(L) Kimi to Boku no Saigo no Senjou, Aruiwa Sekai ga Hajimaru Seisen

[Endscape]

Volume 9 sounds pretty interesting.

Spoiler for new volume:

Do Iska and the rest find out about the Emperor having a star spirit, or him being immortal, or any of that?

[Y Ddraig Goch]

Thank you for your summary! Really appreciate it! If possible, can you provide a summary for that blind date chapter? I'm curious to know what Alice did and how she reacted to her blind dates

[manifla]

Originally Posted by Endscape

Volume 9 sounds pretty interesting.

Spoiler for new volume:

Do Iska and the rest find out about the Emperor having a star spirit, or him being immortal, or any of that?

Emperor doesn't explain much at all, it's an invitation in the midst of general disbelief.

Spoiler for Shocking:

Jhin cannot believe Risya's bad joke about this rare beast, it's just too much.
Iska never met the Emperor before in person - and cannot believe that he swore to defend this being as a Saint Apostle. His country has inhuman experiments being carried out. He's almost certain that the Grand Apostles are behind this. Everything he believed about his country is being confirmed in bad ways or changed in bizarre confusing ways.
Mismis is very muddled about this - but she believes in Risya because Risya wasn't angry or disappointed with Unit 907 and was full of confidence. She believes that her friend or the Emperor won't have them all executed or imprisoned.
Nene is really worried about her family in the Imperial Capital, and would vouch for escaping to a neutral city and sitting everything out if it wasn't for that.
Rin is trying to escape her binds, and is calling the Emperor "KISAMA!" when he pets her head. This makes him want to play with her, and he takes her back.

Iska gets the feeling / sense that the Emperor is very much like Nebulis who he met and fought in volume 1.
Sisbell although frightened believes that he is the Emperor.
Because although it's not confirmed, this kind of human experimentation in the Empire could be used to find the way to create more people like the Emperor - or undo what was done to him and make him human again. Someone very very powerful has a vested interest in what happened before. Elsa's Coffin had star spirit technology that is superior, and in some cases that couldn't be completed in the Nebulis Sovereignty.
And besides, why was the Empire, out of all the places in the world, where the underground star spirits were found? What if what happened 100 years ago was kickstarted by the Emperor being there at ground zero?

[manifla]

Originally Posted by Y Ddraig Goch

Thank you for your summary! Really appreciate it! If possible, can you provide a summary for that blind date chapter? I'm curious to know what Alice did and how she reacted to her blind dates

It's a "short" story published in Dragon Magazine. According to the author's note in 9, a lot of them will be put together in a compilation book this spring or summer.
Featuring Blind Dates!
Mismis and Basic Combat Training!
Alice being killed with paperwork!
Budget misallocation from Unit 907 and part time work in a Art Museum!
Drunkards!
Mismis deciding to make a patriotic documentary on the daily life in the Imperial Army! People getting ideas!
And much much more.

Spoiler for Blind Date with Alice:

