(So this… is victory.)
When Lillian emerged from the simulator pod, the spectators stood dumbfounded, utterly speechless.
They still couldn’t believe the results.
As for Lillian herself, she allowed herself just a small moment of exhilaration.
Even if it was just a simulation. Even with the future Marshal – Stella watching from the next pod. She’d defeated the Empire’s two brightest young stars.
To put it another way, Lillian had finally basked in the glory of victory—something she had never experienced in her past life.
(Even without praise, the result remains. Personally, it feels good.)
Now, where there are winners, there are losers. From the opposite pod emerged two boys, their faces visibly shadowed with frustration.
Their expressions said it all. Both Ares and Delan wore looks of utter dissatisfaction.
“What the hell was that?!”
Ares was the first to explode.
Stomping forward with wide strides, his shoulders trembling, he looked ready to punch the ground.
“That kind of fighting style?! Treating your soldiers like disposable pawns!”
“They’re not dead. Did you think people actually die in a game?”
“A game?! This was a mock battle!”
“Then they’re still not dead.”
“Grr… T-that’s just sophistry! In a real battle, that kind of—”
Ares was still young. That’s why he had a stubborn sense of honor. His family pride likely played a part too. Because of that, he couldn’t back down from a defeat he couldn’t accept.
Not that it was a bad thing. Only the living could afford such pride, and learning from failure was its own kind of answer.
“That would never work in reality!”
“Ares, before you pick a fight, I believe you have something to say.”
Stella stepped forward, cutting him off with cool composure.
Her gaze briefly flickered to Delan, who looked equally uncomfortable, before she continued.
“We had a deal. If we won, you’d apologize for your earlier rudeness. So go ahead.”
“Ugh… That’s…”
Under Stella’s unwavering stare, Ares faltered, unable to meet her eyes.
“C’mon, just give it up. We lost. Apologizing’s faster.”
Surprisingly, Delan—the one who’d seemed most aggressive—was oddly compliant.
After suffering two perfect defeats in one day, he must’ve lost the will to argue.
“…Sorry. I went too far. You got us fair and square.”
“Ghh… My apologies.”
Ares, though still seething, forced the words out. He might’ve been impulsive, but he understood the weight of his family name—
a military lineage that had once served the royal guard. Pushing further would only tarnish his honor, so he reluctantly stood down.
“Great! Then it’s settled!”
As if flipping a switch, Stella beamed like a flower in full bloom.
But—
“Settled?! Hardly!”
Just as things seemed resolved, Frim’s thunderous glare turned on Stella again.
“Eep! F-Frim, no need to be mad—”
“Listen here. Winning doesn’t excuse it. What if you’d lost? You could’ve dragged Ms. Luzor into trouble!”
“Uu… But Papa always said people like that deserve to be put in their place…”
“Don’t use your father as an excuse. There was no need for a duel.”
The girl who’d just outmaneuvered rising stars now looked like a chastised child, shrinking under Frim’s scolding.
“Now, now, no harm done. All’s well that ends well! Honestly, Stella, you’re a genius!”
Richard clapped loudly, shattering the tension.
Slipping between Stella and Frim, he took Stella’s hand with theatrical flair.
“Join the Wel Fleet after graduation, won’t you? You’d do great work.”
“Lord Fowler. Enough jokes. Stella is maintenance crew. She’s not here to entertain your whims.”
Frim, who’d been reprimanding Stella moments ago, now shielded her, peeling Richard away.
With a resigned sigh, Richard stepped back, shaking his head.
Watching them, Lillian recalled a similar exchange before the battle.
(Judging by their banter, they’re clearly close. Lovers? No, the vibe’s different.)
It struck her how little she knew about their relationships.
(I never had many friends myself.)
She’d had followers, but could she really call them friends?
Well, there must’ve been some genuine ones. Probably. Maybe.
“Honestly. I’m just doing my duty. Talent like hers shouldn’t go to waste. Speaking of which—”
“Stop lying. You were just using her for gambling again, weren’t you?”
“W-what? Me? A noble’s son?”
Richard’s smile tightened under Frim’s scrutiny.
“Oh? Now that you mention it… I have heard rumors about gambling on campus. Don’t tell me—”
Lillian vaguely recalled the gossip, though she’d never paid it much mind.
But judging by Richard’s reaction, Frim’s accusation seemed spot-on.
