Chapter 538: Selene and Her Adoptive Parents

“If it’s just an official document, you could have had a servant deliver it. The burden of the Tribunal is already heavy—why trouble yourself, Selene?”

“Milady, this is a recent summary report from the Second Legion under Budo regarding the construction and taxation of Conquered World—Universe 117 (Halo). In addition to that, your old servant received a piece of news I think you might find interesting.”

“Oh?”

Sebas stepped forward and handed over a folder. Selene quickly flipped through it, skipping the military updates, until her eyes landed on a short, simple note.

“The Daihasei Festival, huh…”

Upon reading it, a smile bloomed on Selene’s face like a carnation. A smile filled with reminiscence and gratitude spread naturally, light and unguarded.

This time, there was no political performance, no mask of authority or frost. Just a sincere, heartfelt smile that eased the soul.

“Such fond memories.”

She pulled out the document and stood up, waving off the attendant in the corner who stepped forward to open the curtains. Instead, she walked over to the gilded, silver-trimmed floor-to-ceiling window herself. With a swish, she pulled the curtain open.

Warm, slightly dazzling sunlight poured in. Controlled by the Weather Bureau, the sun above the Imperial Capital bathed everything in quiet warmth. When she opened the balcony door, a gentle breeze brushed Selene’s cheeks. Before her stretched a vast garden in full bloom.

Red flowers blazed like fire, white blossoms glowed like phosphorescence, and blue petals sparkled like pearls from the sea washed ashore… all kinds of blooms competed in brilliance, bursting with color and vibrancy under the sunlight.

Drip…

The synchronized footsteps of the Imperial Guard echoed in rhythm with the soft swish of flowers rustling in the wind. A patrol composed of Imperial Guards and Silent Nuns marched through the garden corridor. Their steps were swift, their rhythm precise, like programmed AI adjutants—truly uniform in word and deed, passing through like a ceremonial parade.

“I never really noticed before… this palace garden of mine… I don’t remember ordering such excessive planting. And this isn’t your style either, Sebas… this must be little Alyssa’s handiwork.”

The faint fragrance in the air, combined with the gentle sunlight, made Selene lean against the railing with a hand as flawless as warm jade. Her body tilted slightly. It felt wonderful. She couldn’t help but hum a light tune.

“Ah, to be precise—it was Alyssa, White Star, Nunnally, Euphemia… all those little ones’ work.”

Stepping forward and standing two paces behind and to the right of Selene, Sebas stroked his beard. Hands behind his back, his perpetually stern face softened. Gazing at the garden below the balcony, he gently shook his head.

“Indeed… Alyssa. It may look radiant and splendid, but it’s really just a dense pile of flowers. Her work undoubtedly lacks aesthetic harmony. She hardly applied the floral arrangement or spatial design principles I taught her.”

With such dense planting, it was only thanks to the extraordinary vitality of the soil—enriched by supernatural energies—that the flora survived. Ordinary land would never support such overpacked, nutrient-exhausting, fragile vegetation.

This sea of blossoms blooming so beautifully wasn’t a testament to the gardener’s skill. It was purely due to the dense life essence that filled the Grand Palace, or more accurately, the atmosphere of the Imperial homeland. Even crude methods could produce growth here.

“Shall I arrange for it to be redone…”

“No need.”

Selene cheerfully interrupted Sebas, the bright sunlight reflecting in her clear, aquamarine eyes, a gentle warmth radiating from her smile. Her lips curved into a crescent moon. “Leave it. It’s nice.”

“Then this old servant will let Alyssa handle the pruning herself,” Sebas replied with a smile of his own.

Perhaps this was the smile of an angel he had always envisioned—one that dispelled all gloom, making the world feel so bright and flawless.

After a pause, Sebas spoke again, this time with a testing softness. “Milady, have you considered bringing the Master and Madam here…”

“…”

Seeing Selene fall silent, Sebas carefully rephrased, “Or perhaps… arranging for them to live in a prosperous, peaceful sightseeing world…”

“Honestly, I haven’t decided how to handle it.”

With a hint of contemplation, Selene turned away. Her tall figure leaned against the balcony as she tilted her head back to stretch.

This was the truth. When it came to Brauchitsch and Katie—her adoptive father and mother—Selene always held a heart of gratitude.

True, their decision to adopt her from the sanatorium back then was partly driven by family needs. Or perhaps she had already stood out enough among her peers to justify Brauchitsch’s investment.

But the fact was, Katie had indeed treated her as a true daughter. And over time, Selene’s relationship with her adoptive father also came to resemble a genuine familial bond.

He gave what he could, and Selene, in turn, offered him the responses he wanted. Over time, feelings naturally grew.

Charity in adversity always moves the heart more than celebration in prosperity.

Selene was cold, but not heartless. She was no ingrate. It’s just that, compared to when she was still unknown and unformed, trying to win her trust now that she had grown was infinitely harder.

So when it came to her adoptive parents, even someone as decisive and ruthless as Selene hesitated.

In any other matter, Selene never procrastinated or acted timidly. Her rules were clear: be a dog, be used, be exploited, or be crushed to death.

But because of this adoptive relationship, in their world (A Certain Magical Index / A Certain Scientific Railgun), Selene had done her best to maintain the image others expected of her: a slightly well-off, mildly talented, otherwise unremarkable esper high school girl.

