NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 111
After taking a bath, I put on the outfit prepared by the hotel and made sure I adhered to the dress code.
Everything was arranged by the hotel staff, from the clothing to being guided to a makeup room where a specialist applied a light touch of makeup. I was now fully prepared. I was told by Eri, as we walked down the hallway, that there would be a small banquet after the meeting, which I should look forward to… Personally, I was most excited about the meal after the meeting.
At the end of the long hallway stood an impressive double door, with heavily armed, imposing guards stationed on either side, as expected. Eri, walking beside me, made a small gesture with her hand, as if she were waving away smoke. With that, the guards opened the door without hesitation and led us inside.
“This will be the venue for the video conference.”
The large room, where the meeting would take place, had been temporarily cleared of its original furniture and decor. In the center of the room stood an oversized table and a grand chair, which seemed ridiculously large for just one person to use. Surrounding the table were multiple lights and cameras.
At the edges of the room, security personnel and technical staff were waiting, adjusting the scattered cables.
“Should I sit here?”
A stand microphone was placed on the table, positioned at just the right height when I sat in the nearby chair. I had assumed the video meeting would only involve Yuzu and Eri sitting next to me, so I hadn’t expected such an elaborate setup. With a tense feEring, as if my heart were being squeezed, I sat in the chair Eri had indicated and waited for the meeting to begin.
“Is Yuzu not here?”
“Yuzu is currently preparing for the banquet planned after this meeting.”
Once I was seated, Eri handed me a tablet containing the information needed for the meeting. It seemed there was still some time before the start, and the amount of information was just enough to quickly skim through.
(The person I’m meeting with is Minato Saioji, 28 years old, a direct descendant of the Saioji family… Commander of the First Space Fleet of the Sakura Empire, with the rank of General.)
I couldn’t even begin to imagine how important this person was, but I did know he was someone far beyond what I could put into words.
The staff in the room, who were busy working, also seemed tense, as if they were aware that they were dealing with a person of almost divine status.
On the other hand, I couldn’t help but feel a bit curious, thinking it was interesting to meet with a descendant of the Saioji family from a far-off future, even though my interactions with the Saioji family up until now had only been brief meetings with Ryugen and Saioji, as well as a quick greeting with the main family members.
“The video is coming on!”
As I finished skimming through Minato Saioji’s profile and basic information, one of the technical staff, who had been working silently, reported that the connection was about to be established.
It seemed this connection was using technology that couldn’t be detected by the government of Zelart, which explained why so much preparation had been necessary.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Minato Saioji, the eldest son of the Saioji family. I currently serve as the Commander of the First Space Fleet and the Third Ground Combat Battalion of the Sakura Empire.”
Appearing on the screen was Minato Saioji, a man with strikingly handsome features, standing in front of a window displaying a beautiful starry sky, in a room entirely decorated in white. His posture was impeccable as he looked straight at the camera.
If I were a woman, I might have been captivated by that smile of his. He looked like a famous idol seen on television. His white military uniform was adorned with gold and black decorations, and his right chest was covered with an impressive array of medals.
Though his gentle face and the pristine white uniform might seem an odd combination, the aura of authority and dominance that radiated from him even through the video made it clear that he wasn’t just a figurehead.
(As expected, he resembles Saioji.)
Though his black hair wasn’t as long as hers, stopping just before it touched his shoulders, Minato’s features bore a striking resemblance to Shizuku’s.
“Thank you for the kind introduction. My name is Allen, a visitor from the past.”
I didn’t have any grand history to share, so I simply introduced myself as a visitor from the past.
“It is truly a pleasure to meet you, even if it’s only through video, Allen.”
“I’ve been looking forward to meeting a descendant of the Saioji family as well.”
We started the conversation lightly, with both of us exchanging pleasantries and smiling warmly. The atmosphere was pleasant as we introduced ourselves, discussing our backgrounds and some shared topics. We talked about the state of this world and my world from the past, engaging in casual conversation to break the tension before getting to the main point.
“Ryugen-sama… He is known as Ryuouin-sama in this era. He is deeply revered by us citizens of the empire for elevating the Saioji family to its current status during the era of space expansion.”
The “era of space expansion” that Minato referred to was divided into three stages: the initial phase when humanity first terraformed Mars, the middle phase when interstellar travel beyond the solar system was achieved, and the final phase when different nations competed to secure and develop new territories.
Currently, we were in the final phase of the space expansion era, and Ryugen was a historical figure who played a key role during the early phase, even before Earth had fully entered the space expansion age.
“Ryugen truly is an incredible person.”
In the world I lived in, even now in the past, Ryugen was already globally famous as a business magnate. I learned that in the future, he would become even more celebrated as a historical figure.
“But Allen-sama is also known as a figure who stands on equal footing with Ryugen-sama. In this era, you are known as Fuji no Miya Kaimei.”
“Fuji no Miya Kaimei…?”
I hadn’t been told anything about that. When I turned to Eri, who was standing nearby, she scratched her cheek awkwardly, looking like she didn’t want to explain. Noticing this, Minato began to explain why she was hesitant.
“Given her position, she follows the laws of the empire, which means that she serves as your personal guard, Allen-sama. Without your permission, it’s difficult for her to act freely, especially in such matters.”
“What kind of matters?”
According to the laws of the Sakura Empire, I was considered the highest authority in the current situation, whether I wanted that responsibility or not. The awkwardness of the situation was due to the fact that my position in the empire automatically applied to the current world.
Under military regulations, it was a violation for Eri or Yuzu to share classified information with Minato without my direct permission, which is why they hadn’t been able to report to their former superior until now.
“But is it common for assignments to change so suddenly like this?”
I couldn’t help but question whether it was normal for someone’s military assignment to change so abruptly.
I understood that in the future, I would likely accomplish something significant and hold a special position. Even if I hadn’t done anything yet, just being around Ryugen, a prominent figure from the early space expansion era, could lead to me being associated with such prestige.
However, it still seemed like a stretch to say that just because I happened to be nearby, people would be forcibly reassigned to serve under me. After all, I wasn’t even part of the military—I was just a civilian. It seemed absurd to enforce such a system based on my presence.
With that in mind, I voiced my doubts to Minato, who responded with a slight, understanding smile.
“This isn’t a matter of military regulations, but rather a matter of constitutional law.”
“Constitutional law…?”
The term “constitutional law” made me think of the Japanese Constitution, but in this era, the constitution must have evolved to reflect the current world.
” ‘The one who sits in the heavens of our nation holds absolute sovereignty over all things.’ This ‘heavens’ refers to the Emperor, and those who hold the title of Ten’i.”
“Ten’i?”
“Yes, Ten’i refers to individuals like Ryugen-sama and Allen-sama, or rather, Fuji no Miya Kaimei-sama, who have made great contributions to the development of the empire.”
The title “Ten’i” refers to those at the highest level in the Sakura Empire, including the Emperor and individuals of exceptional status. Those who earn this title are recognized for making groundbreaking contributions throughout history. However, the bar for being considered “exceptional” is incredibly high, with only a handful of individuals being honored in such a way throughout the empire’s long history.
Apparently, future me is one of those people.
“This constitutional clause grants the Emperor and the Ten’i absolute authority over all matters… In other words, Allen-sama, as long as you are here, you are considered the highest authority in the First Space Fleet.”
“…”
“The constitution is the supreme law, overriding all other regulations. While I understand your point, military regulations cannot supersede constitutional law.”
Though Minato’s explanation was long, he spoke in a way that was easy for me, someone unfamiliar with these matters, to understand. I couldn’t help but feel grateful to him, though at the same time, I was overwhelmed by the sudden desire to return to my original world.