"Commander, tell us—how many girls did you charm in that other world this time?"
Inside the master suite aboard the Eternal Snowfall, Setsuna was surrounded by a room full of Spirits.
From Tobiichi Origami to Tohka Yatogami, and even Mayuri and the other Spirits recruited from the Date A Live world—they were all gathered around him noisily.
During the expedition to the Re:Zero world, aside from the participating squads, he had only brought Mio, Tohru, Elma, and a few others as escorts.
So, upon returning to the capital and finishing all post-operation matters, it was only natural that he made time to accompany his other girls.
Originally, it was supposed to be an evening with Origami and Kurumi—but once word got out, the rest of the Spirits rushed over one by one.
"Commander, you brought so many squads this time, but not us! That's favoritism! Total favoritism!!!"
Yoshino puffed up her cheeks as she nestled into his arms, glaring upward.
"The Demon Slayer Corps, Night Raid... even that newly joined 'Konosuba' squad got to go—but not us!"
"Hmph! If we went, we definitely would've done better than the Great Tomb squad!"
The other Spirits all nodded in unison, chattering and protesting noisily.
"You were taking exams at the Magic Academy at the time. Mio wanted you to finish your coursework before going into battle."
Setsuna rubbed Yoshino's head gently.
"Besides, too many volunteers signed up. The Re:Zero world didn't have room for everyone. Next time, I'll take you along."
In the early days, the Spirits had been among the most powerful combat units within the Starsea Empire.
But with the advancement of genetic technology and the spread of magic-scroll engineering, even ordinary humans had begun reaching Spirit-level combat capability.
Thus, to stay ahead, the Spirits needed to continue training—studying the magical systems of other worlds at the Magic Academy.
"Guuh—"
At the mention of Mio's name, the Spirits quieted down.
After all, the Date A Live Spirits were all under the Spirit of Origin's care—and in a sense, Mio was like their mother.
"Still," Kurumi purred, "the fact remains that the Commander didn't take us along."
"Now that he's finally set aside time just for us... he should properly make it up to us~"
Kurumi wrapped her arms around Setsuna's neck from behind, resting her head lightly on his shoulder as she spoke in a soft, teasing tone.
"Yes! Compensation!"
The Spirits immediately erupted again.
"I want the Commander to take me to the amusement park! And to visit the Polaris Research Base!" Yoshino demanded, pouting.
"You? Your little requests are easy enough," Kurumi said dismissively. "Go play with your rabbit puppet."
"What I want," she continued, leaning closer, "is a different kind of compensation, dear husband... you understand, don't you?"
Her breath brushed against his neck as she melted into his embrace.
Origami immediately caught on and hung a sign on the door: "Commander in use—do not disturb."
She then locked the door decisively.
"Husband, would you prefer Astral Dress mode—or like this?"
"Hmm... stay as you are. Kurumi, switch to Astral Dress."
Setsuna ordered without hesitation.
Kurumi's Astral Dress form—black silk stockings, gothic dress, and twin ponytails—was not only stunning but also came with stat boosts: increased attack speed, critical rate, and critical damage.
"?"
The other Spirits were left speechless.
Though they all shared a close relationship with the Commander, none were quite as forward as Kurumi and Origami.
Neither of the two showed the slightest hint of restraint.
Kurumi, in particular, enjoyed flaunting her intimacy with Setsuna in front of the others—as if declaring her sovereignty.
As for Origami... well, that was just her perverted personality at work.
"What's wrong? Jealous?"
Kurumi snuggled against Setsuna's chest, turned his face toward hers, and kissed him deeply.
"I gave myself to my dear husband long ago~" she said sweetly.
Hiss—
The other Spirits were practically trembling with envy.
"Eh..."
Mayuri and Tohka nervously fidgeted with their skirts.
After all, most Spirits had either been summoned or created by Mio's Spirit Crystals—they were born with naturally high affection for him.
They too longed for the Commander's affection and attention.
But as more and more companions arrived at the base—and with Mio assigning them a heavy load of coursework at the Magic Academy—the chances to meet with Setsuna had grown fewer and fewer.
Watching the steady stream of new girls around the Commander, a growing sense of crisis took root in each of their hearts.
