Souls taste like honey. The insides of a Honey Bee cannot contain the soul of a much bigger plant—— So the Honey Bee turns it into sweeter honey. ...That said, nectar taken straight from a fresh flower is also delicious. Now then, the cute children or the elegant adults—— ——Which one should I devour first? ? I won't let you... lay a finger... on Bianka-sama... Oh my. You breathed a considerable amount of anesthetic gas, yet you are able to stand up? Well, it matters not. You will not be able to save your precious 「Bianka-sama」 with that wobbling body of yours. You might not know but... Weapons that are sharp enough... ...Don't need much power behind them to kill someone. This... cannot be... You must... be surprised... But I told you... didn't I... I told you... I won't let you... lay a finger... on Bianka-sama... Goodbye... second... 「Serpent King」... (Ugh... why... am I...) (It's cold... my head feels heavy...) (Ah... I can feel something...) (So warm... and smells good...) (Mom...) (.....) (Wait——) (Why am I—— Sleeping?) Good morning, Bianka-sama. Did you sleep well? Rita? What happened to me? Why am I here? How long was I asleep? Chichen Itza's castle. Specifically, the backyard of the Chicxulub meteorite building. Approximately 1 hour ago, we fell for a trap and inhaled a large amount of anesthetic gas. ...You're still growing up, it's no surprise it would take you more time to recover. What... anesthetic gas... And everyone else? Are the Captain and the rest okay? Don't worry. Du-sama is treating them nearby using equipment left by the High Priestess. They should be waking up in about 30 minutes. ...Du? That sword? Since when has she been with us? Since this morning. After recovering 2 of its gems, Du-sama became able to manipulate the air distribution around itself to hide in plain sight. ...What? So it's like optical camouflage? Yes. Schrodinger-sama and I persuaded Du-sama into using that ability to become our triumph card. W-Why didn't you tell me something so important, idiot!? My apologies, Bianka-sama. However it was a necessary thing to do to reduce the risk of a potential enemy finding out about our strategy. So it wasn't only you who didn't—— Yeah, I get it. I'm sure it would be written all over my face if I knew! ...So, who attacked us anyway? Some rebel faction? No. It was the 「High Priestess」 herself, Bianka-sama. ...Huh? Basically... being friendly and inviting us to her place was all an act to get us into a closed room and look for a chance to put us to sleep? I suspect that's the case. From what I could gather, I think she was planning to eat us to gain our power. ...Just like the legendary 「Serpent King」 once did. ..... These are some notes she left behind. I'll translate them for you.

12.14.11.15.1.


I ended up using the power of the 「Serpent」. I had no choice, these barbarians would not listen to anything but force.

Fortunately, they have now completely submitted to me. I will have plenty of time to master this power.

12.14.11.15.2.


「O Super Human! You have bestowed upon us ordinary people the secrets of victory and goodness. People have begun to imitate your values so that you may not be saddened or disillusioned by us. We will walk the path of truth and dedicate ourselves to the Super Human.」

——That sounds good.

12.14.14.3.0.


I have not eaten a brain in 40 days. There have not been any changes to my physical condition so far. Ingesting volunteers does seem to work in suppressing the desire of the 「Serpent」.

I must continue to spread my faith so that it may reach more people.

12.15.1.0.8.


I received a report of a rebellion in the highlands. I ate the brain of the reporter to verify the truth.

——It was a lie. But just in case, I should change the officers at the border regularly.

12.15.6.1.15.


A new generation has been born into our faith. It is necessary to make a tour around the newly acquired lands and solidify the perception of the people at the frontiers.

I do not seem to age like a normal person. I wonder if it is due to the 「Serpent」.

12.15.10.15.6.


It is been several years since the last time I ate a brain.

Patrol guards picked up a dying old man who was stung by a jellyfish. He called himself 「The Painter Matisse」. I hope I can gain an artistic sense from him.

12.15.10.15.7.


The brain of that old man was more dangerous than hallucinogenic mushrooms and mandrake.

I have begun painting the Sun green and the sea pink. I must be more careful, I cannot let my believers think the High Priestess has gone crazy. However, I can use this to spread my faith even further.

12.15.10.15.8.


There are two types of freedom in our faith. The freedom of an ordinary person and the freedom of a Super Human. They are completely different.

The goal of an ordinary person is to become a Super Human. An ordinary person cannot question the acts of a Super Human.

