it was that father who enabled Byakuren’s masterpiece existence.

“Yeah. He’s part of a big meeting starting soon. I’m going—want to join?”

“A big meeting? Sudden… The one Byakuren mentioned?”

“Yeah, it was scheduled, but finalized yesterday. You know about Earthguard’s Empire Sword Martial Festival starting, and the fight to decide the next emperor, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“No matter who wins, it could spark world war. We can only pray it’s not Road Earthguard. So now’s the time.”

The genius dubbed the Devil’s Brain, who’d nearly obliterated the EU.

Everyone outside Earthguard shared the wish to avoid that.

“Got it. I’ll go.”

And so Kaguya and Isshin joined the meeting.

As Japan’s representatives, just as Xuanwu had said.

…

A massive conference room, like Japan’s Diet building.

A giant monitor at the center, surrounded by reps from Asia Union’s nations.

This was Asia Union’s ultimate decision-making body.

Isshin and the others entered the slightly smaller room next door.

A preliminary meeting would be held there first.

“You’re here, Kurokami. Ah, Kaguya too.”

“Yes. Better to listen in on today’s meeting.”

“Right, you’re the ones directly involved. The others should arrive soon. We’ll cover the main points here, then head next door.”

“Understood.”

As Isshin and company took their seats, a burly man in his mid-fifties sat nearby.

Not military— a politician’s softened build.

But his eyes held the sharpness of Asia Union’s top leader, in a face that seemed gentle and narrow at first glance.

Like a tortoise: mild-mannered and kind. That was Xuanwu.

Soon, the door opened.

In came people with hair in every color…

Except black.

They greeted everyone.

“Pleased to meet you, Asia Union. I’m Camille, EU representative. Let’s get started! Today is historic!”

All eyes from Asia Union turned to the smiling, bespectacled man.

Whose glasses glinted as he declared:

“Because the world’s largest nation is about to be born!”

It was the EU delegation.