They had arrived in the capital so early, and yet, only Kurumi and Origami had truly "succeeded."
"..."
Kurumi glanced at the flustered Spirits, a mischievous glint flashing through her eyes.
Leaning in close to Setsuna's ear, she whispered softly:
"Dear husband~ would you like me to teach them...?"
"After all, these girls... they're still so inexperienced~"
Though spoken in a whisper, her voice carried just enough to be heard by everyone in the room.
Damn.
Setsuna could only sigh inwardly—Kurumi really knew how to provoke. Who could resist that?
"Go ahead."
He nodded.
With the time-dilation effect aboard the Eternal Snowfall, there was more than enough time to spend with each of them.
Even if they spent a month or two here, only a single evening would pass outside.
And with his recently improved skills, he could now create local time-distortion zones—like one where three days inside equaled just one hour in the real world.
"Now that I think about it... I've never used the time-warp skill Tohru taught me for anything proper, have I?"
That random thought floated through his mind.
"Come here~"
Kurumi sat gracefully in Setsuna's lap, beckoning the others with one finger.
"No being shy now. This isn't the time for that."
"If there's anything you don't understand, I'll teach you."
"Eh-eh-eh?!"
The other Spirits had never seen anything like this before. Blushing furiously, they approached one by one.
"Come, Tohka—you first."
Tohka Yatogami froze, completely clueless as to what to do.
"I-I-I... Are we supposed to do it like the books say? I-I'm sorry if I mess it up..."
"No, Tohka. This is something you have to take seriously."
Kurumi gently took Tohka's hands, demonstrating everything step by step.
"It's like baking. Before getting to the main dish, there's a vital preparation phase. Sometimes it takes two steps... sometimes three—or more."
"Tohka, you really like kinako bread, right?"
"Ah... mm."
Tohka nodded blankly, clearly not expecting Kurumi to be so knowledgeable about baking.
"When baking bread, the first step is kneading the dough."
Kurumi used terms Tohka could understand to explain and demonstrate.
"You need to pay attention to strength and technique when kneading. If the dough is too loose, it'll ruin the final texture."
"With enough practice, you'll learn how to shape and firm it up quickly."
"Oh..."
Tohka had tried making kinako bread before. She had shared many conversations about food with Saber, after all.
But she had never kneaded this kind of dough before.
"Ohhhhhhh—!!"
Nia Honjou, watching from the side, felt her head flood with a rush of yellow-toned material.
This was the first time anyone had explained "that" in such a fresh and innocent-sounding way.
Shwaa—
She opened her treasured notebook, originally intended for collecting dirt on Kurumi and Setsuna, but gave up on that idea.
Instead, she whipped out a few sheets of sketch paper and began drawing furiously.
Compared to any of her past works, this scene was far more exciting—especially with the Commander as the male lead.
If she could turn it into a doujin, it'd be a masterpiece worth treasuring.
"You sure know a lot, but you've never actually done it, huh?"
Kurumi delivered a verbal critical hit without missing a beat.
"But no worries. Once I finish teaching Tohka, I'll teach you too. Hmph, do you even need my help though?"
She turned back to instruct Tohka.
"Also, as a baker, it's important to sample your bread to check its texture and doneness."
"But don't overdo it—or you'll spoil your appetite. Oh, and make sure your hair doesn't get in the way. Tie it up."
"Eh?"
Tohka had the strange feeling she was being led into some kind of mysterious new world.
But still, she earnestly tasted the bread.
Gulp—Cough cough—
Hmm. She'd made a new kind of bread not sold in the capital... with cream filling.
...
Inside the banquet hall of the Eternal Snowfall.
Shipgirls, Heroic Spirits, and invited action squads were enjoying a rare moment of leisure.
The expedition had ended in a great victory. It was time to fully relax and indulge.
Usually, everyone considered the dishes made by the Angeloids to be peak-level delicious—but now, when compared with the cuisine made by Erina Nakiri and her team of Totsuki chefs... well, it suddenly didn't seem quite as impressive.
Even members of the Pleiades, who typically weren't that interested in food, couldn't help but be drawn in by the dazzling variety of dishes.
"Mmm, so nice... if I could learn to cook, I could be by the Supreme One's side every day..."
