The next day.
Mako Hitachi and Yoshino Tomotake changed into casual clothes and arrived at the agreed meeting place early in the morning to welcome Setsuna.
"Mr. Alien, you brought so many people with you?"
At a glance, quite a few girls were accompanying Setsuna.
There were Shiro, Ariel, and Wakaba Hiiro, who were exploring another world for the first time, as well as the Astral Express crew, who planned to spend their vacation in Hoori Town.
Angels, Demon Lords, Emanators, and Valkyries were all present. Hoori Town had never hosted so many great figures in its entire history.
Mako felt immense pressure.
"Mm. After spending so long in worlds filled with constant fighting and killing, changing environments once in a while isn't bad."
Gudako looked around. Hoori was a standard rural Japanese village steeped in traditional Japanese style.
The Angeloids had thoughtfully cleared away all unnecessary outsiders in advance, leaving the streets quiet and peaceful.
"I thought it would be a private date between you and Lady Yoshino."
"Mm, bringing so many girls along with you... I suppose that's only to be expected of an imperial ruler? Like an emperor in ancient times?... Hey!—"
Mako secretly observed the people around Setsuna while quietly teasing Yoshino.
They looked completely different from simple country girls like them. Anyone could tell at a glance that each of them had plenty of stories.
"All right, let's just take a look around."
Setsuna smiled.
"Then shall I show you around first?"
Mako walked in front and took on the role of a temporary tour guide.
She led everyone along Hoori Town's streets, earnestly introducing the local scenery.
Although it was merely a small town, the girl remained very proud of her hometown.
"This is Tatehaya Academy. It was originally built as a kendo dojo, but after falling into disuse, the interior was renovated and converted into a school."
"Because there are so few people here, each grade only has one class. There are probably only around a hundred students in the entire school. Anyone who wants to attend university has to study in a big city."
"That courtyard over there is the Shinatose Inn, a traditional inn that receives tourists. Room 307... Mm, but since there has been a war outside lately, the number of tourists has fallen considerably..."
"This is the Mizuha Clinic, Hoori's only medical clinic. Doctor Mizuha lives here, and documents concerning Hoori Town's history and the monster curse are also preserved here."
"Oh..."
The scale of Hoori Town could be seen from its infrastructure alone.
Nearly all the local residents knew one another. Quite a few people approached to greet Mako before also paying their respects to the princess of the Tomotake family.
"Mizuha Komakawa? I remember that she was also Yoshino Tomotake's attending physician."
Setsuna suddenly recalled the beautiful female doctor from the original plot who had been responsible for researching the cursed gods.
"Yes. The Komakawa family has practiced medicine for generations and, like the Hitachi family, has served the Tomotake family since long ago."
"Lady Yoshino was previously in poor health and required regular treatment from Doctor Mizuha. Mm, perhaps we should find time to tell her the good news?"
Mako appeared delighted. Not only had the cursed gods been eliminated, but after receiving a small measure of Setsuna's power, Yoshino's health was now even better than hers.
"Certainly. Find some time to recruit her as well and send her to the Medical Department for advanced training."
Setsuna beckoned to the Angeloids, and Nymph immediately accepted the order.
"Huh?"
Mizuha Komakawa had originally been reading through some documents when she suddenly received an appointment letter from the Starsea Empire, leaving her completely baffled.
"They're arranging for me to undergo advanced training? Am I going to Tokyo?"
"No. The Medical Department is a subordinate institution of the Life Sciences Department. It is managed by Dr. Ruan Mei and Dr. Mobius, and its headquarters are located at the Lunar Research Center."
"What?! The Moon?!"
"..."
After strolling around Hoori for a while, Mako led everyone to a traditional Japanese confectionery shop.
"This is Tashinoya, a traditional confectionery shop run by the Maniwa family. Their desserts are delicious."
"Oh? Mako? Are these new customers?..."
A red-haired girl wearing traditional work clothes and an apron stepped forward to greet everyone.
She was slightly older than Mako and Yoshino. Her hair hung loose, and she possessed a beautiful face and an elegant, intellectual air.
Beside her stood a little girl with pink hair tied into twin tails. She also wore an apron and was helping out in the confectionery shop.
"Oh, Roka Maniwa and Koharu Kurama."
Setsuna greeted the two of them.
Two romanceable heroines from Senren Banka. He knew them well.
"Huh? You know me?"
Roka and Koharu were startled.
"Are you tourists visiting Hoori Town? Or are you?..."
"This is the commander of the Starsea Empire."
"What?!"
With a single sentence from Mako, the menus in their hands nearly slipped to the floor.
"You mean the S-Starsea Empire that conquered the world..."
"Calm down. I only came here to look around."
Setsuna conjured a magical ripple that immediately calmed them.
