Who Isn't a Herrscher

"Report!" an intelligence officer stood in the office, speaking to the wide desk chair.

"Wallenstein of the 'Twelve Apostles' was killed by the rampaging 'White Night' during their contact."

This short sentence conveyed the gist of the situation to the figure behind the desk chair.

"You may go."

"Yes."

Silence once again filled the office.

"It seems it's time to execute the first phase of 'The Plan'."

The entire office floor then became transparent, looking straight down into the depths below.

The vast underground area resembled a military factory, or rather, it was a military factory.

On the machinery being produced, a golden-haired man, identical to others, had a trace of purple liquid injected into him by a mechanical needle. Behind him stood hundreds, even thousands, of clones.

"Little Mio!"

Saikyo Neine burst through the medical room door.

Luo Mio, who had just opened his eyes on the bed, shifted his gaze from the ceiling towards the door upon hearing Saikyo Neine's voice.

Her petite frame was draped in a crimson kimono, her long, dark hair beautifully styled, and her face etched with anxiety as she looked at him with concern.

"Yo, old auntie," Luo Mio teased with a smile.

Hearing his familiar tone and address, Saikyo Neine's worry turned to joy.

"You rascal."

Saikyo Neine walked over and sat on a nearby stool.

Seeing the anxious expression Saikyo Neine had just shown, Luo Mio offered an apology. "Sorry for making you worry."

"Slap."

A light, painless smack echoed on Luo Mio's forehead.

Saikyo Neine struck Luo Mio's forehead with the folding fan in her hand, gritting her teeth. "Then don't push yourself, facing that 'Domain' alone, and then having something like that happen..."

It turned out that after returning to the medical room at Hagun Academy, Saikyo Neine had received a message from Toudo Touka.

Luo Mio looked at Saikyo Neine, who was gritting her teeth, and saw the worry in her eyes.

"Mhm, I understand..."

"Right, my sister and Ikki...?"

Hearing Luo Mio's question, Saikyo Neine told him, "They're fine. After you drew away the 'One-armed Swordsman', they returned to Hagun Academy safely."

"They're probably in class now, after all, you were unconscious for a day."

"A day..." Luo Mio was slightly surprised to hear this.

Fu Hua's voice echoed in Luo Mio's mind.

"It took some time even with Feather of the Dust to awaken your consciousness."

So that's how it is...

Saikyo Neine looked at Luo Mio lying in bed and suddenly let out a mischievous chuckle.

"What are you doing?" Luo Mio shivered at Saikyo Neine's sly grin and asked.

"Hehehe..."

Saikyo Neine's eyes began to sparkle.

Shinguji Kuroko stood outside the door, a cigarette held between her fingers.

"Holy crap, what are you doing!"

"Hehehe! What do you think I'm doing?"

A commotion ensued.

"You motherf***er! Old hag! That's too much, you're even pulling my pants!"

"Just a routine check! Let me see!"

"Damn it, you're using your ability again! Don't come any closer!"

"It's a check! To see if you're injured!"

"Sister Neine, no!"

"Be good! Stop resisting pointlessly!"

"Then what's that camera on your head!"

"Hehehehe..."

Shinguji Kuroko listened to the conversation from inside the room with amusement. After extinguishing the cigarette in her hand, she left the entrance of the medical bay.

Chapter 20: World Changes and "Akatsuki Academy"

"Miohua-bro! I came to see you."

A young girl opened the door to the medical bay. Her clear, dark eyes held the innocence and purity befitting her age. Her dark, glossy hair cascaded down her back, framing a delicate and cute face.

"Oh, Naru," Luo Mio said, surprised as he looked at the girl, who was about six years old.

"Why are you here?"

The girl giggled and walked to the bedside. "Mom said Miohua-bro got hurt and came to the medical bay, so I ran over."

"You..."

Luo Mio pinched the girl's delicate cheek.

The girl before him was Naru, full name Shinguji Naru, the daughter of Shinguji Kuroko.

The little girl had inherited Shinguji Kuroko's beauty and was already growing into a graceful young lady at such a tender age.

Not long after Luo Mio and Shinguji Naru finished their chat.

"Miohua, we've come to see you."

As the door opened, Ikki and Stella walked in.

Upon seeing Shinguji Naru first, Ikki exclaimed in surprise, "Isn't that Naru?! Long time no see."