Captain Mismis comes up to Iska in a huge panic. According to a newspaper published in neutral countries, one of the Heirs to the Nebulis Royal Hall has been seen with a lover! Iska casually talks about the next article which is about a kitten born in a cafe near a capital, but Mismis won't be deterred.
It's a picture of Alice from behind, walking with a black haired teen. Mismis thinks "this could be Iska!" and is tearfully asking him if he's betrayed the nation, while Iska is casually denying it and saying that there's no way, and it has nothing to do with him (although he is kinda on edge because it is a picture of him without identifying marks)
A few days ago, Alice was trying to hide in her own room and ordering Rin to tell the Queen that she's feeling ill, but the Queen isn't buying it. Elletear is touring the country for morale, Sisbell isn't leaving her room (trust and conspiracy issues), and only Alice is up for the duty of not just a Blind Date to increase the national power of Nebulis, but also to find a lover since the Queen doesn't believe in young maidens not having time for their SO (her own issues nonwithstanding)
And the amount of suitors has increased because of a picture published (with the support of the cabinet) from when Alice was wearing an adult swimsuit, she is not happy to find this out. She doesn't want an artificial forced meeting, she wants a fateful encounter!
So Alice's plan, is to tell Rin that she doesn't have to worry about attending the meeting. Alice will handle everything, Rin can go and relax for a while. Rin is overjoyed to know that Alice still cares a lot for her and isn't going to dump all kinds of unreasonable request on her all the time!
The first suitor arrives in the meeting room - and is knocked out from ice block dropping on his head.
"Disqualification. Only someone with the minimum level of strength may be my lover!"
Rin is part horrified part tsukkomi. Cue medical room. "Don't attack the next one! PLEASE!"
"...."
"Your answer?!" "...yes"
Next suitor is a body builder politician, a strong man. There are greetings! Small talk! Alice asking him if he could block the bullets from an Imperial Army Rifle! Being tested by more ice blocks! (He couldn't dodge them all). Sophistry about how Alice needed to see if he could back up his talk about protecting her. Rin losing her mind over cringe. Middle aged man complimenting a swimsuit and getting KO'd
Alice decides that she will not go on any more Blind Dates! She rushes to the Queen and makes her case that such an old fashioned system is not suited to her, when she wants to find someone of her own choice - which the Queen agrees to. It's a product of a century ago, when money and power was required to get people to marry the beings of fear that Star Spirit users were at the time.
So sure, no more blind dates! But in exchange, Alice has to bring someone she has Chosen to the Queen. She got played by a master politician.
So she has to bring "someone"
Alice's two conditions to fulfill:
-Must be strong willed and brave enough to be able to disagree with Alice if she is incorrect
"...I don't think there are more than 100 people in the world capable of such a thing"
-Must be very strong. Strong enough to make me fight seriously
"I don't think there are more than 10!?"
-Also, same interests
"That's three conditions!!!"
-Be considerate. Broad minded to the star spirit user
"Isn't this too demanding!?"
-...like Iska
Her plan is set. After a lot of self denial and blushing, Alice brings the photo over to the Queen in an attempt to fool her mother.
"The identity is too important (noble!) to reveal to the public, he can completely defeat Rin and fight me, we've eaten out together, seen opera together, and I've been held by him in his arms!"
The Queen is absolutely gobsmacked. She didn't think Alice was climbing the ladder to adulthood this quick! Alice's momentum is too strong and passionate, the Queen is convinced.
She calls in a minister of the interior to start building the wedding venue and let the world know about Alice's lover - which leads to Alice losing it.

A couple of days after the initial report about lovers, it's retracted for being mistaken. Alice is back on blind date duty, and Iska carries on with his day.

[manifla]

Volume 3 ENG was released by Yenpress!
https://yenpress.com/9781975305758/o...3-light-novel/

In light of this, I want to predict what’s going to go down in volume 10, since the author’s note in 9 noted that 10 would be more Alice’s side of the story (9 was 907’s story for the most part)

Spoiler for Things not getting better:

A quick refresher on where Captain Mismis has been sighted over the story
-Was kicked into the Star Fountain by Mask Om in 2, and seen after capture earlier by Zoa soldiers + Captain Imperial Traitor. And Alice and Rin who were in the base camp at the time.
-Was seen by Star Spirit Guards during the Prison Riot in 3 (super hair raising escape)
-Was seen with Sisbell by Mask Om and his posse in 4
-Met Lou family maids in 6
One thing I forgot to mention about volume 8 is that Captain Imperial Traitor was given the job of surveillance over the Hydra facility where Sisbell was thought to be held. She wasn’t able to get close when the place got trashed by Salinger (yes, not Sallinga), but she did see Captain Mismis up close during 907’s escape. Was not able to catch her or alert the crowd due to the absolute chaos, even yelling “SHE’S IMPERIAL! CATCH HER!” got zero effect.
And in 9, Mismis was in a hotel with the Lou family maids from 6 along with the rest of 907.
Now, a few facts that I haven’t touched on in the summaries (they really are too short and don’t do the story justice)
-Elletear is the one who told Mask Om that her sisters (Alice and Sisbell) were colluding with the Imperial Army during volume 4
-The Zoa family fully intends to “purify” the Lou and Hydra family. The bad blood with the Lou dates back 50 years.
-The Zoa family does have a hidden Star Spirit user who can control beasts. One secret special “Star Beast” can track specific Star Spirit users much like a police dog would, so long as they properly grasp the trace. This is how they discovered Subject V’s trace during 5 and when she was arrested were able to suspect the Hydra Family (although they kept their mouths shut in anticipation of the right time to accuse, not expecting the Imperial Army’s attack)
-Sisbell was expected to appear for public questioning under “heresy” charges due to Mask’s testimony of 4, which is why all the hiding in 5.
-After the assassination attempt in 5 on the queen and Elletear, Elletear was suspected by the Zoa as being also some sort of traitor. However, her “sacrifice” in 7 was completely unexpected, and might have been sufficient to make Mask Om reconsider what he thought about her. That perhaps she didn’t provide his voice when Subject V tried to blow up the Queen in 5?
-In 9, Rin is not beside Alice. There is a dupe Rin (without the skills) next to her who isn’t saying anything (can’t give away the game) but Alice is terrible at subterfuge, this is guaranteed to be found out.
What does this all mean together to Mask?
Elletear’s info about Sisbell was “correct.” What if Alice is also a traitor?
In 2, the Zoa family was completely defeated – lost their base, lost captured agents, Kissing was defeated, they got nothing out of the Fountain. And unlike the manga, Alice was there. Was conspicuously absent during 907’s mad attack on the base (she was actually looking for Iska and completely missed him until the very end), and Mismis almost named Alice on sight in front of Mask (although Rin knocked her out).
In 3, he knows for a fact that Alice “defeated” Salinger and put him in prison – except that the prison guards got duped. And that the Imperial Army attacked the prison and none of them were captured.
In 6, Alice and Sisbell were far away from the Royal Palace during the attack, which should be odd since the timing for the Imperial Army is so very convenient. And in 7, Alice doesn’t defeat a single Imperial Soldier or Apostle, doesn’t protect the Queen or Elletear, rescues nobody, and Sisbell disappears under unclear circumstances.
In 8, Alice is not furious beyond imagination, calling for Imperial blood (which should be strange). Salinger appears in the same area as Mismis. Is this a pattern of a conspiracy?
It could be enough to trigger a review of all the areas where Alice has been at ground zero for. If any of the guards recognize Mismis’s description at the prison break, it could be strongly indicative that the Imperial Army is working with Salinger, the criminal who “escaped” Alice, though we know that Mismis was there searching for Iska who had been kidnapped from a neutral city.
And if the Star Spirit beast was able to track Mismis (who Mask knows is a Star Spirit user) to the hotel, it could be linked to the Lou family maids, as well as Rin.
Depending on what’s going to happen, Alice could find herself in a very unfriendly spotlight during the Queen election period, at a time when she is making her own resolutions to protect her sister and mother, even if it means taking a long detour to becoming the Queen, even if it means damaging the prestige of the Lou Family. When she and her mother are still under the mindset that everything can be okay so long as they are in power. When Elletear's plan is to have the entire system of royalty collapse.
And who knows what Ancestor Nebulis will have to say about all of this.

[Endscape]

Spoiler for spoiler:

Yeah, after Volume 9, the Zou definitely have the advantage, especially since the absolute trump card Nebulis will likely be on their side. I'm looking forward to seeing how Talisman will lose his shit since Sisbell escaped. If I were him, I'd run the hell away the moment I got that info.

Even putting aside all the stuff with Mismis,(wonderful job putting that together, BTW), the Lou family are in dire straights. I'm honestly thinking we're going to get a development where Alice and Iska will end up leaving their countries even if temporarily, since things are getting toowarm for them. IIRC, didn't the author mention some mercernary group recently? They might go there.