"Hiss—"
Roka and Koharu suddenly felt the burden on their shoulders grow heavier. Tashinoya had never welcomed guests of such importance.
"Then may I ask what you would like..."
"You choose."
Setsuna handed the menu to Shiro and the others.
He casually looked around Tashinoya. It was a typical family-run shop that Roka Maniwa's father had passed down to her.
Its main customers were Hoori Town's residents and tourists from elsewhere.
"We recently developed several new flavors of crystal shaved ice. Would you care to try them?..."
Roka and Koharu worked in the kitchen for quite some time before serving everyone beautifully presented desserts.
"Master, feed me!"
Murasame's eyes lit up at the sight, and she immediately pestered Setsuna to feed her again.
"How am I supposed to feed you this?"
"Think of something... Master?"
The little blade clung to his arm and acted spoiled.
"Tsk."
After thinking for a moment, Setsuna pinched a little shaved ice and cream between his fingers.
"Mmm!"
Murasame immediately hugged his hand and began sucking on his fingers.
"Mm... slurp, slurp... smooch!"
"Phew—More, more! I want more!"
She licked every last bit completely clean.
Her movements sent the others' imaginations running wild, yet the little blade herself remained completely unaware.
"..."
Lady Murasame, could you please stop being so lewd...
Mako wanted to remind her but did not dare speak.
"How has business been lately?"
Setsuna casually asked while continuing to feed the little blade.
"Mm..."
Roka considered the question for a moment.
"It's been all right, but because there was a war outside some time ago, far fewer tourists have been visiting Hoori Town, so we've also had fewer customers..."
"And we don't know what the future will be like..."
Roka knew from the television news that the Starsea Empire had already taken control of the world.
However, Hoori was too far removed from civilized society. Residents of tiny rural villages like them knew little about international affairs.
The future left them feeling uncertain and confused.
"Mm..."
Setsuna tasted one of the desserts.
"It tastes good."
"Thank you for the compliment!"
Roka hurriedly thanked him, afraid that she might have done something wrong and upset these extraordinary guests.
"Tashinoya has been acquired. Since you and Koharu enjoy making desserts, come to the Starsea Empire in the future."
"Food and accommodation will be provided, and you will receive the standard benefits of a Starsea Empire citizen."
Setsuna spoke concisely.
"Oh... Whaaaaaaaaat?! Wait a minute!!!"
Roka and Koharu were so startled that they staggered again.
"W-What are you saying?! You want to acquire Tashinoya? Is... Is this the kind of corporate acquisition I'm thinking of? Like a large company swallowing a small company?"
"No. The shop is merely included. The two of you are the main objective."
Setsuna pointed at her and Koharu.
"Staying in Hoori would be a waste of your talents. Come with me to the Starsea Empire, the suzerain state of this Earth's civilization."
"What?!"
Roka was not the only one dumbfounded. Mako had also failed to recover.
She felt that Setsuna had some extremely clear objective in inviting certain natives of Hoori Town to accompany him to the Starsea Empire.
However, she could not discern his standards. Yoshino was the princess of the Tomotake family, so that made sense. She herself was merely Yoshino's ninja bodyguard and would naturally accompany her.
While touring the town earlier, Setsuna had not even glanced at any of the other important local figures. Instead, he had come directly to Roka's shop.
"Uh..."
Only after Murasame explained the situation did Roka finally manage to understand.
"Go to another world?..."
"Mm, but I only want to live a peaceful life, continue learning confectionery from my father, and manage Tashinoya properly..."
"P-Please give me some time to think..."
She was at a loss.
Roka and Koharu had always lived ordinary rural lives. Being suddenly dragged before an interstellar civilization left them overwhelmed.
They could not accept it psychologically all at once, yet they were also afraid to refuse and cause trouble.
"You want to study confectionery properly so you can inherit the family business?..."
Setsuna snapped his fingers.
"That wish is easy to fulfill. Come to the Starsea Empire for advanced training. We have professional chefs who can teach you."
He used different recruitment methods for people with different needs and desires.
"Huh?"
Roka blinked.
"You mean you want me to attend a culinary school in a big city?..."
"No. It's far better than that."
He waved his hand, and a holographic interface opened.
A golden-haired girl with her hair tied into a ponytail appeared on the screen, dressed in a chef's uniform.
Beside her was a little purple-haired girl who appeared to be operating something at a stove.
"Commander? Is something the matter?..."
Erina looked somewhat surprised.
"Come here and bring Momo Akanegakubo with you. Teach Roka and Koharu how to make desserts and let them witness the truth of culinary arts."
"I'm leaving the task of recruiting them to you."
"Oh?"
Erina rarely encountered missions that required her personal involvement, so she was somewhat curious.
After looking around Tashinoya's interior and then examining Roka and Koharu, she immediately understood most of the situation.
"Local confectioners? Come, would you be interested in holding a Food War?"