Second Incarnation - (5)
Galaxytube, the Super Galactic Empire Federation's largest online video sharing platform. And on that Galaxytube, the official Balhar Planet channel with a respectable number of subscribers.
"O-ho-ho-hot!!! Greetings-wa yo! My imperial subjects! Today, instead of my dear brother, I've come to chat with you all-sa wa yo!"
Beatrix stood before the video drone, hand on her hip. The word Galaxytube reminded me of YouTube from my past life, and the royals or high officials doing live broadcasts felt eerily similar.
The princess of the empire scanned the rapidly scrolling chat window on the hologram beside the drone. Spotting a viewer's question, she opened her mouth with a triumphant voice.
"That's right-sa wa yo! I contracted with a god from another dimension, the Whispering Star Cluster! This is the power I received from the god-sa wa yo!"
Crackle—
Shatter!
With a flourish from Beatrix, who was brimming with pride, the air split open. From that rift emerged the 'hunting hound' once more.
The guards standing out of the drone camera's view went on high alert. But rendering their caution moot, the princess stepped forward boldly.
"What I summoned is the god's own hunting hound-sa wa yo! I've named it Sir Kaiser de Barshava-wa yo!"
Grrrrrr...!
The knowledge about the 'hunting hound' naturally surfaced. A race that dwells in the corners of space—terrifying to some mortals. Yet somehow, here it had become a spectacle. Even getting saddled with a weird name it clearly despised.
"Tsk! Sir Kaiser! Don't bare your teeth at me-wa yo! I gave you a great name, so why that attitude-sa wa yo!"
Grrrrrr...!
There wasn't a shred of embarrassment on her confident face. She believed her actions were right and maintained her majestic demeanor unwaveringly. Some might call her oblivious. Others might say her loud voice and unique speech were a nuisance. Some might mock her as a spoiled, immature noble lady based on appearances alone.
But even so, she shone brightly.
"Tsk tsk! Keep that up and no treats for you today-wa yo!"
She neutralized the horrific appearance of the otherworldly summon with her vibrant energy. Her exaggerated demeanor and overflowing confidence felt like watching a play. It naturally created comedic moments. And the planet's citizens watching through their screens enjoyed it.
Not lording over them as a lofty princess, but reaching the peak of approachability by joining in the fun with her subjects. She might seem arrogant or self-centered at times, but she never crossed the line.
From the scrolling chat, it seemed she was popular even at the academy. I could see why the emperor said Beatrix was the most popular among the royals.
"Eek! What's wrong with the name I gave it-sa wa yo! That's lese-majeste! Lese-majeste!"
My chosen second incarnation was a being who knew how to shine on her own.
After the lively broadcast ended in a uproar, I sent a message to Beatrix. Throughout watching the imperial broadcast, a question had arisen. I timed it for when she was alone in her palace room, seeking the most honest answer possible.
[Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster questions whether the royals are overexploiting their image.]
"That's fine-sa wa yo! The next emperor won't be me, it'll be my brother Leon-wa yo."
A slightly concerning statement. As long as the crown prince's image as the heir wasn't exploited, it was okay?
The planet citizens chatting during the broadcast preferred her appearances over the boring crown prince's streams. By openly showing her unfiltered personality, she built familiarity with the royals, while maintaining some mystique around the next emperor? In this space age, some communication was necessary, but it seemed more about imprinting faces than pure friendliness. The crown prince's broadcasts were probably policy explanations or speeches.
[Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster asks if the crown prince's broadcasts avoid chit-chat or keep distance from citizens.]
"...You truly understand us mortals' situations so well-sa wa yo."
A flicker of surprise crossed Beatrix's face. Did she think a transcendent being from another dimension, an otherworldly constellation, would grasp mortal affairs so keenly?
[Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster questions if the second incarnation always acts that way in front of people.]
"You mean showing this side to the imperial citizens-sa wa yo? Hmm..."
Beatrix smiled faintly at my question. She was aware her antics were somewhat comical and approachable to the planet citizens. Of course. As a princess ruling a planet, she couldn't be dim-witted.
Then what was that shine? Was it all an act? But those emotions and attitudes felt genuine.
[Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster asks if it's per the emperor's will.]
"No-sa wa yo. Stepping out before the masses is something I chose of my own will, you know-sa wa yo."
The emperor probably wanted to boost the royal family's visibility too. But it was her chosen path. Why?
No one likes being a laughingstock, no matter how cheerful or confident they are.
I fell silent without messaging. Beatrix spoke up.
"You truly look upon us mortals with such care-sa wa yo. Is it because I'm your second incarnation-wa yo?"
That was part of it, sure. Once bonded, I felt closer to her than others. But probably my past life's humanity played a role too.
Beatrix twirled a lock of hair around her finger in the brief silence.
"I like seeing the planet citizens smile-sa wa yo. It suits my nature... and if they draw strength from me, that's joy enough-sa wa yo."
I see. The emperor I'd observed seemed to cherish his daughter greatly. Her firm will allowed him to permit her actions. Not just innate personality—she wasn't some clueless fool of a lady.
[Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster asks if that speech pattern is intentional too.]
"Eh? What speech pattern do you mean-sa wa yo?"
That speech quirk seemed innate. Whatever turned her into a death-summoning lady, the planet citizens accepted it naturally—probably since childhood. Whatever. What mattered was our bond. I was her constellation, she my incarnation. Even if she were the ultimate hypocrite, a villainous lady, or plotting federation treason—nothing would change that.
[Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster promises to behold the second incarnation as she truly is.]
"......"
A longer silence than before passed. What was she thinking? Her eyes trembled slightly—quite moved. But clearly not displeased; her lips curved softly upward.
"...If you descend to the material realm, I truly wish to meet you-sa wa yo."
[Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster promises.]
Far more beautiful than her exaggerated broadcast laughter.
Imperial Princess Beatrix has become an incarnation of an other-dimensional constellation! Even the empire's guardian goddess, the Red Goddess, approved, and she showed off her summoning powers on broadcast!
"...That's the number one trending search on the imperial community boards."
"It's all thanks to my popularity-wa yo! O-ho-ho-hot!!!"
"Hm. Not wrong. And take a look at the messages from academy students sent via the palace. Thousands already piled up."
The golden-haired youth with a troubled look—Balhar Empire's Crown Prince Leon—said to her.
"Thousands? Replying to all would be tough-sa wa yo..."
"Ahem! Handle that yourself. I need to lead the monster subjugation, so I'll be off."
"Ah. You mean the one that fell in the Silbaron Great Plains-sa wa yo?"
"Yes. Confirmed as a planet erosion-type monster, so we must exterminate it. Lucky we found it early."
Planet erosion-type monster. Sometimes drifting from the vast cosmos to unlucky planets. Sometimes spawning naturally there. Horrific things that, if fully grown, could wipe out all life on a planet.
No way to reverse a fully eroded planet. Tradition held that planetary destruction weapons were the only option—blow the whole thing up.
This being a fringe planet in the Super Galactic Empire Federation, sightings were fairly common.
"Anyway, I must go, so you..."
"I'll come with you, brother-sa wa yo! As an incarnation contracted with my constellation, I want to lend a hand-sa wa yo!"
[Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster worries for the second incarnation.]
If a planet erosion-type monster fully matures... could it rival a planet spirit in divinity? The mortal federation might be more precarious than I thought.