"Your Divine Majesty, with this, victory in the Romanian Holy Grail War now belongs to the Yggdmillennia family!"
Darnic exhaled deeply, stepping forward and placing a hand over his chest in formal salute.
"Incredible... Is the Holy Grail War truly over already?"
Caules, the weakest magus among the Yggdmillennia Masters and the Master of Berserker Frankenstein, stared in awe at the spot where, only moments ago, Lancer of Red—Karna—had been utterly overwhelmed and slain by Selene in direct combat.
"Berserker... we actually survived. It doesn't even feel real. I was supposed to be the first to die, yet I'm still here!" he said, voice trembling with excitement.
"Mm. Mmm..." Frankenstein murmured softly in agreement.
"Darnic," Selene said evenly, "I've fulfilled my promise. The rest is yours to handle..." She paused briefly. "Ah, yes—one more thing."
"Your Divine Majesty... what do you mean?" Darnic asked, puzzled.
Ignoring his confusion, Selene strode past him, stopping before Gordes, the burly Master of Saber of Black, Siegfried.
"You... Gord... whatever. Fat one. The knowledge in your head interests me."
Whoosh!
In an instant, Siegfried stepped forward, muscles tensed, standing between his Master and the calmly smiling goddess.
It was only natural for him to be wary. The battle between the fourteen Servants of Red and Black had ended, over half the Servants already fallen.
The Greater Grail was full—activated—the wish-granting device within reach. Yet only one wish could be granted.
Which meant the next conflict might very well be a civil war among the Yggdmillennia Masters for that wish.
"Rider, stop!" Siegfried declared.
He knew full well the vast gulf of power and Noble Phantasms between them, yet he did not hesitate. To protect his Master was his duty, as basic as his existence as a Servant.
Even in certain defeat, he would not retreat.
The air grew tense. Every Master and Servant on the field—Darnic, Celenike, Fiore, Caules—all stiffened, eyes darting warily toward one another.
"Hm? Siegfried, you..." Selene quickly realized his misunderstanding.
"Calm yourself, Saber. I've no intention of fighting," she said with a soft sigh. "Hey, fat one. Come here—we need to talk."
"Yes, Your Divine Majesty. Saber, stand down! Do not be rude! If Rider wished to kill me, it would take less than a heartbeat," Gordes said, swallowing hard. Straightening his back, he scolded Siegfried before stepping forward and bowing before Selene.
"Relax," Selene said casually. "I merely wish to make a trade—an equal exchange. I want the alchemical knowledge inside your mind, not your head."
She spread her hands and tilted her head slightly, glancing sidelong at Siegfried with mild exasperation. "Honestly..." she sighed, as if weary of being misunderstood.
"I'm not some mindless butcher, you know. And really, what would I do with his head? He's so fat that even ghouls wouldn't eat him—too much cholesterol."
Selene said this with a teasing smirk.
You are exactly that kind of person...! everyone thought silently, though none dared say it aloud—not out of fear, of course, but because true heroes didn't embarrass their companions in front of gods.
"Uh... what is 'cholesterol'?" Jeanne asked curiously as she wrapped her white fleur-de-lis banner around herself.
It couldn't be helped—though the Holy Grail had given her the knowledge necessary to function in the modern world, it hadn't gone as far as teaching her everything from school textbooks. The knowledge of the girl who served as her vessel was all Jeanne currently possessed.
"It's nothing—just a necessary nutrient for the human body... Jeanne, as the Ruler of this war, you've really just been along for the ride. The Holy Grail War is nearly over, and you're only now uncovering the irregularities."
"That's not fair! How was I supposed to know this fourteen-Servant Grail War would end so quickly?"
Jeanne's indignant retort lightened the mood instantly.
"I see. Your Divine Majesty, if you require anything of me, please speak. I swear to fulfill your command."
Though still reeling from Selene's earlier remarks about his physique, Gordes finally relaxed.
Gordes Musik Yggdmillennia—to outsiders, he might have seemed like nothing more than a pompous, bumbling man often mocked as the "King of Worthless Command Spells." But that was only surface-level. His arrogance wasn't without cause; his abilities were substantial. Within the Yggdmillennia family, he was their foremost technical authority.
The Musik line had acquired fragments of the Einzbern family's alchemical knowledge after the decline of the Three Founding Families following the Third Holy Grail War in Fuyuki. Over sixty years of refinement and expansion had allowed Gordes to surpass even his predecessors.
His alchemy had grown to nearly rival the Einzbern family that had once served as his "teacher," and in some specialized fields, he even exceeded them. Though his homunculi could not match the Einzberns' in total quality, their mass-production efficiency and specialization had far surpassed the original designs.
His son, Gordolf Musik, would later refine these achievements even further. In another era, he would become the Director of Chaldea, having purchased the organization from the Animusphere family through the wealth his father's alchemy had amassed.
The excellence of the Musik family's alchemical tradition—descended from the Einzberns—was beyond question.
And that was precisely the knowledge Selene sought: scalable, efficient alchemy capable of mass production. Practical, durable, and affordable—unlike the Einzbern craft, which, though exquisite, was costly and time-consuming.
"Your Divine Majesty, how shall I cooperate?" Gordes asked respectfully.
"I will simply read your memories," Selene replied gently, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Relax your mind—it will not harm you."
"..."
"Understood, Your Majesty. I consent."
After a moment of hesitation, Gordes nodded firmly, jaw clenched. He shot a brief glance toward Siegfried, whose expression was taut with concern, and offered a reassuring nod.