Shinguji Naru's eyes lit up when she saw Ikki. "Ikki-bro?!"

Ikki looked at Shinguji Naru, who had grown considerably. "It really has been a long time. You've grown so much."

"Heeheehee," Shinguji Naru stuck out her tongue. "You too, Ikki-bro. You weren't this tall before."

Luo Mio chuckled and shook his head, watching the little girl innocently tiptoe to compare her height with Ikki's.

Stella asked Ikki, "Ikki, who is this child?"

Ikki realized and took Shinguji Naru's small hand, introducing her. "This child's name is Shinguji Naru, Aunt Kuro's daughter."

Stella exclaimed, "Eh, really?"

"Hello, my name is Stella. Please take care of me, little Naru," Stella said gently to Shinguji Naru, extending her hand.

The little girl was very sensible and chirped, "Shinguji Naru. Please take care of me, big sister."

Watching Stella and Shinguji Naru shake hands, Luo Mio's thoughts drifted back to the last question he had asked the system before waking up in the consciousness space.

"System, although I've lived in this world for a long time, I still want to ask, is this really the same world as the Chivalry of a Failed Knight I remember? Many time points and plot points don't match."

In response to Luo Mio's question, the system said, "It's because of the host."

"Me?!"

"That's right. Because the host appeared in this world, the world consciousness will change the original world into one that caters to and adapts to the host. This change transcends space and time."

"So, that's why the plot is different from the original world line, and it's a completely new one?"

"Correct."

"Miohua?" Ikki's call pulled Luo Mio back to reality.

"Ah, what is it?"

"Nothing. It's you, you seem distracted. Are you really okay?"

Hearing Ikki's words, Shinguji Naru came to Luo Mio's side with a worried expression. "Really? Miohua-bro, if you feel unwell, tell little Naru."

Luo Mio shook his head, patted Shinguji Naru's head, and smiled, "Don't worry, I'm fine."

"Miohua?"

Another voice came from outside the door.

Touka pushed the door open, her chestnut eyes looking at Luo Mio from behind her large glasses.

"Sis," Luo Mio greeted her and asked, "Is the student council work finished?"

"No, because I was worried about Miohua, I pushed the work onto the rest of the student council," Touka said sheepishly.

Then Touka greeted Ikki, Stella, and Shinguji Naru in the room.

Touka sat beside Luo Mio and said with concern, "Miohua, is your body okay?"

"I'm fine. Besides, you can sense my body's condition with your abilities, sis, right?"

"Miohua-bro, it's Grandpa Tsukikage!"

Shinguji Naru, who had been playing with Luo Mio's student handbook, was flipping through the news. She then saw something, picked it up, and showed it to Luo Mio.

Luo Mio's eyes narrowed. "Naru, give me the student handbook."

After receiving the student handbook, Luo Mio synchronized the news within it to the screen projector in the medical bay.

In the news, Tsukikage Bakuga stood on the podium, addressing the major media outlets gathered below. "This year, we will change the selection system for the 'Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival'."

This simple statement, like a stone dropped into a lake, sent ripples across the water.

"!"

Luo Mio, watching from in front of the screen, narrowed his eyes. Touka and Ikki, standing beside him, did the same.

Tsukikage Bakuga continued, "In previous years, the 'Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival' selected a few outstanding students from each of the seven academies to represent them."

"But those representatives were always chosen through internal competition within their respective academies."

"However, this year, we will change the selection system."

"We will hold a selection battle where the seven academies will fight each other!"

"The truly outstanding representatives will be chosen from the seven academies to participate in this year's 'Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival'!"

Luo Mio stroked his chin, watching Tsukikage Bakuga's announcement on the screen.

"A free-for-all battle among the seven academies?"

"What's the big deal about this selection battle?"

Stella, on the side, was participating in the 'Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival' for the first time and didn't pay much attention to Tsukikage Bakuga's words. She asked.

Luo Mio replied to her, "This year's Sword Dance Festival selection battle will likely be the most difficult in the history of selection battles."

On the screen, Tsukikage Bakuga announced another shocking decision.

"This year, it's not just the seven academies, there's one more academy!"

"'National Akatsuki Academy'! It will replace the Seven Stars Academy as the strongest academy in our country! It will bear the future of this nation."

Tsukikage Bakuga declared loudly, his words astonishing.

"Furthermore, our academy will send six student representatives to compete in this year's selection battle and the 'Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival'!"