[manifla]

A few things I might have missed -

Spoiler for Uh oh:

- There is one final lock left on Nebulis's seal. Alice had a big noble meeting in 9 where Mask brings it up the proposal to unseal Nebulis for the usual reasons (destroy the Empire) where Alice again refuses as the final word of the Lou family, and shows the key as on her person and not on the Queen - her way of saying "you want the key, get ready to fight for it seriously"
- Mask cheerfully says that it's a wise choice from the Queen, and withdraws his proposal which leaves Alice feeling extremely unsettled. It's basically screaming "the key is going to be stolen / swapped by Mask or Kissing's space shenanigans, or with the help of a disgruntled Lou member since Rin isn't actually around with her alertness"
- In the same meeting, a proposal was made about border entry for everyone. It used to be that anyone with a Star Spirit could come in whenever - just show the mark although members of royalty had some extra privileges. That policy is revoked, everyone must go through identity verification and data collection when they get into the Sovereignty, thanks to how the Imperial Army was able to get in with the temporary star spirit patches
- The mercenary organization is one that the Lou family was considering to use to raid the Hydra facility in 8 - and the one I suspect the 8 Grand Apostles are going to commission to erase Iska since they will say nothing about their employers if paid enough.
- The opening prologue of 7 is the first full view of good old Emperor, and he fully expects that the Great Witch Nebulis will be woken up in the future (would be nice otherwise, but what the hell, it is what it is)

This might be my conceit as a pro-Imperial, but

Spoiler for Prison birds ahoy!:

I believe Iska will be in the Empire for a while. The last section of chapter 1, volume 9 states that Rin and Iska will be in the Empire for far longer than a week.
Iska will have to sorta get along with his former Apostle coworkers as the Emperor starts making his own moves / house cleaning for a not bad future, while the 907 is stuck trying to not let the honest Iska get himself killed through dirty means.
Look forward to a sorta alliance with Salinger since "Gregory's Secret" is now in the hands of the Emperor thanks to his capture of Rin, and what Salinger was looking in 8 (inside the info 907 snatched). Prison Birds unite!
I am absolutely uncertain about what's going to happen with Talisman and Hydra - but I wouldn't count out another brutal coup d'eat. This time openly, with the help of artificial star spirit weapons created by Keurina for mass production. The 8 Grand Apostles don't want to deal with a counter-attack from the Nebulis Royal Sovereignty right now, don't want Nebulis to wake up and want to focus on analyzing Gouda's star spirit and advancing research on the unification of man and star spirit, get rid of Iska and recapture Sisbell.
I hope Alice and Iska aren't separated for too long, but we'll see. Even if I'm on Team Sisbell (who has zero chances)

[Endscape]

Spoiler for spoiler:

Iska might stay in the Empire for a while, but I think he'll eventually leave. His dream is completely impossible to achieve as an Imperial soldier, unless the Emperor turns out to not want to genocide the Soverignity like the Eight Apostles do. Alice is the same, her dream of wanting to create a world where astral mages aren't discriminated against won't happen when the most famous astral mage in the world is perfectly willing to burn down unrelated neutral cities to achieve her goal.

Yeah. you're right Talisman is way more likely to start a coup rather than run away. Mask might even take advantage to steal the key from Alice. An alliance with Sallinger is pretty plausible too.

I kinda got more Jhin/Sisbell vibes in Volume 9, what was your take on that?

[manifla]

Spoiler for spoiler:

Again my pro-imperial conceit, but I believe that the Emperor, at worst, is being kinda usurped by the Eight Grand Apostles (for whatever reason), and although callous and willing to see people get hurt and killed for his goal, wants the war put to an end without killing off everyone.
IMO, he is the "Creator" side to the "Destroyer" side that is Nebulis, his powers the reason why the Empire is so prosperous and plentiful that people give up social struggles and not care much about social divide or who's on top. Also why he is stuck in the tower 99% of the time.

But I agree that Iska cannot change the minds of the high powers or public in the Empire, and Alice cannot change the minds of genocidal Zoa or whatever the Hydra think, she can't even change the mind of the Loa when it comes to not being flippant about the value of ordinary people.

The Empire has become too monolithic for its own good, and the Sovereignty isn't fixing their own disregard for life that doesn't have large big Star Spirits or their blind hatred, unable to stop the constant growth of renegades and criminals with great power and rulers who are tyrants at best.

