Second Incarnation - (3)
"Ohohohot!!! Even the god from another dimension has recognized my talent-wa yo!!!"
"P-Princess! This is...!"
That noble lady's speech. Her outfit. Arrogant-looking but not prickly personality. A medieval fantasy vibe blended with sci-fi. And the title of princess to boot. It felt like I'd climbed the hill behind my neighborhood and stumbled upon an ultra-rare SSR national treasure.
The farther we got from the Super Galactic Empire Federation's capital planet Solaryon, the less the central authority's influence reached, perhaps. Due to the interstellar accords signed back in the Galactic Empire days, planets with direct constellation intervention might have been granted some autonomy.
"I'm no greenhorn who kicks away good fortune that rolls right to her feet-wa yo!"
Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster, has completed its contract with Avatar Beatrix.
Beatrix, who had been lightly covering her mouth with her hand while laughing, raised a white finger into the air, and our avatar contract was sealed. Perfect. Now I just had to get friendly with my second avatar for the time being.
Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster, sends greetings to its second avatar.
"I'm delighted to have contracted with you too-wa yo!"
"P-Princess. Our Valhar Empire is protected by its goddess. Why contract with another...?"
Come to think of it, this planet's emperors had always contracted with a planet spirit goddess across generations. Was it okay for her to contract with me? I didn't want to pick a fight with that deity over nothing. Not just those in line for the throne—among the Balhar planet's people, there were occasional contractors with the goddess too. She might have some possessiveness or attachment toward her planetary folk.
"By federation law, all citizens have freedom of faith. And customarily, it's not like only the imperial heir to the throne contracts with the goddess-wa yo? I'm not even the crown prince of the empire, and this god from another dimension is confirmed to possess authority no less than our planet's ruling goddess. It's a heavenly stroke of fortune if there ever was one! Only a fool would turn it down! Ohohot!!!"
Unlike her comical laughter and childish princess act, she made a pretty logical case. Well, yeah. For a royal family to hold on in a place like this, they'd need some real competence. Even with a planet god backing their authority and ancient traditions, the citizens' awareness couldn't help but be high.
"But Princess, you..."
"I'm royalty-wa yo. So we'll head straight to the temple right now and inform the Ruler of Crimson Beauty! You'll allow it, won't you, god from another dimension-sa wa yo?"
Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster, respects the authority of Balhar Planet's ruling deity.
"A generous god who looks after the affairs of us lowly ones-wa yo!"
Even if the interstellar accords recognized the deity's governing rights. For the planet's people to stay politically apathetic by default, treat it as just another job, or view the royals fondly—shouldn't that be the case? It was a bit complicated. For now, since I'd made Beatrix my avatar, I could learn more gradually.
No matter how much the Super Galactic Empire Federation's laws guaranteed freedom of faith, longstanding customs couldn't be ignored. Take the Elita people, most of whom worshipped the Sky-Supporting Great Tree.
The silver lining was that Beatrix, whom I'd contracted with, wasn't the crown prince slated to be the next emperor but a princess. And the planet's goddess, who occasionally descended in temporary bodies, showed no particular interest in her.
"Contracted with a deity from another dimension, you say... You're not the empire's emperor, so it matters not."
In the gorgeously built temple beside the imperial palace, a figure conversed with Beatrix. A female mannequin made of glowing red gems spoke in a bored tone. It was unmistakably the temporary body of Balhar Planet's goddess.
"My thanks to you, Goddess-wa yo!"
"Very well. But is the deity from another dimension watching this place?"
Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster, affirms.
"Yes. She's just sent me a message-wa yo."
The goddess, roughly guessing my vantage point, turned her head to the empty air.
"I know that deities visiting from other dimensions are at least equal in rank to this goddess. Out of respect for your position, I'll overlook you making an avatar on my planet. But henceforth, it would be preferable if you descended in a temporary body first and gave prior notice."
I sensed a hint of jealousy in her words. She spoke of descending into the material world in a temporary body as if it were the easiest thing. I envied her. If only I had a suitable body myself.
Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster, states that it cannot descend using a temporary body.
The goddess, hearing my explanation through Beatrix, nodded slowly.
"Indeed, that makes sense. Your rank appears higher than I thought. And you're unfamiliar with this dimension's laws as well..."