 ...That's what it says. Thanks to her instructions the Maya won't see us as their enemy even though we killed their 「High Priestess」. Oh? I totally thought you scared off the believers... ..... From their point of view, a battle between 「Nakom」 is something sacred and they must accept the outcome regardless of who is victorious. Though they did ask for one of us to stay behind to be the next 「High Priest」. ...If Bishop Otto was here we could throw him at them. Hehe. If it were him, he would be able to handle the affairs of this place during teatime. ——That reminds me, unlike the other Valkyries you don't seem to be scared of the Bishop, Bianka-sama. Did something interesting happen between you two? Oh, he's been my personal doctor since the time I woke up in the hospital. He asked me to treat him like any other doctor so that's what I did. ...Actually, since I joined HQ I never really understood why the other Valkyries act cautious when they're around him. ——Is he really that much of a scary person? Hehe. I suppose everyone is not as lucky as you. Many people see the Bishop as someone who stands above the clouds, and feel they shouldn't get too involved with him. ..... Alright. I'm feeling better now, it's time to—— ——W-What is it now!? Something is coming from the bottom of the lake! Le Peuple souverain s'avance, (Sovereign People comes forth,) Tyrans descendez au cercueil! (Tyrants go down to your graves!)

注：

这是《出征曲》的两句歌词。

《出征曲》（法语：Chant du départ；艾森蒂恩·尼古拉斯·梅耶尔作曲，玛丽-约瑟夫·切尼尔作词）是发表于1794年的一首法国革命战争歌曲，也是法兰西第一帝国的官方国歌。

 You have my most sincere thanks for freeing me, ladies. I am Bertrand, colonel of the Eastern Expedition Force of France. Attention! Salute! ...Colonel? Expedition Force? France? What is this guy talking about? Actually, who are you? How can you talk!? ...Right. I no longer look 「like a human」, don't I? Apologies. I'm sure you see it happen often, an old man deludes himself into thinking he's back to his younger days. For 3000 years! No, 3 months? 3 years? A-Anyway, that despicable witch took away my strength and imprisoned me in that bottomless lake. Ladies, would you please tell me? Has the hammer of justice fallen upon that Persian witch? ...I can say for sure 「Esther Zarathustra」 is dead. She tried to assassinate us and after failing to do so, was killed in self-defense. Haha... People are always brought down by their own specialty, just like it happened to my Imperator. ...「Imperator」? Yes, 「Imperator」. It means Emperor.

注：

Imperator（音译：英白拉多，意译：凯旋将军、皇帝）是古罗马的一种头衔。在罗马共和国时期相当于军队的总指挥官，在罗马帝国时期变成“元首”（Princeps，意为“第一公民”）的头衔之一。

