Emma awoke in the lounge.

Knights were sprawled around, snoring loudly after their drinking spree. Some were slumped over tables, others sprawled across chairs, and a few even slept on the floor. Marie, on the other hand, sat with her eyes closed, resting her chin on her hand, her breathing quiet.

"Did I fall asleep like that?"

Emma had been forced to drink with them last night and fell asleep without realizing it. The intense training had taken a toll on her, both physically and mentally. Though she hadn't touched the alcohol, she felt a bit tipsy from the atmosphere.

She craned her neck, looking around, trying to figure out what to do next, her mind still groggy from sleep.

"Ship time is... before dawn, so maybe I should head back to my room? But I'll probably just sweat it out anyway..."

As she pondered, one of the knights sprawled on the floor suddenly leaped to his feet.

He was tall and muscular. This large man let out a shriek.

"N-No! I don't want to turn to stone! AAAAAAAAH!"

Emma turned to see what the commotion was about, and saw the man's rugged face contorted in tears.

He was terrified, frantically pushing aside tables and chairs.

Everyone else woke up, confused, but no one seemed truly alarmed by the man's outburst.

"Again?"

A voice muttered with annoyance.

Looking around, Emma saw some knights irritated by the interruption to their sleep. However, most wore faces of sympathy.

Several knights got up to try and restrain the man, but his strength was immense. Their efforts were futile. The knights trying to hold him back were thrown aside, overwhelmed by his power.

Then, Marie approached the man.

"Be careful!"

Emma instinctively called out and reached out, but Heidi grabbed her hand before she could move.

"Just watch."

"But..."

(This woman is incredibly strong.)

Held back by Heidi, Emma could only watch as Marie moved towards the man.

In one fluid motion, Marie grabbed the man's head with one hand and slammed it against the floor.

Where did she find such strength in her slender frame?

If the opponent were a civilian, it would be understandable, but this man was undeniably a knight. A knight with overwhelming power, someone who had resisted the efforts of several other knights. Yet, Marie had subdued him with one hand.

"Amazing."

Emma whispered in awe.

Marie released the crying man, who was now cowed. She embraced him and let him bury his face in her chest.

Dropping her usual air of refinement, she spoke to him in a gentle voice.

"You don't have to be afraid anymore. Don't be scared. No one will ever turn you to stone again."

"Marie, I... I..."

"Oh, cry, cry. Cry all you want and let out all your frustrations. This Marie Marian will listen. So, don't be afraid anymore."

Marie gently stroked the crying man's head. It was a scene that evoked the image of a loving mother.

Emma was mesmerized by this spectacle. Beside her, Heidi started to explain.

"Atalanta's pilot, you know our past, right?"

"Huh? Well... I don't know the details."

Heidi saw Emma's eyes dart around and seemed to understand.

"It's not something we talk about, so you probably only heard rumors. But, since we're at it, let me tell you. We were petrified by a scumbag and given a blessing to preserve our minds."

"Petrified? Blessed? Um..."

"It's like a curse. Stuck as stone, unable to move, and even our minds weren't allowed to break."

"What?! That's terrible! How could they do that?"

They had been forced to remain conscious even after being petrified.

Though it had been intended as a blessing, for Marie and Heidi, it was a curse.

It was a pain Emma couldn't even imagine, but just hearing about it sent shivers down her spine.

Seeing Emma speechless, Heidi chuckled.

"Don't worry. It's not like we want your sympathy. It's just... even a tough guy like him can crack under the pressure after being freed. That's why he sometimes freaks out, remembering those days... and every time, Marie brings us back to our senses."

Emma and Heidi both looked at Marie, who was still embracing the man, her face softened with a gentle smile.

The dim lounge.

Coincidentally, Marie stood under a light, drawing everyone's attention.

Looking around at the other knights, Emma saw they all looked at Marie with trust and respect.

These rough-and-tumble knights, accepting Marie as their leader and respecting her... this sight brought a pang to Emma's chest.

(My unit is so different... no, it's not the unit, it's me and Marie-sama.)

Unlike her, who struggled to earn the trust of her subordinates, Marie was deeply respected by hers.

◇

One of the planets under the Unified Government.

The Dahlia mercenary fleet's flagship was docked at the spaceport.

The spaceport, a converted asteroid, had been equipped with resource mining facilities. There, Sirena was engaged in a negotiation with a person accompanied by a bodyguard.