Lupusregina Beta stared longingly at Erina, busy at the stove, full of envy.
"So it really is true—if you want to win a man's heart, you have to start with his stomach..."
"Hey~ Erina~ can you teach me a few of the Commander's favorite dishes?"
She leaned in toward the counter, looking earnestly at Erina.
"..."
Erina set down her ingredients and brushed her golden ponytail behind her shoulder.
Smiling, she shook her head.
"Even the same dish, when made by different people, will turn out differently. If you want to cook at a level that satisfies the Commander, it may take months—or even years—of practice."
"If you don't have any prior culinary experience, I suggest starting with the basics."
In the past, she used to feel intimidated by the extraordinary beings at the base.
But ever since becoming the Commander's head chef, Erina had grown confident enough to handle anyone.
"Ehhh..."
The wolf girl looked disappointed.
"That long, huh... too bad I have zero cooking skills. Guess I'll give up."
"Nabe, maybe we should just focus on showing off more during world conquests. That way, the Supreme One will notice us."
"...That was my plan from the start. Don't do what you're not good at, Beta."
Narberal replied with her usual blank expression.
"I wish I had the God's Tongue... You'd be able to cook, be a gourmet, and taste every flavor in the world..."
Beta suddenly felt a bit envious of Erina's talent.
"God Tongue? Gourmet?"
A strange expression flashed across Erina's face.
Yes, she had once been like that.
But she could never forget the time when Setsuna, driven by intense curiosity about the God Tongue, had her try some bizarre things—and taste even stranger things.
And he'd been utterly fascinated by it, asking her what it tasted like.
—Erina thought it tasted awful.
...
While the others were enjoying Totsuki's cuisine...
Setsuna, too, was savoring his own "gourmet experience."
Origami and Kurumi made an unexpectedly compatible pair. The two often competed with each other—eager to exploit any opportunity when the other was busy "tanking damage."
Which often resulted in double the pleasure.
Every time Origami was about to collapse, Kurumi would use her Fourth Bullet to restore her stamina.
Under normal conditions, Nia Honjou was just a pervy otaku with a brain full of lewd thoughts—not particularly outstanding in looks or other assets.
But once transformed into her Astral Dress, her translucent, high-slit nun outfit provided attack-speed buffs on par with Kurumi.
With her encyclopedic theoretical knowledge and her secretly fragile, glass-cannon nature, Nia proved amusing in her own right.
Mayuri, pure and naive, was technically the youngest in terms of existence. She looked like an innocent girl—and truly was. Whatever Kurumi taught her, she believed wholeheartedly.
Which led to... many strange new playstyles.
The other Spirits, of course, each had their own unique flavor.
At first, most of them had been shy or hesitant.
But under the "guidance" of Kurumi, Origami, and Setsuna, they quickly got the hang of it—and then, driven by an odd sense of competition, things escalated.
"Whew—"
After several days of indulgence, Setsuna stretched and sat up, getting dressed.
He looked a little tired.
Partly because there were so many Spirits to handle.
And partly because maintaining a time-distorted zone like this consumed a good deal of energy.
"Zzzzz..."
All around him, Spirits lay sprawled out, sound asleep.
Even though their physical abilities far surpassed ordinary humans, compared to Setsuna—who possessed dual Wisdom Cubes and the Allspark, his strength virtually limitless—they were still far behind.
Even Kurumi, after resetting her state multiple times and exhausting her spiritual power, couldn't match him.
Nia clutched a thick, half-finished sketchbook in her arms—its pages numerous enough to rival a magazine. She had gone for a completely realistic style, capturing every detail vividly. From the framing to the close-ups, it was clear she'd drawn plenty of this sort of thing before.
Both the subject matter and the artistry were top-tier—even by the standards of professional doujin circles.
Setsuna gently took the sketchbook from her hands, flipped through a few pages, then decisively confiscated it.
Such a work, he thought, was better kept as a private collection.
"..."
Strolling leisurely into the grand hall, he found Shipgirls, Heroic Spirits, and invited squads still chatting and laughing merrily.
Shalltear and her group were vividly recounting their grand exploits to those stationed nearby.
"Our Death Knight Legion, combined with Albedo's super-tier magic, crushed the Kingdom Army in the very first wave...!"
