Xyrin Empire

Chapter 582: Chapter 582: This Bastard World

“Andovain? Fina? Ovega? Populus? Sado Aela Vanidi? Massaviel? Lan Roland? Mi Aoerjia? Turunso…” The air echoed with a mechanical female voice, as if using this repeated recitation to strengthen some aspect of her memory. The girl with pale straw-yellow hair and gray-blue pupils, seated like a sculpture on the throne, had completely forgotten our presence, repeating this super-long name several times (in the time it took, Visca even finished a lollipop) before firmly stating, “Indeed, that is how it is pronounced, my name from a past time. However, if it is uncomfortable for you, you may call me Fina, as I recall being addressed that way for a long time.”

…Guess we’ll stick to calling you Fina, as probably only Anwina among people I know could read that name in one breath without gasping…

Well, I knew it, being screwed over almost every day must be my destiny. With such outlandish settings, you just get used to it, at least she isn’t called Cleopatra VII, right?

“That name caused you a significant emotional fluctuation, powerful stranger,” the calm voice reverberated through the air, “I am curious.”

But your voice doesn’t sound curious at all! You don’t even blink!

Talking to her felt too weird; we all knew we were conversing with the girl on the throne before us, but the voice seemed to come from all directions. The main occupant of the throne appeared to lack mobility, even the ability to make facial expressions; she was a sculpture, one crafted to focus visitors’ attention and to provide a point of reference. If you didn’t know beforehand, you might even think you were talking to the room instead of the girl on the throne.

“Alright, alright, Queen Fina with the super-long name, let’s not delve into sensitive issues about padding out text. For now, suppress the urge to dig too deeply into your lineage,” I shifted to a more comfortable position on my stool. Yes, next time I must steal Miss Lin’s ridiculously luxurious velvet chair. “Well, it looks like there’s no need to explain how we came here; in this universe, that should be considered a natural phenomenon—we come from another world, lost and ended up here, details omitted. Now we’re strangers in a strange land, so if you could take on the role of guide NPC, please tell us about the situation here, about the raging wars, Shepherd, the messy technology and culture, and, if you have the time, your own plans.”

“I have endless time,” the girl on the throne seemingly blinked suddenly, which might just have been an illusion. “At first, I thought you were the Shepherd, which led me to take a series of wrong actions up to now… So first, let me explain about the Shepherd.”

I thought such a significant figure would at least be accustomed to being cryptic, but this machine-like young Queen proved unexpectedly forthright. She seemed like a ready-to-use information dispenser; with a push of a button, information began to scroll out.