While the person was dressed in a suit, the bodyguards were armed soldiers.

The woman in the suit, Migera, was friendly towards Sirena.

"It's nice to know you understand our actions. Even if it is from a backward interstellar nation like the Empire."

Her words carried an undercurrent of resentment towards the Algand Empire, but Sirena didn't care.

"We're happy to help with your independence movement."

Sirena smiled, and Migera accepted a suitcase she offered.

Inside were precious metals.

There were bars of mithril, as well as countless magical gems.

Seeing them, Migera's face lit up with avarice.

"Are you trying to build a personal connection?"

Migera had noticed the amount of precious metals and seemed to think the Empire wanted to build a relationship with her.

Sirena smiled.

"I do want to have a good personal relationship. However, there are more containers just like this filled with the same stuff. Consider it a contribution to your cause."

The surrounding soldiers were momentarily stunned.

They hadn't expected such generous support from the Empire.

Migera looked at Sirena and smiled.

"That's helpful."

The negotiation was progressing smoothly.

However, Sirena didn't feel any good will towards Migera.

(Pretending to be a champion of the independence movement, how amusing. These types, once they succeed, never relinquish power and become dictators.)

There had been many who had achieved independence from interstellar nations, but most had fallen prey to their ambition and become dictators.

Sirena believed Migera was no different, even if she hated the Empire.

"So, have you given any thought to the transport fleet attack?"

Sirena asked, and Migera spoke to one of her bodyguards.

She turned back to Sirena and nodded.

"We agree. But if we capture the transport ships, we'll take all the supplies for ourselves."

Sirena smiled, but inwardly she was venomous.

"That's fine."

(Don't be so greedy, you might destroy yourself. If you truly believe you can survive in this universe with your level of power... well, you're incredibly naive.)

Sirena didn't believe Migera had the capacity to govern a planet as a leader.

But she would use anything to her advantage.

(Make the most of this opportunity for our sake.)

◇

When Sirena returned to the Dalia flagship, she saw Migera talking to one of her subordinates in the spaceport's VIP room.

The subordinate looked anxious.

"It's unimaginable for an Imperial noble to support the Unified Government. Could this be a trap?"

The Unified Government and the Empire were like oil and water.

Considering their strained relationship, it was unthinkable for an Imperial noble to approach the Unified Government, which was struggling with independence movements on several of its planets.

Migera sighed softly.

"Where do you think the funding for this independence movement is coming from?"

"From the second prince of the Empire, who is engaged in a succession struggle."

"It's that fool of a prince, using us to secure the throne. It's not surprising for rival forces to support our enemies."

The current Rustwair Unified Government was experiencing simultaneous independence movements on several of its planets.

The planet Migera belonged to was also joining the movement.

This turmoil was being fueled by behind-the-scenes interference from the Algand Empire.

The Imperial princes were using the situation to their advantage in their struggle for the throne.

Migera herself was receiving support from the second prince, Linus.

A monitor in the VIP room displayed the Dahlia mercenary fleet's flagship.

Migera's expression, unlike her previous warmth, now held contempt for Sirena's ship.

"Let's just borrow their power for now, be it the Empire or those dirty mercenaries."

Seeing Migera's expression, her subordinate felt a sense of relief.

"It wouldn't be wise to get too close to them. They're just mercenaries, after all, not so different from space pirates."

"They operate as mercenaries during war, and when there's no war, they engage in piracy. They're truly pathetic. Let's use them as best we can."

The conversation drew to a close, and Migera turned to her subordinate.

"So, how many forces can you deploy?"

The subordinate checked a tablet, reviewing the current strength of their forces.

"We had planned for two thousand ships, but only fifteen hundred are currently ready."

"Five hundred fewer?! That's not enough."

"Reports from the field indicate a shortage of supplies and anxiety about insufficient reserves. We can't deploy any more."

"Truly incompetent soldiers. But this isn't the time for recklessness. They say the transport fleet has a strong escort, but it's only a few hundred ships, right?"

"Yes, confirmed."

"Our numbers are higher, combined with the mercenaries, and they're protecting those huge transport ships, putting them at a disadvantage."

Migera smirked.

"Imperial nobles are vain fools. Their army is probably just a paper tiger. We'll use the supplies they've provided for ourselves."

The subordinate agreed.

"They're no match for our army, trained under the Unified Government."

Migera was already confident of victory.

"Let's teach those outdated fools a lesson about real warfare."