An Offer of Respect
Jung Hwa-ryun inclined her head with perfect composure.
“Very well. I accept the Chief of Staff’s proposal.”
“A wise decision. I promise you won’t regret it.”
“May I ask one question, sir?”
“Go on.”
“Why did you give me a choice at all? After graduation, you could simply have assigned me to the Epsilon Legion according to your own wishes.”
“It’s simple. I chose to show you respect.”
“...The Chief of Staff of the Empire’s strongest legion is showing respect to a mere cadet?”
“One of the reasons the Epsilon Legion became the strongest is the Legion Commander’s policy.”
“...What do you mean by that?”
“The Empire fields many legions. The supreme military authority is His Majesty the Emperor, yet His Majesty does not issue orders at every turn. Each legion operates at its commander’s discretion. Only when the Empire faces a grave crisis or the flames of war rise do they unite to protect His Majesty. For the sake of efficiency, legion commanders manage their own forces during peacetime. Personnel are replenished in the ordinary way, but… separate institutions exist to cultivate talent for each legion. The Epsilon Legion’s commander never forces assignments or commissions merely because someone is a soldier. Common enlisted men may be different, but for officers or capable individuals like yourself, he always offers suitable conditions before bringing them in. It consumes a considerable budget, yet that is precisely why our Epsilon Legion stands as the Empire’s strongest. Moreover, our legion adheres strictly to merit and performance. There are legions that operate on the exact opposite principle. After all, it is entirely up to the commander’s discretion. But loyalty toward His Majesty never wavers.”
“I understand.”
It feels like the military system of Qin Shi Huang’s era combined with the Tang Dynasty.
Hwa-ryun recalled how, in the time of Qin Shi Huang, anyone with ability could enlist and rise through achievements, and how the Tang Dynasty had selected people purely on talent regardless of race. She realized she, too, could now step into the heart of the military.
A new question occurred to her, and she turned to Arpa once more.
“Lord Arpa… if it is not impertinent, may I ask? Are you of the human race?”
“...Ho. What makes you think so?”
“To speak frankly… I researched the Empire’s history. The Empire does open its doors to countless species, yet discrimination still exists. Especially toward us humans. While not the majority, there are certainly races that look down on humans as inferior. I learned this firsthand at the military academy. Nevertheless, for you to have risen to Vice Commander of the Epsilon Legion… it means your strength and record are exceptional. You do not give off the feeling of an extraterrestrial species, and given that you belong to a merit-based legion, I wondered if that might be the case.”
“...Jung Hwa-ryun, your insight is truly impressive. You are correct. I am of the human race. However… I am not entirely human.”
“.....What do you mean, sir?”
“I underwent genetic enhancement surgery.”
“...What exactly is genetic enhancement surgery?”
“Exactly what the name implies—reinforcement of one’s genes. As you know, the Empire’s biotechnology is likely the finest in the universe. Having accepted so many species, the Empire’s most advanced field is biotechnology. Using the genes and DNA of countless races and planetary inhabitants as a foundation, the Empire has revolutionized medicine, physical modification, regeneration, and bodily reinforcement. Among those enhanced-human technologies, genetic enhancement surgery has produced the most dramatic results.”
Arpa took a slow sip of tea before continuing.
“The procedure synthesizes carefully selected genes from various species, allowing the body to manifest only their strongest traits. For example, it can grant a human the muscle power of a dwarf, the heightened senses of smell or hearing found in animals, or alter human genes to increase skin elasticity far beyond natural limits. It is literally a surgery that transforms and strengthens one’s genetic code. Nearly every enhanced human in the Empire receives it. I am no exception.”
“I have seen references in the data… Would it be possible for me to receive it as well?”
“It is possible. Just not at present.”
“Why is that?”
“It’s expensive.”
“...Pardon?”
“It’s a budgetary issue. The Empire provides support for enhanced humans, but only after one has accumulated significant achievements and formally requests the procedure. The cost of this surgery exceeds imagination. Of course, its value matches the price.”
“....I see.”
“For reference, I was originally a commoner. To be precise, my ancestors were even lower. My family line traces back to a slave from Earth.”
“...Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
“The Empire contains many species, but not all of them joined voluntarily. The same is true for humans. Some races were brought here through wars of conquest. That is why discrimination lingers. Still, even among the same species there are those who surrendered willingly, so the situation is rather complicated… I reviewed your file. You are from Earth, correct?”
“Y-yes, that is correct.”
“So am I. Though my ancestor was taken during a war of invasion two hundred years ago… Haha. Still, enough time has passed that we simply accept it and move on.”