——Imperator也是英语"Emperor"（“皇帝”）的辞源。

 Not Roman, Greek, German, Turkish or Russian—— The pride and joy of France—— ——Napoleon Bonaparte! ...First time I heard Napoleon had a dragon in his ranks. You're mistaken, lady. I've been by my Emperor's side as his most loyal soldier from Alexandria to St. Helena. A soldier! Not a dragon! Fire comes out of my gun, not my mouth! Ah... though I guess I'm indeed a dragon now. What exactly are you trying to say? Ah, excuse me. At my age I forget things rather quickly. That I, the Emperor's most trusted soldier, betrayed him is an irrefutable and unacceptable fact. That's right, I betrayed my Emperor. That day everything ended, and everything began. The Emperor activated the 「wall」. He tried to create a new world. And yet I ran away from the battlefield. (...「Emperor」...「wall」...「new world」?) ...Agh! Accursed algae! Damn you, whirl-worms! They have eaten away my mind, and now this poor Bertrand is going crazy! I'm deeply sorry. Yes yes I forgive you, just answer my question please. Ah yes, of course. ...「Colonel」 Bertrand, why did you become a 「dragon」? Dragon? ...Dragons are often associated with Emperors. At least that's what Eastern legends say. But lady, let me tell you something. There is no such thing as an 「Imperator」 in the East—— ——「Divinity」 is a vulgar ideal, the essence of the 「Triumphant General」 is being a 「Super Human」. Yes, our Emperor is a fair and just being—— ——He's a 「Super Human」 same as that evil witch. ...Is there any difference between a 「Serpent Woman」 and a 「Dragon Man」 then? There is. At first glance there is not much difference between clouds and rainbows. But by looking at it from another perspective, you'll see they're very different. The person who makes clouds wants rain, and the person who makes rainbows wants sunlight. ...? The Emperor is human... at least on the surface. A great person like him would never become a half-beast like me. The Emperor once said 「God」 is a pyramid built by people inside their hearts, a tomb they created to escape from disaster and suffering. The great Emperor would always face his feelings head on and inspire everyone around him. O great Napoleon Bonaparte, I swear my eternal loyalty to you! ...But didn't you say a moment ago that you betrayed him? Me? Henri Gatien Bertrand? Betray the Emperor? What kind of joke is that—— ——Ah right, I betrayed the Emperor. That's why I am here at the mercy of algae and whirl-worms. Please forgive me. My head is a mess right now... but I'll do my best to remember. ...Was it Moscow? Waterloo? St. Helena? ...ahh, the butterflies in St. Helena were very beautiful. ...Butterflies? No, forget the butterflies. They're a fantasy brought up by the algae and whirl-worms. Let's me think... fantasy... ah, I remember! Everything started in St. Helena! St. Helena was under the jurisdiction of the East India Company, so the British people watching us were their employees. ...The Emperor was defeated, and together with us, his faithful servants, he was exiled to that small island. The island was managed by an old British man, but he had many Indian personnel like handymen, architects and even an astronomer working for him. No, wait. The architect and the astronomer were the same person. He had a funny name, I think it was Ba... Bara... ...I remember! 「Bhaskara XVIII」! Yes, that was him! That damn Indian madman! If you mean Bhaskara II, he was one of the greatest mathematicians of the 12th century... No idea if the 「XVIII」 one was a mathematician too. In 1820, he spent the whole year working on a strange machine! That cursed machine was an affront to God! ...He was from India but he had a permit from the King of England, so no one could put a stop to his 「scientific research」. Then what... how is that machine related to the 「Emperor」? I don't understand what you're getting at. Please don't rush me, I will explain everything to you. The machine that Ba... 「Bhaskara」 madman made is related to my current situation. First, he spent over a year installing strange devices throughout the island. Then, on May of 1821, on the day of the new moon—— He moved the island from Earth—— Or rather I should say—— From our universe. ...What? According to him, the night of the first new moon of May 1821 was the time when 「the stars are aligned」. By being at the right time and place, one would be able to exchange matter with a world next to ours. ...! Did the Indian ever say the name of that device? Err... I think it was 「Gernia」... no, that wasn't it. 「Genilus」... no... 「Genius」... Yes! That one! 「Genius」! 「Genius Cluster」! I'm 100% sure! (Another incident involving the 「Genius」?) The Indian madman used that 「Genius Cluster」 to move the island to an unknown space. An unknown space? Not the world we are here right now? ...Yes, I don't think they're the same. The stars in the sky at night look very different. The madman threatened us, saying if we don't listen to him we'll be trapped there forever, and experience excruciating pain for all of eternity. So you obeyed his demands? I'd like to say 「we didn't」 but unfortunately that isn't what happened. He pulled out a box out of nowhere, took a vial from the box and drank from it. His body then began to transform... into a monster. ...!? I thought he was going to use strange magic to control everyone... but then he said: 「I know I don't have what it takes to be a 『Super Human』.」 「Drinking this drug means I'll soon lose my reason and become a merciless, cruel 『Houkai Beast』.」 「But I know at least one person among you has a 『Stigmata』——」 「——I'm talking about you, Napoleon Bonaparte, great Emperor of France.」 「If you take this drug, you will become a 「Super Human」.」 「Do so, and you will be able to defeat me, protect your men and their children, and by using the notes I've left, you will be able to move the island back to a stable world.」 「My skin has already become harder than steel. You have 10 seconds left to decide, Emperor.」 ...He's crazy. The British soldiers tried to stop him using swords and guns but they did nothing to him. The situation was hopeless—— ——Until a vial of that drug rolled up to the Emperor's feet. ...Did he drink from it? Yes. And what happened next was as the madman predicted. The Emperor didn't become a monster. Instead he became a 「Super Human」, a being stronger than a monster. He looked like he was in his thirties but—— Not even the youngest and strongest soldiers could be a match for him—— His fist would split the sky and his kicks would smash the ground! He subdued the monster, even though swords and guns didn't work against it, with his bare hands and killed it. Afterwards, the Emperor gathered every French and British on the island and used the notes left behind by the madman to go back to our original world... ...Or so we were supposed to. We only noticed when our ship landed on the shores of Britain. This wasn't the world we knew. Everyone on the island was speaking French, as if we were back to the time right after the 「Norman Conquest」. ...That doesn't surprise me anymore. You still looked human at the time, didn't you? What happened next? The Emperor wasn't discouraged when he saw this strange new world—— 「If that's how it is, let's make a new life, a new empire in this land!」 he said. Now that I think about it, that was the moment when everything went downhill.