She never acted out. While she might have appeared a bit arrogant, everything she did stayed within the rules. She never overstepped.

Granted, this might’ve partly been because her means were limited back then. Even now, Selene had no intention of going back to dominate that world.

When it came to the aquarium full of Magic Gods in the Magic Index world, Selene had long since formulated countermeasures. But she chose not to act. The odds of victory were too low—and any win might result in a shattered Earth or blown-up universe. But Selene wasn’t in a hurry. Time was on her side.

Now, as the ruling goddess of the Great Honkai Empire—overseeing countless civilizations, with her people, their development, and her dominion expanding at exponential rates—Selene was truly at ease.

Her period of primitive accumulation and fragile growth had passed. She had reinforced her foundations to the best of her ability. All that remained now was to maintain direction and let the momentum snowball.

For worlds that posed difficulties in conquest (those where even victory would leave both sides crippled, turning the universe into a wasteland with no regenerative benefit to the Empire), there was no rush. Perhaps in time, with reinforcements, the odds would change drastically.

Just like the flowers blooming in the palace garden outside Selene’s chambers, the Sacred Selene Empire had entered its era of rapid development.

The glorious vision Selene had imagined for her civilization was now arriving. Almost every moment, reports came in of successful conquests and new worlds brought under Imperial rule.

In countless forge worlds, new Imperial Navy fleets were joining the ranks every moment. In countless newly annexed conscription worlds, fresh recruits were constantly entering training camps. New warbands and regiments were forming, with their structures submitted to the Imperial Ministry of War.

For instance, the Second Legion—Punishers—already had over a million Astarte warriors currently active, and that didn’t even count the new recruits still in training.

With a growing base and ever-improving individual quality, and no shortage of manpower, supplies, or colonial worlds, the capacity to generate fresh blood only continued to grow.

What could possibly disrupt the golden-age trajectory of the Sacred Selene Empire? A rebellion by half the Astarte Legions, auxiliaries, and client armies? Or perhaps Empress Selene’s untimely demise?

No one would be foolish enough to wish for that. The rapid alignment of newly conquered colonial worlds wasn’t only due to the overwhelming power gap—it was also because the Empire genuinely seemed to offer them a bright future.

Empty slogans couldn’t replace concrete benefits. Without real gains, even using the Authority of Sentience to forcibly rewrite minds wouldn’t result in such vitality among the colonies.

Returning to the topic, on one hand, Selene didn’t want to disrupt her adoptive parents’ lives. After all, they still had extended family, friends, and personal ties. Should she relocate just the two of them? Or uproot their entire social network?

Especially considering that even with the fall of the Habsburg throne, their relatives still spanned the globe. In that case, Selene might as well conquer Earth outright.

On the other hand, Selene didn’t want them exposed to the Empire’s efficient, relentless war machine. She understood Katie’s graceful gentility and kindness.

That kindness may not have reached saintly levels, but Selene’s iron-fisted centralized rule—and the Empire’s tiered and brutal death penalties—would likely sadden or disappoint her adoptive mother.

She didn’t want her apocalyptic authority used against the woman who, though not her birth mother, was more than one in heart.

Rather than bring them to the capital and bury them in layers of lies and concealment, Selene chose to leave them in their own world.

She would do everything in her power to help them live their ideal lives. What kind of life they should lead shouldn’t be dictated by Selene’s arrogance. She would only provide the conditions—and a few novelties.

It worked well. Everyone was happy. And when Selene was bored, she could enjoy a different way of life.

And in the end, when the time came, Selene would see them off personally. They would live without illness to the limit of human longevity. At their final hour, she would ask if they wished for a new life. If they did, she would extend it.

There were many reasons why Selene abandoned the idea of moving them. The more she cared, the more she hesitated.

She wouldn’t annex the Index world. She didn’t care about the survival of the Magic Gods. All she wanted was that world’s continued existence—and peace.

In a way, from the perspective of the Index world alone—setting aside all else—Selene was a heroine of justice. A comrade of Kamijou Touma. A friend. A kind, elegant esper high school girl.

“It’s not the time yet. I can’t give an answer now. Anything I say may change with time… nothing is certain…” Selene murmured, gazing into Sebas’s eyes. “Let’s see what I decide when the time comes.”

“Phases… layers upon a world. And multiple layers at that. A single world, yet so centralized, teeming with ’creator gods’ interfering and overlapping. What a complex, intriguing temporal weave.”

Taking a teacup from an attendant, Selene pushed it toward Sebas and spoke softly: “We’ll see then. If Katie doesn’t want it, all planning is pointless.”

“Sigh… she’s already confirmed she’ll attend the event at Academy City. I can’t avoid participating. By rule, espers can’t use abilities beyond Level 5 influence… tsk… even if my true self can’t intervene, isn’t this basically bullying children?”

“The Daihasei Festival… Tokiwadai Middle School… espers… my classmates and dear friends… I wonder if participating again in person will bring new feelings.”

Selene looked up in reflection. Her gaze seemed to cross millions of miles, landing on the rippling stargate of the Triumphant Star Gate above the Dimensional Continent. “Ah, they’re here.”

Straightening, flame ignited in her palm. The document vanished into nothingness. Selene patted Sebas’s broad shoulder with a light smile.

“Alright, that’s enough. Splitting off a soul projection isn’t for sighing and daydreaming. There are still a pile of official documents waiting for me.”

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