Personally, I think things can only change with massive social unrest and final disappointment in how the governments are full of schemers, hypocrites, traitors and liars, being fed up with these idiots, but we'll see.

Jhin / Sisbell had some good moments I feel! If nothing else, Sisbell is kinda becoming more and more one of their comrades rather than their employer. Willing to sacrifice herself and not have them caught up in the disintegration beam was a nice moment.

[bakato]

Originally Posted by manifla

Spoiler for spoiler:

Again my pro-imperial conceit, but I believe that the Emperor, at worst, is being kinda usurped by the Eight Grand Apostles (for whatever reason), and although callous and willing to see people get hurt and killed for his goal, wants the war put to an end without killing off everyone.
IMO, he is the "Creator" side to the "Destroyer" side that is Nebulis, his powers the reason why the Empire is so prosperous and plentiful that people give up social struggles and not care much about social divide or who's on top. Also why he is stuck in the tower 99% of the time.

But I agree that Iska cannot change the minds of the high powers or public in the Empire, and Alice cannot change the minds of genocidal Zoa or whatever the Hydra think, she can't even change the mind of the Loa when it comes to not being flippant about the value of ordinary people.

The Empire has become too monolithic for its own good, and the Sovereignty isn't fixing their own disregard for life that doesn't have large big Star Spirits or their blind hatred, unable to stop the constant growth of renegades and criminals with great power and rulers who are tyrants at best.

Personally, I think things can only change with massive social unrest and final disappointment in how the governments are full of schemers, hypocrites, traitors and liars, being fed up with these idiots, but we'll see.

Jhin / Sisbell had some good moments I feel! If nothing else, Sisbell is kinda becoming more and more one of their comrades rather than their employer. Willing to sacrifice herself and not have them caught up in the disintegration beam was a nice moment.

Two super-powered adolescent teens flirting around couldn't stop a century-old conflict after 9 volumes? Shocker.

[Kazandu]

any news on vol. 10?

[manifla]

According to https://fantasiabunko.jp/ Secret File will be released on the 17th of July. I suppose that the afterword will say reveal when volume 10 is due.

Reading up on rest of Sazane Kei's novels, I have to say this is one author who loves to reuse names, concepts and locations all over the place. I wanna go on a long essay one of these days about that.

At the very least, World Enemy has a color illustration of a character with the same name, appearance and (very similar) characterization as the Emperor, even has similar (ridiculous) hearing ability from afar.

On a minor note:

Spoiler for Iska's name (I haven't seen a surname yet):

Iska's name (イスカ) is the subject of conversation during the events of volume 9.
To explain a bit, look at this page: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82...82%B9%E3%82%AB
Yes, his name is related to the Crossbill bird. Mad scientist even says so, also mentioning that his swords are uneven lengths just like the bird's bill.
In a real oddity, she talks about the legends of the crossbill that removed the nails from the Saint and blocked the arrows from the devil. Which is an allusion to a IRL poem for a Crossbill bird, as sampled below:

Spoiler for Odd:

The Legend Of The Crossbill. (From The German Of Julius Mosen)
On the cross the dying Saviour
Heavenward lifts his eyelids calm,
Feels, but scarcely feels, a trembling
In his pierced and bleeding palm.

And by all the world forsaken,
Sees he how with zealous care
At the ruthless nail of iron
A little bird is striving there.

Stained with blood and never tiring,
With its beak it doth not cease,
From the cross 't would free the Saviour,
Its Creator's Son release.

And the Saviour speaks in mildness:
"Blest be thou of all the good!
Bear, as token of this moment,
Marks of blood and holy rood!"

And that bird is called the crossbill;
Covered all with blood so clear,
In the groves of pine it singeth
Songs, like legends, strange to hear.

Perhaps just a red herring, but with this the possible futures that this series is set in only increases. And it was already linked to a lot of Sazane Kei's other series!

