The Secret of the Awakened

Although Shinosuke and the others have arrived at the Wesley Central Colony, they can't afford to stay long.

Since the Damura Star Cluster Commonwealth Fleet is at a disadvantage in space combat, there's a risk the colony could be captured, so they must depart immediately after unloading their cargo.

Even so, due to unloading and paperwork, they won't be able to set sail for several hours.

As usual, Shinnosuke left the cargo inspection to Marks and rested alone in the lounge.

Through the lounge's window—though it looked like a window, it was actually a large monitor—light from a distant fleet battle could be seen.

Though it was terribly insensitive, the flashing of intersecting laser beams and the brilliant glimmers from destroyed ships were strangely beautiful.

"Master Shinnosuke..."

Without turning around, Shinnosuke replied to the voice calling from behind.

"Are you sure you should be resting? You pushed yourself pretty hard, didn't you?"

"I'm fine. I'm just a little tired, but I'll recover soon."

Milena sat across from Shinnosuke, yet her expression lacked the usual confidence and sharp elegance she usually carried.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of help until the very end, even though I volunteered myself."

Milena spoke with regret, but Shinnosuke gently shook his head in response.

"It's not you who needs to apologize, Milena. It's me who should be apologizing. As captain, I failed to pay attention to the crew's condition. I'm truly sorry."

"But, Lord Shinnosuke, you—"

"More importantly, there's something else I'd like to ask you, Milena."

"..."

I've watched Miliena use her ability countless times before. I know she's secretly peeked at me half-jokingly on occasion. That's why I've always believed her ability didn't burden her. But it seems my assumption was a huge mistake....What exactly happened? Was her exhaustion caused by using her ability, Miliena?

Milena silently nodded in response to Shinosuke's question.

"...At times of urgency, unconscious manifestations or minor foresight and mind-reading don’t strain me much. But if I continuously and endlessly repeat foresight, my brain’s processing capacity simply can’t keep up. The level I experienced earlier was just exhausting to body and mind. However, if I repeatedly push beyond my limits with increasingly complex calculations, my brain’s nerves can literally burn out, leading to lasting damage."

Shin nosuke's expression grew stern.

"That's incredibly dangerous!"

"No, I merely pushed myself a little too hard today. I promise I won't overexert myself again in the future."

"...But honestly, while I understand it's unavoidable in an emergency, I don't want Milena using her abilities from now on. I can't bear the thought of her being harmed by some unknown power."

Milena gave a faint smile in response to Shinnosuke's words.

"I'm really fine. My Awakening ability isn't anything extraordinary. It's so simple, so insignificant, that the imperial royal family goes to great lengths to hide the secrets of Awakening abilities..."

Milena opened her third eye, her crimson forehead eye locking onto Shinnosuke's.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Will you listen to me? The secrets of our Awakening abilities. Once you hear them, there's no going back..."

The long-held secret of Awakening abilities, protected and concealed by the Rimuria Galactic Empire as a matter of state.

Even Milena, who had fled the empire, had once jokingly attempted to share this secret with Shinnosuke—but in truth, she had stubbornly kept it locked away.

Milena stared intently at Shinnosuke, her expression anxious yet resolute, her three eyes fixed unflinchingly on him.

Shinnosuke did not hesitate.

He knew Milena likely already foresaw this decision, perhaps even read his thoughts.

"I'll hear it. I need to know—for our future's sake."

Milena nodded happily in response to Shinnosuke's words.

"I'll tell you. A secret so shocking, it'll leave you stunned—something hidden deep within the empire."

"……"

"Our Awakening abilities are nothing more than the accumulation of simple knowledge and experience, the result of brain computation."

"Wha—?"

Shinnosuke's expression froze in shock, just as Milena had predicted.

"Kukuku... See? You're surprised, aren't you? But it's true. It's not just my precognition or mind-reading—awakened ones' abilities, at their core, are simply the brain computing results based on the knowledge and experiences they've acquired. Of course, our awakened brains process information at a level incomparably beyond that of ordinary humans like you, Shinno, and our forehead eyes gather visual data in ways utterly unlike normal humans. In that sense, they're special abilities, but they're absolutely not supernatural forces."

According to Milena's explanation, the mechanism behind awakenings has also been clarified: individuals awaken once they accumulate knowledge and experience through growth and meet certain specified conditions.

It does make sense, but ultimately, it seems to be a special ability that we ourselves can't attain...

Even so, Master Shin nosuke does possess abilities far surpassing mine.

"Huh?"

It's the judgment based on Captain Shinnosuke's experience at sea. Haven't we already experienced this before? He's sensed danger earlier than my foresight and made accurate decisions to escape crises. That's essentially the same as our abilities. In fact, Captain Shinnosuke's experience and judgment surpass my own experience and processing capabilities.

Shinnosuke tilted his head.

"I kind of get the reality of awakened abilities. But why does the Empire hide this fact so thoroughly? I don't think it's such a big secret, just as Milryna said?"

Milryna shrugged in response to Shinnosuke's question.

"To preserve the authority and dignity of the imperial family and the nobility."

It was said that this ability was once common among Imperial humans, but due to prolonged interactions with other galactic civilizations, the Imperial bloodline has gradually diluted, causing fewer people to possess the ability.

Amidst this, the imperial family and nobility have preserved their lineage within their narrow world, minimizing the impact of this dilution, and individuals who still awaken the ability exist to this day.

The empire, exploiting this situation, frames the awakening ability as something mystical, instilling a sense of chosenness in its citizens to mentally dominate them and maintain its state structure.

"In the end, the Rimurian Galactic Empire has reached the point where it can't survive without such measures. Perhaps this war is merely intended to divert the nation's attention outward."

Shin nosuke nodded.

"If that's the case, the Empire might already be in a dangerously unstable state."

"Yes, indeed. But we're in the same dangerous condition, aren't we?"

"Hmm? What do you mean by that?"

I did say it, didn’t I? Once you hear this, there’s no going back. I’ve already told Shinnosuke-sama about the Empire’s secrets. But that alone doesn’t violate the obligation imposed on exiles—namely, not to do anything that harms the nation. After all, this conversation is between just the two of us. Still, there are awakened individuals within the Imperial Army. It’s possible someone among them might anticipate our situation.

"You can't just leave us as we are..."

"Yes. To preserve the Empire's authority and dignity. Therefore, Lord Shinosuke must make a choice."

"A choice?"

"Either keep me by your side and face danger together, or abandon me and distance yourself. If you separate from me now, I believe you'll no longer be targeted."

Milena looks at Shinosuke with an upward glance, her third eye open.

His expression looked uneasy.

Shinnosuke let out a deep sigh.

There's no room for choice. I have no intention of letting go of Milena. My company isn't that kind of ruthless business.

Even if your life is being targeted?

"That's a bit late now. I'm already being targeted by some of the Acneria Army. Being hunted by the Empire now wouldn't make much difference."

Milena's expression brightened instantly at Shinosuke's indifferent demeanor.

"Then, I may remain by your side from now on, correct?"

"Ah, I'll be counting on you from now on."

"Shinosuke-sama, we shall walk through life together as companions, forever, yes?"

"Those are two different things entirely."

Shinosuke wasn't swept away by Miliena's enthusiasm.