Planets ruled by other planet spirits probably had an unwritten rule against meddling. For countless deities and mortal empires to coexist, rules like that were only natural.
"This goddess's constellation name is Ruler of Crimson Beauty. We'll meet again someday, deity from beyond."
Her temporary body, which had maintained a disinterested attitude throughout, departed. Now I could ask Beatrix about the planet.
Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster, is curious about the history of the planet where its second avatar resides.
"If you're curious, of course I'll tell you-sa wa yo!"
The Terra Empire, origin of modern humanity's planet. And from its evolution... the Galactic Empire, which spread across the galaxy using overwhelming technology and named deities "constellations."
The Galactic Empire and Valhar Empire's first encounter wasn't a pleasant one. The empire's expansionism aimed at grasping the entire universe. And in their eyes, this planet looked like a woefully weak civilization. War was inevitable, and the empire, not even advanced to a stellar system, was crushed in an instant.
The planetary folk fell under the human species category, so they were promised decent treatment. But their sense of powerlessness from being conquered overnight was indescribable.
"O Ruler of Crimson Beauty... please drive out the invaders."
"Goddess, please..."
"Even if it costs my life..."
In the end, unable to ignore their desperate pleas, the planet god descended into the material world. The empire's cutting-edge weapons were useless against an immortal, and the troops deployed to the planet were annihilated.
Eventually, the main fleet arrived from the imperial army and unleashed bombardment from beyond the atmosphere, but it inflicted no damage on the red goddess. According to Balhar Planet's history, the red goddess had always influenced mortals through oracles or popes. She'd never descended before.
Thus, the imperial forces assumed she was a Single Planet Restricted Spirit Body. Only after the bombardment fleet was seized by a massive red hand emerging from Balhar Planet and obliterated did they realize their foe was a Planet Spirit.
"...We must use the planet-destroying weapon."
"That's far too inhumane! It's not like the planet's been devoured by a planet-corroding monster...!"
"But it's the only way to damage the red calamity!"
"Why waste a planet-destroyer on a backwater rock like that?"
"Let's negotiate instead. Recognize imperial sovereignty and co-opt the constellation into our vested interests."
Just then, numerous planet spirits rebelling against the mortal empire reached out to the red goddess. The war ended based on the interstellar accords. Immortals and mortals acknowledged each other's power and gave a little ground.
"And when the Galactic Empire became the Super Galactic Empire Federation, our Balhar Planet joined it-wa yo. In exchange for following federation influence or fulfilling obligations like deploying sufficient military force and providing resources, this planet is effectively recognized as the goddess's domain..."
From on high, a benevolent deity watches over the planetary folk. Royals and nobles mind the goddess who repelled invaders and protects the planet. The commoners accept the imperial authority guaranteed by the deity. Moreover, the emperor becomes the goddess's apostle—an avatar—across generations.
Though the great galaxy spirit barred direct power displays from deities unbound to the material world. The federation's laissez-faire approach maintained a delicate balance here.
"There are many other reasons-sa wa yo. Our empire's nobles are essentially civil servants, and there's the adage that imperial power derives from the goddess..."
In the space age, gods were still gods. The autonomy won through an immortal's power that required planet-destroyers to even scratch. The commanders probably figured it wasn't worth the effort to conquer just one planet.
"But what sort of being are you, my god-wa yo?"
Princess Beatrix, her golden hair shining, looked up at the sky with eager eyes. I gazed at her ornate blonde locks for a moment before sending a message.
Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster, conveys that its name is as stated.
"...The constellation of the Whispering Star Cluster-wa yo?"
Well, my true body was probably some supercluster or whatever in cosmic space. A cluster of galaxies, maybe?
"Whatever the case, it's wonderful-wa yo! Grant me your power, and as your devotee, I'll raise your honor high-sa wa yo!"
By now, we'd left the goddess's temple and returned to a small garden in the imperial palace. Beatrix placed a hand on her hip and opened her mouth confidently.
Like with Yuna, she'd need to exert some force. But I wouldn't botch the control like back then and send her rocketing into the sky, right? Unlike Yuna, who was a total normie at first, her innate talent was the key here. A warning first, maybe.
Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster, advises caution.
"Caution... you say-wa yo?"
Cosmic Power infuses Avatar Beatrix!
Crack—Shatter!!!
"A m-monster's appeared-wa yo!!!"