[haseo0408]

My dear gods, from what I learned in the spoiler everybody in the Empire and the Soverenity is ready to stab each other in the back at any moment!. No wonder the war is still going strong after 100 years, everybody in power is either batshit crazy or insanely selfish!.

[bakato]

Originally Posted by haseo0408

My dear gods, from what I learned in the spoiler everybody in the Empire and the Soverenity is ready to stab each other in the back at any moment!. No wonder the war is still going strong after 100 years, everybody in power is either batshit crazy or insanely selfish!.

Isn't that par for the course for this kind of premise?

[haseo0408]

Originally Posted by bakato

Isn't that par for the course for this kind of premise?

Yeah I guess but I didn't this level of selfishness and insanity is just incredible, it's lot that Alice can only trust Iska, Rin and that's about it, all the others have their own agenda or just plain crazy.

[bakato]

Originally Posted by haseo0408

Yeah I guess but I didn't this level of selfishness and insanity is just incredible, it's lot that Alice can only trust Iska, Rin and that's about it, all the others have their own agenda or just plain crazy.

Selfishness and insanity? For two sovereign nations to be fighting a bloody war for a hundred years out of mere grudges and hatred? That's insanity. It's like this with every major conflict. Leaders try to pretty it up with honor, patriotism, and an us-vs-them mentality but it all comes down to personal desires of power and greed by the select few.

[manifla]

I can confirm that the new material in Secret File is a story about Iska and Alice's childhood meeting, and a short story that could tie into current events.
Queen Mirabell's (Mirabea????) past design has changed from the manga as well and for the worst. Which is a shame to me, because the manga artwork isn't kind to Nene or Sisbell or Risya, but enough about that.

The novel will be released next week, I'll do my best for a summary and find out if there's any timeline for volume 10

Originally Posted by bakato

Selfishness and insanity? For two sovereign nations to be fighting a bloody war for a hundred years out of mere grudges and hatred? That's insanity. It's like this with every major conflict. Leaders try to pretty it up with honor, patriotism, and an us-vs-them mentality but it all comes down to personal desires of power and greed by the select few.

I agree. Ancestor Nebulis's power, the strength from throwing away their self as a person is an enormous draw to anyone even a bit selfish, regardless of their intentions or sense of morality. Even just being the victor in the political struggles against countrymen has no shortage of booty and position.

But at the same time, there are quite a few true believers in the ranks of the powerful. Anyone who doesn't meet their (insane) standards is more of an enemy than a ally, and their convictions in the righteousness of their cause is carte blanche to do whatever they want with a clean conscience.

The final word is that hatred is doing nobody any favors - but cynicism is just as much to blame for the war living on.

[bakato]

Originally Posted by manifla

I agree. Ancestor Nebulis's power, the strength from throwing away their self as a person is an enormous draw to anyone even a bit selfish, regardless of their intentions or sense of morality. Even just being the victor in the political struggles against countrymen has no shortage of booty and position.

But at the same time, there are quite a few true believers in the ranks of the powerful. Anyone who doesn't meet their (insane) standards is more of an enemy than a ally, and their convictions in the righteousness of their cause is carte blanche to do whatever they want with a clean conscience.

The final word is that hatred is doing nobody any favors - but cynicism is just as much to blame for the war living on.

Agreed. There are bound to some misguided devotees to the cause as well as those pursuing self-interest.

[haseo0408]

Originally Posted by bakato

Selfishness and insanity? For two sovereign nations to be fighting a bloody war for a hundred years out of mere grudges and hatred? That's insanity. It's like this with every major conflict. Leaders try to pretty it up with honor, patriotism, and an us-vs-them mentality but it all comes down to personal desires of power and greed by the select few.

That's why I called it insane, at the of the day hatred and discrimination are just the tools the leaders are using to fullfil their own agenda without a single for the hell they're feeding.

[bakato]

Originally Posted by haseo0408

That's why I called it insane, at the of the day hatred and discrimination are just the tools the leaders are using to fullfil their own agenda without a single for the hell they're feeding.

Hardly. That's rationality. How can we reasonably expect those in power not to pursue some selfish interest? At the end of the day, these leaders are just individuals with their own desires.