More than ten minutes later, in a coffee shop where only Hiro and Golden Darkness were present, the two sat facing each other.
"So, the infamous assassin in the universe-Golden Darkness, what brings you to this remote planet?"
While the staff prepared their coffee and snacks in the back, Hiro looked at the expressionless blonde beauty in front of him and said lightly.
Since he had already given Golden Darkness the impression that he "knew a lot," he didn't mind making his image even more mysterious.
Moreover, constantly concealing things might be noticed by the girl's unscientific sixth sense, and then...The conversation would end there.
For Hiro, who desperately wanted to obtain information about the BETA, this was a situation that needed to be avoided at all costs.
"Mission."
Opposite him, the girl only gave a light two-word answer.
Mission? Yuuki Mikan is already Asuna's younger sister, and Yuuki Rito is even "non-existent." What else could the mission be?
After thinking for a moment, he tentatively asked:
"Can you tell me the content of the mission?"
"..."
Tsk! Just as expected~
Looking at the girl's face, which showed no intention of speaking, Hiro thought to himself, "Just as expected."
After all, she was a professional assassin.
"One question each, it's your turn."
"The method you used to subdue that thing, is it difficult? Irreplicable?" Staring at his brown eyes in silence for a few seconds, Golden Darkness maintained her usual cold expression and asked this.
Hiro nodded without much hesitation, confirming her guess.
"That's right, even I myself don't understand the principle behind it. I just got the result of 'subduing it,' and control is the same reason."
Hearing his explanation, Golden Darkness frowned slightly, showing a thoughtful expression as she fell silent:
Although the reason and process are completely unknown, the item given by Lala-sama has already confirmed that he wasn't lying.
Excluding that one large Radiant under human control, this star system and planet can be said to be a very safe environment, meeting the requirements of King Deviluke.
If Lala-sama were to encounter this mysterious boy, perhaps the principle of controlling the "Devourer" could be found.
Moreover, it might even solve the fiancé problem that has been troubling her.
The appearance of an Earthling should be able to meet the aesthetic standards of the Devilukeans...
Thinking of this, Golden Darkness deeply scrutinized the boy's appearance opposite her a few times.
"Boy." Golden Darkness nodded towards Hiro, indicating it was his turn to ask a question.
"Regarding the information about the species that... the large Radiant belongs to, I hope you can tell me as much as possible."
"...It might take a while."
Hearing Golden Darkness's somewhat reluctant reply, Hiro smiled slightly.
"It's okay, I don't mind."
Without any wind blowing, the golden hair hanging down on both sides of Eve (Golden Darkness's real name, which will be used from now on) moved a few times, indicating some fluctuation in her emotions.
"Alright."
Taking a few seconds to organize her general thoughts, Eve slowly began to speak:
"In the Milky Way Galaxy, the common name for that species is 'Devourers.' The one you possess is a large Radiant among the Devourers. Because it possesses the attack speed of light and an attack range spanning planets, it generally appears in interstellar battlefields in space..."
At this moment, the coffee shop waiter came to the two of them with a tray, and Eve stopped her narration very timely.
"Your orders, please enjoy."
After placing two cups of coffee and Yami's dessert, the waiter bowed slightly to the two of them and turned to leave.
"It's unclear when the Devourer species appeared or where their home planet is. They approached the outer rim of the Milky Way more than a hundred years ago and were completely annihilated by King Deviluke, the overlord of the Milky Way, leading his forces."
King Deviluke more than a hundred years ago?
Hearing this, a slightly bewildered expression appeared on Hiro's face:
In the original work, it was more than ten years before the start of the story that Gid unified the galaxy and became the overlord.
This world is more than a hundred years ago???
Butterfly effect, or has several decades or even centuries passed since the end of the original plot?
"More than twenty years ago..."
"Wait! Please let me ask a question first." Although it was a bit impolite, Hiro decided to confirm the timeline first.
"If I remember correctly, the current King Deviluke's name should be Gid Lucifugus Deviluke. So, what are his current family members?"
"Besides King Deviluke himself, there are four others: the Queen-Sephie Michaela Deviluke, the eldest daughter Lala, the second daughter Nana, and the third daughter Momo." Despite a flash of displeasure on her face, Eve honestly answered Hiro's question.
Thankfully, there are slight changes, but the impact isn't significant...
After hearing Eve's answer, Hiro secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, please continue."
"More than twenty years ago, the Devourers, who had once been annihilated, made a comeback. And this time, whether in terms of quantity, evolution speed, combat power, or tactics and strategy, they have improved countless times."
"Thirteen years ago, King Deviluke single-handedly destroyed the planet where the Devourer's main base was located, trading his exhausted power for five years of peace. Eight years ago, at the same location, the Devourer's main base completed its rebirth..."
As Eve continued her explanation, the expression on Hiro's face gradually became unsightly.
Hmm, Gid has become smaller, which is the same as in the original work; the BETA have returned, and it's possible that this time they are "warriors" instead of "miners"; the main base can regenerate after being blown up, probably because the Deviluke side has no ability to stop it;
the current Milky Way can only barely stalemate with the BETA, and occasionally loses some star systems...
Gid, as the overlord of the Milky Way, plans to use the home planet-Deviluke-as the last line of defense...
What a nightmare start? They're already using the home planet as a defensive line, is the entire Devilukean royal family going to be wiped out?!
"Then, it's my turn."
Ding~
Putting down the brown hot drink in her palm, Eve asked an irrelevant question:
"Boy, what's your name?"
"Hiro."
"Are you a native of this planet?"
"Yes."
After settling the bill for two, Hiro walked out of the coffee shop but didn't see the golden figure of the girl.
However, very quickly, he spotted that somewhat blurry golden figure in the night sky several hundred meters to his right front, and sighed inwardly.
My life is so hard...