“.....”
Learning that even the game incorporated regional connections, Hwa-ryun found herself wondering which developer had added such details. It certainly could not have been the thorough meritocrat Na Yu-ran.
“Tomorrow, once the graduation ceremony ends, we will travel together aboard the legion’s vessel. Your official duties and rank will be finalized then, so we can discuss the details tomorrow.”
“Understood. I look forward to serving you well, Lord Arpa.”
Having chosen her path, Hwa-ryun left the dean’s office, returned to her dormitory, packed her belongings, and fell asleep—thinking of the future that now lay before her.
The graduation ceremony concluded swiftly. Hwa-ryun exchanged farewells with her fellow NPC graduates. Watching the diverse crowd—humans and non-human alien species alike—she felt a renewed sense of wonder at her own position.
“Everyone, well done!”
“I don’t know where we’ll be posted, but since it will be somewhere in the Empire, let’s meet again someday.”
“Don’t get yourselves killed.”
“Thank you all for your hard work. Let us meet again one day.”
A winged Lisha, a horned man with crimson skin who resembled a demon, a massive bull-headed humanoid who spoke like any human, and a four-armed woman—officer cadets of every race said their goodbyes, and the ceremony ended on a high note.
Because they all remained within the same Empire, the thought that they would surely cross paths again kept tears to a minimum.
“It was a pleasure serving alongside you, Lisha.”
“Same here. I heard you were assigned to the Epsilon Legion? Congratulations! I’ll work hard and make sure I get in there someday too!”
“I look forward to the day we meet again. Please stay alive.”
“Yeah! You stay alive too, Hwa-ryun! I should get going. See you again someday!”
After parting with Lisha—the classmate she had grown closest to—Hwa-ryun offered her final respects to Dean Minerva, who had been waiting.
“Thank you for everything, Dean.”
“I should be the one thanking you. You shattered the theoretical score record, which allowed me to keep my dignity as dean of Ark Military Academy and produce better results than any rival school. Live well out there and devote yourself to His Majesty.”
“I will. Please take care of your health as well, Dean.”
With farewells complete, Hwa-ryun made her way to the spaceport to board Arpa’s vessel. The sight of it left her momentarily stunned. Though it was only a Media-class medium transport—modest for someone of his rank—the interior facilities were incomparably superior to anything at the military academy.
…I’m truly playing an SF game. Or rather, a fusion genre.
After completing boarding procedures, she followed the message Arpa had sent and proceeded to the captain’s quarters. Their conversation began the moment she arrived.
“Welcome aboard. First, take this.”
“This is…?”
“Haha. Put it on.”
She accepted the wristband-like device and fastened it. Immediately, a message appeared in her system window.
“?! Are you truly permitted to give me an item of this caliber?”
“Of course. From this moment forward, you hold the rank of Lieutenant. I look forward to working with you, Lieutenant Jung Hwa-ryun.”
“...I am grateful for such generous treatment.”
After saluting Arpa, Hwa-ryun checked her status window. Seeing that she was now listed as a lieutenant of the Omega Empire, she understood that the device itself served as proof of identity. She then received instruction on her duties, learned that their destination was the Empire’s central planet Centrium, and heard about the vessel they were aboard.
The ship was a working vessel issued to high-ranking imperial officers. Arpa’s personal craft was actually a smaller Petit-class vessel, yet its combat systems and maneuverability ranked among the Empire’s finest. The legion’s flagship, a Grand-class super-capital ship, waited for them at Centrium. Though her expression remained cool, Hwa-ryun felt a quiet thrill at the prospect of seeing such a colossal vessel. Unexpectedly, she had always harbored a deep interest in machinery.
My brother-in-law would be absolutely delighted.
Her thoughts drifted to Yoo Kang-hyun until Arpa’s voice pulled her back.
“The journey to Centrium will take some time. Unpack your belongings and rest until tomorrow. The trip will require three days. Relax fully today; we will begin the formal handover of duties tomorrow.”
“Understood.”
Hwa-ryun retired to her assigned quarters, unpacked, and began examining the performance of her new Bio Device. The expanded network range now reached other planets, and it functioned even in areas of powerful magnetic or electrical interference. Far superior to standard issue, she concluded. Satisfied with her unexpected good fortune, she drifted into peaceful sleep.
Deep in the night, long after Hwa-ryun had fallen asleep, a message arrived on Arpa’s Bio Device.
> Preparation complete.
“...The time has come. Begin.”
> I shall carry out your command, My Lord.