"And the Empire's Nine Generals—we, Evileye and I, took them all down ourselves!"
"Uh, honestly, wouldn't orbital bombardment have been simpler...?"
"Could a Sword Saint even withstand Photoid bombardment or a Dual-Vector Foil strike? I'd love to test it..."
When Setsuna appeared, the room fell silent at once.
"Praise be to the Supreme One—!"
The Great Tomb squad dropped to one knee, bowing deeply.
The Shipgirls looked on in surprise.
To them, the Guardians were Setsuna's direct creations—beings who revered the Supreme One with absolute loyalty and devotion.
Evileye, Lakyus, and the other natives, meanwhile, bowed out of pure awe toward an existence beyond their comprehension.
"Rise."
Setsuna had long grown used to their formalities.
His gaze swept over the squads present before he took a seat. Suddenly, he remembered something.
"Earlier, I mentioned that as the victors of the campaign, the Great Tomb squad may each make a wish. Have you decided?"
He always honored his promises—never one to go back on his word.
"Hiss—"
The Guardians exchanged glances.
Yuri Alpha, representing the Pleiades, spoke first.
"To serve the Supreme One, to destroy his enemies, is the greatest honor we could ask for. Other than remaining at your side, we require no reward."
"Heh."
Setsuna couldn't help but admire their unyielding loyalty. He waved a hand casually.
"Each of you may visit the armory and select one piece of equipment. Anything—be it a mythic-grade relic from the Goblin Slayer world or an artifact from another realm."
"By your command—thank you, Supreme One."
The Pleiades bowed and withdrew.
"I... I'd like to learn more advanced magic and skills. I'm still too weak..."
Albedo spoke softly, her tone almost timid.
Several other ordinary girls nodded in agreement.
Their personal strength had limits—they could only watch as the Guardians, Evileye, and Shalltear displayed overwhelming power.
"That's easy. Have you done your meta-morph procedure yet? Report to the Research Division first. Those who wish to learn martial arts, seek out Hua and study the Taixuan Eminence. Those who prefer magic, register with Mio."
Setsuna thought for a moment. The Starsea Empire had countless ways to grow stronger—let them choose for themselves.
"..."
"Divine One..."
Antilene knelt, lifting her head slightly to meet Setsuna's gaze.
Her voice trembled as she spoke softly.
"Would... you grant me more of your affection?"
"I know my abilities are limited, but... I'm willing to offer myself to you."
"Oh?"
Setsuna regarded the two-toned-haired girl with mild amusement.
When she'd first been brought over, she'd boldly declared she wanted to bear his child—to create a stronger bloodline of divinity.
She'd even vowed to become the first wife.
But after being "educated" by the Spirits, the dragon girls, and the Shipgirls in turn, she had become much more subdued.
Now she was making nearly the same request—but with far more humility.
"..."
Seeing Setsuna silent, Antilene lowered her head again, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I... I was too presumptuous before. Please forgive my earlier rudeness, Divine One."
"From now on, I will devote myself fully to carrying out your will."
To her, Setsuna was the most exceptional being she had ever met. Any man from the Slane Theocracy paled into nothingness beside him.
But after witnessing the dragons, Spirits, and Shipgirls who surrounded him, she understood that securing even a small place by his side was enough.
As for becoming the main consort... no one could truly claim that position.
"Tsk, tsk, Commander—you really are a sinful man~"
Formidable shook her head, astonished. It was the first time she'd seen anyone beg to join Setsuna's harem.
The Shipgirls, accustomed to his presence, barely reacted—but to the native girls, the Commander of the Starsea Empire was practically divine.
To them, standing at his side was the highest honor imaginable.
"Very well."
Setsuna stepped forward, gently tilting her chin upward.
"Serve me well, then."
Hiss—
Immediately, chaos erupted among the Great Tomb squad—Evileye, Shalltear, and several others all began shouting at once.
They realized that if a simple wish could earn them a place in the Commander's harem, it was a golden opportunity.
"Commander, what about me?"
"Me too! Please include me!"
"And me!!—"
"..."
Formidable looked at the crowd, her expression twitching.
"I swear, why don't you all just write up harem applications at this point?"
—
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