"Hm?" Selene blinked, almost amused. Speak of the devil. Just as she crested a hill, columns of smoke appeared in the distance across the horizon.
"Finally, signs of civilization."
She had nearly gone mad with boredom along the way. She hadn't encountered a single Imperial citizen, but she had run into plenty of southwestern tribesmen—completely uncivilized savages incapable of communication.
Left with no choice, Selene exterminated them. After all, judging by their behavior, they had intended to capture her and cook her alive.
With her enhanced vision, Selene soon locked onto a small town roughly three kilometers away.
The town's architecture was ancient, but the sharp-angled stone walls and numerous watchtowers clearly marked it as a small military settlement of the Empire's southwestern frontier. Unfortunately, years of neglect had left it riddled with cracks and gaps.
The smoke rose from countless makeshift tents clustered outside the walls—ragged and colorful, forming a chaotic sprawl of refugee shelters. Likely because of the border's instability, the swollen shantytown even had watchtowers built at its four corners.
At that moment, a few militiamen clad in partial armor—some wielding bows, others spears—were dutifully patrolling the perimeter.
Suddenly, one of them, bow drawn tight, shouted, "Someone's approaching!!"
The others immediately raised their guard, weapons at the ready, staring warily as the two figures—one white, one black—drew closer from afar.
Only when Selene and Sebas stood before them did the guards finally lower their weapons, straightening in haste. From their attire and bearing alone, it was obvious these two were no commoners. Even without knowing their rank, the militiamen instinctively sensed they couldn't afford to offend them.
As for whether they might be spies from the southwestern tribes—that was laughable. How could a bunch of beast-like savages possibly carry themselves with such refined grace?
Although the guards didn't know who the newcomers were and hadn't received any orders about visitors, that didn't stop them from being deferential. "M-My lords, may I ask what brings you here?"
Perhaps intimidated by memories of the Empire's cruel nobility, their tone was excessively humble.
"Nothing that concerns you. Carry on." Selene brushed past them without another glance, heading straight into the border town.
"Y-Yes, my lady! Forgive our intrusion! Please, this way!" Seeing that Selene had no interest in conversation, the guards quickly stepped aside without a trace of resentment.
"Mhm."
"Phew..." As Selene and Sebas's figures disappeared down the street, the guards let out deep, shaky breaths. The aura that noblewoman had radiated made their blood run cold. "Damn, that was terrifying... we shouldn't have even approached."
"Still... that noble lady was really beautiful."
"Yeah, must be from the Capital."
"But what's someone like her doing in a dump like this...?"
Smack! Smack! Smack!
The squad captain finally snapped out of it. Hearing his men's chatter, his face darkened, and he slapped them across the face in quick succession. "Are you trying to die?! Since when is it your place to gossip about nobles?! Back to patrol, all of you!"
...
Once Selene entered the refugee camp area, only one word came to mind—chaos.
The narrow space teemed with people, crammed together in every corner. Their clothes were tattered, their bodies skeletal, and their eyes hollow—living in a constant struggle between starvation and survival.
Selene took in the sight, but for some reason, she felt absolutely nothing. No pity. No disgust. No disdain. Just pure, detached indifference—as if she weren't even of the same species as these people.
Sebas, on the other hand, though outwardly composed, felt an ache deep inside.
Walking down the central path, surrounded by trembling refugees huddled within their flimsy shelters, Sebas felt the impulse to act—to do something.
But reason prevailed. His every action must align with his mistress's will. Always.
Ignoring the refugees, Selene and Sebas continued forward. Under the respectful gazes of the gate guards, the two finally entered the town proper, where the scene suddenly opened up.
While it was nothing compared to Academy City, it was at least far cleaner and more orderly than the squalor outside. Evidently, the town's local governor was somewhat competent.
After all, one couldn't expect much moral integrity from the bureaucrats of a feudal autocracy. Achieving this level of civility was already commendable.
"At least this region is still under Imperial control. Let's go and gather some intelligence," Selene said calmly.
Now, in a Western medieval-style world, what was the best place to obtain information? A tavern bustling with merchants, adventurers, and lowlifes? Or perhaps an inn that catered to traveling traders?
No, no. Though such places held plenty of rumors, the information there was usually fragmented or outdated. To obtain accurate intelligence, there was only one true source—
The Imperial Administration Office!
Before long, Selene spotted the building that could only be the governor's hall in the center of town. It was the tallest and grandest structure around—hard to miss.
As they walked, Selene's sharp senses picked up several scenes unfolding in the dark, narrow alleys nearby.
Such alleys existed in every town—gloomy, narrow gaps between buildings, filled with garbage, vomit from drunks, and the occasional trace of a vagrant. They were places untouched by sunlight—the breeding ground of crime.
Muggings, brawls, drug use, murder... countless tales played out within those shadows every day.
Selene observed it all with faint amusement. Tsk, some things never change. Whether in Academy City or a feudal Empire, crime persists regardless of era.
"Milady, we've arrived," Sebas's voice drew her attention back to reality. Before them stood the open gates of the administrative office. Unlike the noisy taverns of fiction, the place was quiet—eerily so.
"Let's go."
As the guards saluted respectfully, Selene stepped through the doorway, and at that instant, every staff member in the hall turned their eyes toward her.
Bathed in the mingling glow of sunlight and the ceiling lamps, her figure—adorned in silver and blue battlesuit—radiated brilliance. Standing at the border of light and shadow, she looked every bit a valkyrie descended upon mortal ground—though she was, in fact, wearing a Valkyrie battlesuit.
"M-My lady, please have a seat! What brings you here today?" The hall's reception manager, after a brief stunned pause, rushed to pull out a chair, wiping it clean in haste. He loudly called for other attendants to serve her, his face a mask of flattery.
Of course, such courtesy was reserved only for those of higher standing. Had it been a refugee, he would've shown that person the full extent of Imperial bureaucracy's arrogance.
As the head of the reception hall, he prided himself on reading people. He had received nobles and officers of every rank—but none had ever radiated such overwhelming presence. Not even the generals who had once stopped here for supplies.
There was only one thought in his mind now—This is someone important! I must not offend her! He had to ensure her satisfaction at all costs.
When Selene reached the central seat, the obsequious manager stood ready with a grin. Without a word, Selene flicked a gold bar toward him and said, "Summon your town's governor. And bring me all recent decrees or documents the Empire has sent to this office."
Wherever humans existed, money spoke loudly—and in this world, all the more so.
The man caught the gold bar with both hands, his smile widening until it nearly split his face. "At once, my lady! Please wait a moment." He barked a few quick orders at the attendants to serve the guests before dashing off to fetch the town's chief official.
Gesturing for Sebas to sit, Selene accepted the Imperial documents handed to her by one of the clerks. "We'll set up here for now," she said lightly.