“Alright, everyone! We’ll reach the moon soon—about three hours. Fun’s over for now. Ares, Delan, let’s go. We’ve got good news for Weltall! Yeah, let’s do that. Stella, we’ll play again soon. Adieu!”
With rapid-fire speech, Richard grabbed Ares and Delan and bolted.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
“H-hey! Get back here!”
Frim lunged but caught only air, sighing as she massaged her temples.
“Ahaha… W-well, I should get back to work too…”
Seizing the chance, Stella inched away.
Frim shot her a look but didn’t pursue.
The gallery buzzed with murmurs.
The stares were unbearable. Lillian sensed it was time to leave.
“Let’s move.”
“R-right…”
“Well then, everyone, pardon me—ohohoho!”
With an exaggerated laugh, Lillian hurried out of the rec room.
They walked briskly in silence until Lillian spoke up.
“Don’t be too hard on Stella.”
Lillian did not want to remain silent, so she thought of something to talk about, and that’s what she said.
“I won’t. She’s a good kid. Just… airheaded.”
“She’s a handful…”
Quiet usually, but full of surprises.
“How long have you known her?”
“Since middle school. When she transferred in.”
That surprised Lillian.
She hadn’t even known Stella was a transfer student.
(I really know nothing.)
“Transfer?”
“Yeah. She was born in a colony, I think. Her dad was a destroyer mechanic. They moved back to Earth, and now he runs a repair shop.”
If her family had military ties, it made sense.
“Huh… So that’s why she’s in maintenance. But with her talent…”
“She’s just good at games. That sim was like ones she played on Earth. She was actually kind of famous—ranked online. That’s how she met Richard and Delan. At an arcade.”
“And she wiped the floor with them.”
“W-well… yes.”
Lillian nodded.
She couldn’t picture Weltall nobles slumming it at arcades, but Richard and Delan? Absolutely.
“After that, Richard took an interest. Delan too, though not as intensely. And Stella likes that attention… It’s a problem.”
“Mystery of her social circle solved. But what about you?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. You and Richard seem close.”
“……”
Frim’s expression visibly darkened.
It was enough to tell Lillian that their relationship was complicated.
Just as she had initially suspected—were they lovers? Or perhaps even engaged?
“Got it. I won’t pry anymore.”
“Huh? W-Wait—”
Frim seemed taken aback, as if she hadn’t expected that response. Now she was the one looking flustered.
“You clearly don’t want to talk about it. I won’t force you. I was just curious, but digging into someone’s private life isn’t really my thing.”
“I… I didn’t mean to make you feel like you had to hold back.”
“No, I was being nosy.”
From Frim’s reaction, it was obvious their connection wasn’t ordinary. That was enough for Lillian to piece things together—for now, at least.
“Anyway, shouldn’t you be heading back to the infirmary soon? You mentioned something about three hours, right? Sorry for dragging you into this mess.”
“No, if anything, it was my—well, Stella’s—fault…”
“It’s fine. Honestly, putting those ‘Young Lions’ in their place was pretty satisfying. Take care. I’ll let Medical know I kept you. Wouldn’t want you getting in trouble on my account.”
“You too, Lady Luzor. Be safe.”
They exchanged light nods before parting ways.
Time was ticking.
Soon, months of drifting would begin. In Lillian’s past life, they’d made it back to Earth without a single casualty—a miracle.
Would things play out the same this time?
“If I leave it to them, it should be fine…”
But history had shifted, even if only slightly.
Would the earlier commotion steer things for better or worse? If Lillian’s actions changed the outcome… what was she supposed to do? She’d sworn not to interfere, yet here she was, making waves.
“Too late for regrets now.”
Whatever happens, happens.
“Oh, right.”
A thought struck Lillian.
“I should head to the bridge.”
She turned toward the heart of the ship—the bridge.
If anything did go wrong, being there would at least give her a fighting chance to react.
Also check out my friend Localizermeerkat for more LN translations!
BUY THE SOURCE MATERIAL TO SUPPORT THE AUTHOR !!!
Kindly click on the green button above and contribute to filling the green bar if you’re interested in having another LN from the request page translated. Also, every donation is being used to purchase the source material and to fund more English translations.
Please consider joining my Ko-Fi membership. By becoming a member, you’ll also gain access to 2-10 additional chapters of all of the novels from this site translated into English. Last but not least your support will also assist me in upholding the translation quality and speed. For more information, please follow the link.
Donation for faster release is always welcome
Additionally, I am now accepting translation requests.
