[FMMIKA] Chapter 233: Arrived on the Moon

Year 500 AD, the Battle of Ctesiphon erupted.

After receiving paid assistance from the Holy Roman Empire, Justinian couldn't wait any longer. He decided to launch an offensive against the Sasanian Empire.

Despite the Holy Roman Empire's military advisors believing that Justinian's army fell short of matching the average standards of the Holy Roman legions, the Eastern Romans considered their new army, named the New Silver Shields by Emperor Justinian, as the elite of the elite. They believed the Sasanians were certainly no match for them.

The ensuing war would prove this point.

With the traditional naval power of the Holy Roman Empire, armed with Greek fire, and a new-style army equipped and trained by the Holy Romans, they struck both on land and sea, thoroughly defeating the Sasanians and reclaiming Armenia.

Justinian's forces were divided into three, entering Mesopotamia and besieging the Sasanian capital of Ctesiphon. They aimed to replicate the way Emperor Trajan had pummeled the Parthians, completely crushing the Sasanians.

Tens of thousands of troops on both sides engaged in continuous battles and maneuvers, making it the most significant event of the year in world history.

In the same year, the Holy Roman Empire launched a manned spacecraft and landed on the moon.

===

"So, this is the Moon? Kind of underwhelming."

Artorius, without the cumbersome space suit, casually walked out of the spaceship in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, commenting on the desolate and lifeless lunar environment.

Crimson Moon, standing behind him, couldn't help but roll her eyes and feel a bit uneasy.

It was like a girl from a poor family bringing her boyfriend home and looking at the bare, unpainted walls, feeling embarrassed.

"Well, let's get to work."

Ignoring Crimson Moon's discomfort, Artorius snapped his fingers, and the spacecraft behind him began to transform at lightning speed.

This device, known as the pinnacle of the Holy Roman Empire's science and magecraft, transformed like a wriggling ball of metallic slime, dividing rapidly into smaller spheres.

This device drew inspiration from the concept of 'Volumen Hydrargyrum'. Naturally, it was more refined, smarter, and, of course, more expensive.

These spheres began to work in a coordinated manner. Some started digging, some began construction, and others disgorged their contents.

Among them were large-scale bounded field generators capable of withstanding meteorites and cosmic rays from outer space, signal transmitters, and various electronic devices.

"..."

Watching these metallic slime-like entities, referred to by Artorius as 'Swarm Bots', working efficiently, Crimson Moon's emotions were mixed.

It felt like when she brought her boyfriend home for the first time, and he immediately started cleaning, doing laundry, sweeping the floor, and picking up trash. Her emotions were complex—a mixture of happiness, slight annoyance, shyness, and a strange sense of pride.

"Don't just stand there, help out."

Turning around and seeing Crimson Moon still frozen in place, Artorius spoke to her in that manner. Regardless of her thoughts, he didn't care and completely ignored them. Now that they had made an agreement, he would utilize her as much as possible.

"..."

Crimson Moon did not respond to Artorius's words. Even if he treated and bossed her around like this, even if his previous promises now seemed genuine, what did it matter? Was she supposed to obediently serve him, obey him like an underling?

What a joke.

"I know." Crimson Moon said calmly. In the end, she relented.

The next moment, Artorius arrived on the inner side of the Moon. This was the Moon's 'true' side.

This was a small space created by Crimson Moon, like a whole complete little world.

"Turning this place into the empire's secret base, no problem?"

"It should be... I guess?"

"You don't seem very confident."

"..."

"Oh, by the way, with Gaia's help, the empire has already established several secret bases on Earth..."

"..."

As Artorius mentioned this, Crimson Moon's gaze towards him turned unfriendly.

"I won't lose to her."

While Crimson Moon and Artorius were talking, the Imperial mages who had come with them were excitedly looking around, their eyes filled with curiosity.

Some were holding magical magnifying glasses, others had magical detectors, and they were all pointing and gesturing as if they were captivated by the never-before-seen scenery of the moon.

"Let's make a big impact here!"

Artorius looked around and then loudly addressed the surrounding mages, causing cheers among them.

The Moon, which had been silent for countless years, suddenly became lively. The construction proceeded at an extremely fast pace, changing day by day.

A vast silver-white expanse spread across the Moon's surface at an average rate of thousands of square kilometers per day.

A series of magic and technological laboratories as well as manufacturing factories were being built under the tireless work of swarm bots, day and night.

They even created vegetable gardens and plantations on the Moon, along with fish ponds and breeding grounds.

The entire moon seemed to be thriving.

'This guy might really be able to accomplish something.'

Watching Artorius efficiently manage a large number of people for construction every day, Crimson Moon couldn't help but have that thought.

Although the other Artorias who had come here were quite casual and didn't take the Moon too seriously, some even made fun of Crimson Moon for her lack of experience. It seemed they weren't particularly fond of their prospective daughter-in-law (Crimson Moon).

But Crimson Moon didn't mind.

She didn't care about Artorias' snide remarks, teasing, or nitpicking. After all, she wasn't actually romantically involved with Artorius.

What mattered most was what she could gain.

Artorius, on the other hand, seemed concerned that Crimson Moon might be upset by the Artorias' bullying, so he consoled her to some extent:

"The first cry of a genius can't possibly be a beautiful melody. We've only just begun."

This slightly increased Crimson Moon's favorability toward him.

"So, what's next?"

"Take me to that place." Artorius continued, saying to Crimson Moon, "Let's go see the Vanguard of the Umbral Star (the Velber)."

"And we also need to retrieve our frigate ship, Retribution." Artoria Species, 999, said from the other side, receiving responses from the other Artorias.