Ch.239In moments of crisis, light shall still find its way.

# Chapter 239: Even in Times of Crisis, Light Shall Come

Fortunately, we were able to avoid the catastrophe of Eternia’s enraged annihilation fleet instantly destroying the empire we had worked so hard to build.

Just as I released the time pause and expressed my despair…

“——-!!”

I unconsciously blurted out what sounded like an Imperial high school girl Star Destroyer warning alarm.

“Hueeeeh?!”

“Oh, the Holy Maiden has awakened!”

A miraculous event occurred as our Dragon Holy Maiden, Lady Maria, who had fainted, resurrected not after three days but three minutes to save us all.

Of course, the situation wasn’t immediately resolved just because Lady Maria woke up.

“Ughh… what in the world is happening…? I was suddenly awakened by the alarm sound of ancient Dark Age battleships…”

“Lady Maria, I’ll explain the current situation, so please calm down and tell them nothing but the truth from beginning to end.”

“…Huh?”

Since Lady Maria had just regained consciousness, I had to go through the minor process of conveying the situation to her as quickly as possible, cramming as much information as I could all at once.

But what mattered most was…

We avoided a direct confrontation with the enraged Precursor Empire’s annihilation fleet while being surrounded by Dark Age technology.

Perhaps thanks to our Holy Maiden waking up at such a surprising timing and resolving the situation:

[Event: Timing is Everything in Life.]

[You saved the entire ISTO from being crushed by the angry Precursor Empire’s fleet in the nick of time.]

[Your actions have increased the cohesion of the entire ISTO!]

[ISTO (Interstellar Security Treaty Organization) Internal Cohesion +10]

Perhaps it’s because the Holy Sebelli Empire handles stability ratings in a completely chaotic manner.

Similarly, while internal cohesion was usually a mess,

ISTO, which had been daily divided into the Holy Sebelli Empire’s vassal faction vs. the Zurtakfor Council faction vs. the Roirakan faction, finally experienced its first cohesion increase event.

With that reward, and Lady Maria waking up at the perfect timing to resolve the situation…

As these positive developments continued, I realized something.

Thinking about it, the rewards repeatedly mentioned in recent events and quests I’d completed—

Specifically, the “Increased Probability of Positive Events” was having an unexpectedly excellent effect.

Plus, I—or more precisely, “Arto,” the player’s avatar—had the “Lucky One” trait from past events.

This must be the result of combining the “Lucky One” trait with the accumulated “Increased Probability of Positive Events.”

‘But isn’t that just for events? Lady Maria waking up from unconsciousness seems a bit much to be considered an event…’

Throwing away such impious rational thoughts,

I decided to hold a welcoming ceremony with Riel and the Purge Unit members to greet the Precursor Empire’s personnel who would be coming down via the orbital elevator from the annihilation fleet gathered at our empire’s orbital defense command.

Of course, if it weren’t for some minor incidents—like the attack stance of five fleets that arrived after receiving support calls from the capital defense fleet, and the Vatican Judgment Fleet nearly charging in with rage when they thought heretics(?) were attacking the Holy One and the Emperor—everything would have been fine.

‘Why do these things always happen to me…?’

As a result, I had to spend nearly a week untangling the mess created by this series of crazy events.

——————————–

The attitude displayed by the Eternia fleet commander we brought to the imperial palace meeting room, convened due to this incident…

Was the textbook definition of a “Precursor” attitude.

“Tsk, having to apologize to inferior species.”

“Commander.”

“I apologize, Holy Maiden.”

And that meant the commander’s attitude was truly distasteful.

“Please mind your words. Insulting these people is equivalent to insulting me, who received their help.”

“…It seems I misspoke. I apologize, heretic.”

“…”

Lady Maria, who had been quietly observing, was about to say something to the commander.

The frustrating part was that this attitude was considered VERY VERY VERY conciliatory for a “Precursor.”

Other individuals—

For example, those we encountered during the Levia capture operation—would probably have responded to Lady Maria’s words by saying:

‘Apologize.’