Selene blinked, surprised by his decisiveness. She had expected him to resist, to bargain, but this portly man was unexpectedly straightforward.
"Very well," she said softly. "Let us begin. Relax. Breathe."
"Proceed," Gordes said.
He wasn't stupid—far from it. He knew refusal would be meaningless. If Selene had voiced the request, she had already prepared to ensure compliance. Resistance would only make things worse.
And more importantly—would a god like Selene need to deceive him? Of course not. If anything, it meant his alchemy truly interested her.
Thinking this, Gordes even felt a flicker of pride. See? My alchemy is impressive enough to draw divine attention!
Though privately, he grumbled: Yes, I'm a little plump, but must she keep bringing it up?
He clenched his fists in silent resolve. That's it. I'll lose weight. Tomorrow. Definitely tomorrow...
"Imperial Privilege · Targeted Memory Probe—Synchronization · Search · Engraving!"
Vmmm—
True to her word, Selene refrained from using destructive techniques like soul extraction. Instead, she employed a gentler method—memory tracing.
"..."
He wasn't sure how much time passed. To Gordes, it felt as though his consciousness had drifted through his entire life—watching, like a film reel, every moment from his childhood studies to his greatest alchemical triumphs.
Then—
"That will do, Gordes. Your knowledge... truly fascinating," Selene said at last.
Gordes gasped awake, clutching his head in disbelief.
"It's... over?"
"Yes," Selene nodded. "Now, the equal exchange."
Golden light flared in her hands, intertwining in intricate patterns as they formed a complex, shimmering sigil.
The glowing particles intertwined, weaving together like a craftsman's delicate handiwork. Gradually, a tangible form emerged—a majestic, double-headed eagle with fierce wings, hooked beaks, and sharp talons.
The intricate twin-eagle design took shape into a diamond-shaped relic, regal and imposing.
Then, with a sharp snap, violet-red mana particles gathered once more, coalescing into several gemstones. Selene modified their magical properties, removing the Honkai energy's corrosive traits and infusing within them the base structures of Shingu and Teigu blueprints. She embedded these nearly perfect gems into the eagle's eyes and body.
Though the Type-Moon world lacked Danger Beasts or orichalcum, it had its own substitutes—divine creatures from the Age of Gods and countless mystical minerals. Resources were abundant here.
By using Teigu construction methods as a framework and filling them with divine creatures and metals unique to this world, what could be created? Selene couldn't help but feel anticipation.
Shriek—!
The golden double-headed eagle figurine emitted a metallic cry, glowing with a soft sheen of violet-gold radiance.
"Gordes, it's merely a token," Selene said, "but the information within will compensate for your weaknesses in combat to some extent."
With a flick of her finger, she sent the statue arcing perfectly through the air, landing neatly in Gordes' palm.
"This is..." Gordes murmured, gripping the eagle as his consciousness trembled. In the next instant, knowledge—blueprints of countless weapon designs—flashed through his mind. "Weapons crafted through alchemy?"
"Your Divine Majesty... thank you! Truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you!"
Unable to contain his joy, Gordes bowed deeply, his voice trembling with excitement and reverence.
Selene merely nodded, then turned toward her wary former allies, a faint smile curling her lips. "Well then, Darnic. Everything is complete. It's time I took my leave."
"Your Divine Majesty... what do you mean by that?"
A terrible realization struck Darnic. She's not planning to—
"The meaning should be obvious. I'm returning."
Selene's calm words confirmed his fears.
Vmmm—
Using Imperial Privilege, she severed her connection to her Master, Celenike, deactivating her mana draw from the void.
"Wait—! Your Divine Majesty!"
"Rider, you can't—!" Celenike cried out in panic, her eyes wide as she saw Selene's form begin to dissolve.
"The victory of this Holy Grail War, and my promise to the Yggdmillennia family—both have been fulfilled. There's no longer any reason for me to remain. Farewell."
Within moments, the mana sustaining her existence waned. To maintain such a "mana-devouring" entity was impossible without continuous supply. The violet-gold aura around her body blazed brightly.
Her divine form began to disintegrate, erupting into a magnificent flood of violet-gold light that surged skyward—spilling across the heavens like a tidal wave of radiance.
...
"The contract is fulfilled. Now... return my subjects to me."
"...Contract complete..."
...
Honkai Dimension – Grand Palace of the Imperial Capital.
Night had fallen, painting the sky above the Imperial Capital in a luminous shade of deep violet—a vision of dreamlike beauty. Stars shimmered like embers, each crimson spark blending harmoniously with the vast expanse.
The heart of this spectacle was the Grand Palace itself, a sprawling complex of golden architecture gleaming beneath the celestial canopy. The brilliance of its illumination contrasted sharply with the surrounding darkness, creating a breathtaking vision of grandeur.
From the distant walls inward, countless towering structures rose high into the sky. Manicured gardens stretched between them—solemn yet elegant. Servants and Imperial Guards moved briskly through the corridors, their vigilance unyielding.
Every few meters stood an Astartes warrior clad in iron-gray power armor, bolter in hand, guarding each entrance.
And within the resplendent Schönbrunn Palace—now the pinnacle of the Imperial Capital—the gold-armored Royal Guards filled every hall and chamber, their eyes sharp and unforgiving. Not even a bird or insect could slip past their watch.
Then, in the royal chamber, a pair of scarlet, diamond-shaped eyes slowly opened.
"Milady, welcome home," came a familiar, composed voice.
"Ah... Sebas, I'm back..."