‘S…s…’

‘S?’

‘S…stupid fools, you’re the ones who did wrong!’

Something like that.

Besides, we never had any expectations regarding the attitude of Admiral Lüchou, who had identified himself as the Eternia fleet commander.

‘Well, they all talk the same way anyway.’

‘I agree.’

Even the other government officials present at this meeting,

Especially the old men like the Minister of the Imperial Household and the Minister of Defense, who had more encounters with Precursors than we did, were nodding knowingly.

So I just nodded appropriately at Admiral Lüchou’s arguably arrogant remarks,

And decided to start a simple briefing about the current situation for everyone gathered here.

Of course, I discreetly omitted sensitive information that these government officials didn’t need to know—

Such as Artraia being Eternia royalty with pure bloodline,

Or that the mysterious entity that terrorized Eternia was the former emperor.

Anyway, after about an hour of briefing…

“Hmmmm…”

“Ughh…”

The ministerial-level officials at this meeting kept letting out groans.

Honestly, if I were in their position, I’d probably react the same way.

The ancient Precursor Empire, which had endured for tens of thousands of years, collapsed pathetically in less than an hour, not even a single day.

How could anyone immediately believe such an absurd story?

If the living proof—Eternia’s Holy Maiden and fleet admiral—weren’t present at this meeting,

Those officials would probably have attacked me from all sides, telling me to stop talking nonsense, just like at the imperial audience ten years ago.

“Is… is this truly the case, Your Majesty?”

Look at those who still express doubt to Artraia despite the living proof(?) right in front of them.

I can only imagine what insults would have been hurled at me, the presenter, if there had been no evidence.

And Artraia, receiving such questions, nodded as if it were obvious while preemptively blocking any annoying questions.

“Everything that Foreign Affairs Enforcement Minister Arto just said is true. I will not accept any further questions on this matter.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

With expressions of doubt on that matter blocked, the next thing to come was practical concerns.

“Minister Arto, we have a question for you.”

“Yes, ask anything.”

“Will these Precursors be returning, or will they be staying here?”

Since I hadn’t heard anything about that either, I turned my head to look at Artraia and Lady Maria beside her.

Seeing my gaze, Artraia maintained her characteristically dignified appearance that she showed in front of others and addressed Lady Maria.

“What does the Holy Maiden of Eternia think about this?”

“Well, I think we should be the ones to answer that question.”

The problem was that Admiral Lüchou, standing next to Lady Maria, showed a rather prickly reaction to Artraia’s semi-respectful response.

“Tsk, the leader of an inferior species trying to act as an equal just because they treated the Holy Maiden.”

“…”

“Address the Holy Maiden with the highest honorifics, Emperor of Sebelli.”

Of course, since this was their typical way of treating leaders of “inferior species,”

The people present just frowned without making any other comments.

‘Well, he’s being much more gentlemanly than he was with me earlier.’

At least compared to how he treated me like a talking pet, he was showing much more respect to Artraia.

But seeing Admiral Lüchou’s behavior, Lady Maria’s face, which had been full of amusement until just now, suddenly hardened.

“Lüchou, I believe I made myself clear?”

Adding to that, she openly made a “serious” warning while Eternia’s unique psionic energy swirled around her.

“…Why are you acting this way, Holy Maiden?”

At Lady Maria’s attitude, Admiral Lüchou hurriedly corrected his posture while unable to hide his puzzlement.

And seeing Admiral Lüchou’s reaction, Lady Maria sighed deeply and…

“If you maintain that reaction, you’ll soon come to regret it.”

She spoke as if warning him not to do something he would regret.

Of course, Admiral Lüchou only continued to express genuine confusion at Lady Maria’s attitude.

—————————————–

However, Admiral Lüchou’s attitude soon changed.

“…Please kill me, Imperial Scion Artraia!!!”

His previous demeanor completely vanished as he performed a grand bow to Artraia in front of me, Lady Maria, and Riel.