Crossover Shipgirls: Building a Dimensional Empire from Scratch

”If I had come in a starship, the Master of Synapse probably would’ve noticed me.”

”But this is magic-based. I believe Synapse as it is now can’t comprehend such power.”

Setsuna held Mio in his arms as he spoke.

When facing underdeveloped magical civilizations, advanced technology could steamroll them.

But for Synapse, a civilization that had maxed out its tech tree, using unreasonable magic could give them a little shock.

”...”

Daedalus studied the Spirit of Origin for a while,

Then sighed, suppressing her curiosity for the moment.

Since no universal angels had shown up yet, that meant the Master of Synapse hadn’t detected anything.

”I’ve introduced myself already, so how about you?”

”Want something to eat? Tell me more about yourself and Synapse.”

Setsuna looked at Daedalus with interest and pulled out various snacks from other worlds from his storage.

Some were proper confections, others were bizarre like torpedo tempura or dishes from Tohru’s homeland.

”...”

Daedalus glanced at the torpedo on the table and gave Setsuna a look of genuine respect.

She picked out a bag of chips and began to talk.

She was Synapse’s greatest scientist and the creator of the first-generation universal angels.

She had lived through unfathomable ages, witnessing Synapse’s rise and fall.

Daedalus was in command of Synapse’s three most powerful military-grade angel robots: Ikaros, Nymph, and Astraea.

Before being imprisoned, she was also one of Synapse’s leaders.

”Mm... during one mission, Ikaros had a malfunction and nearly destroyed Synapse...”

”Later, due to some conflicts between me and Minos, he launched a coup and imprisoned me here. But it was more like a restriction of movement than complete isolation.”

”You don’t get along with the Master of Synapse? Why exactly?”

Kurumi Tokisaki asked with curiosity.

”That would take too long to explain.”

”Our conflict dates back to before this world was even created. We’ve had grudges for eons.”

Daedalus shook her head.

”Things like how to use the Wishing Stone Tablet, how universal angels should be built, how Synapse should be governed... if we use your calendar, it’s been at least a million years.”

”Still, he didn’t kill me. Even though Minos is Synapse’s supreme leader, he can’t act entirely on his own. For Synapse, I’m more valuable alive than dead.”

”Though admittedly, very few here are still awake. Most of them are already lost in their dreams.”

When she mentioned the current state of Synapse’s people, Daedalus looked conflicted.

The entire civilization was essentially daydreaming. Most of Synapse’s administrative functions had been handed over to the universal angels—robots.

The few conscious individuals left were people like Minos, whose mental state was... unstable.

Minos himself wanted to enter the dream world too, but as the Master of Synapse, he wasn’t allowed to.

Without him, there would be no one left to manage Synapse.

”What about the Wishing Stone Tablet? Can’t you use it to wish for something like universal happiness, or for everyone to stop escaping into dreams?”

Tohru asked, resting her chin on her hand.

”It doesn’t work that way.”

Daedalus shook her head.

”Abstract wishes like that can’t be fulfilled by the tablet. It can only alter the world by manipulating laws.”

”Sometimes the results of a wish are unpredictable, which is why we haven’t used it much lately.”

Setsuna closed his eyes, recalling something.

Indeed, the Wishing Stone Tablet wasn’t as wonderful as it seemed. It was somewhat like the Holy Grail—granting wishes in unpredictable ways.

For example, if one wished for world peace, it might wipe out all humans to achieve it.

”So this is the price of taking a shortcut to omnipotence?”

”It seems having the power to make any wish come true isn’t necessarily a good thing...”

Belfast sighed.

A super-civilization reduced to this was quite a sobering thought.

After some continued discussion,

Daedalus suddenly remembered something.

”Setsuna, hold on. I have a request.”

She got up and walked into another room.

After a few minutes of tinkering, she returned with a pink-haired angel.

She bowed slightly to Setsuna.

”I originally planned to deploy Ikaros to the surface, hoping that she might one day return to Synapse and rescue me.”

”But since you’ve already solved the problem... I’ll entrust her to you. She might be of some help.”

”You’re very interested in her, aren’t you?”

Setsuna couldn’t help but smile when he saw her.

Ikaros.

She was indeed one of the main reasons he’d come to the Heaven’s Lost Property world.

Daedalus really understood him.

The girl stood beside Daedalus with her head lowered and eyes closed, as if asleep.

She had long, uneven pink hair and two long braids wrapped with red ribbons flowing down her back.

She wore a silver-white, somewhat revealing battle outfit, with wing-like tassels at the hem, a pleated miniskirt, light blue thigh high stockings, and armor on her shoulders, arms, and legs.

Around her neck was the signature choker of an universal angel, and her wings were a faint pink.

In terms of figure, Ikaros could rival even an aircraft carrier.

Standing next to her, Belfast felt a subtle sense of crisis.

”This is Ikaros, the Queen of the Sky, my creation and the strongest universal battle angel in Synapse.”

”She possesses the power to destroy an entire nation single-handedly. During one mission, a malfunction caused her to crash-land on Earth, where she bonded with a human and was ordered to retaliate against Synapse, nearly destroying it.”

”Afterward, she was subdued and part of her power was sealed by the Synapse council. Even so, you won’t find a stronger universal angel in all of Synapse.”

As Daedalus spoke of her creation, pride mixed with a touch of regret filled her voice.

”Thank you.”

Setsuna nodded, unable to suppress the smile on his lips.

”I remember you always considered Ikaros your daughter. You’re just handing her over to me like this?”

He had expected a lot more negotiation.

This woman had always treated Ikaros like a precious treasure.

”Logically speaking, you came here to save me, even at risk to yourself. I don’t believe you have bad intentions.”

”As a partner in this cooperation, I should offer something of equal sincerity.”

Daedalus paused, then answered seriously.

”I believe you’ll take good care of her.”

Maybe it was the intuition of someone who had lived for countless eras, but she didn’t think Setsuna was a bad person.

At the very least, he was far better than the rest of Synapse.

”Mm, don’t worry.”

Setsuna agreed. With the advanced engineering tech back at the base, Ikaros could become even stronger.

At the very least, she could be outfitted with the Erosion-series weapons and given starship-grade mobility.

Beep—

Daedalus gently pressed the back of Ikaros’ neck.

The girl’s tightly shut eyes slowly opened, revealing emerald-green irises.

Ikaros showed no expression. She scanned Setsuna briefly before speaking in a detached voice:

”Imprinting, begin.”

The black collar around her neck began to elongate, wrapping itself around Setsuna’s hand.

Then,

Ikaros knelt down, bowed her head, and greeted him.

”Nice to meet you. I am an entertainment-use artificial angel, model: Ikaros. I have come to serve you, my Master.”

”...”

Witnessing Ikaros’ signature greeting left everyone with complicated expressions.

Even though they already knew her true identity, the concept of an ”entertainment-use angel” was difficult not to react to.

Especially seeing a beautiful girl angel kneeling, collared, with a chain held in Setsuna’s hand—

It looked disturbingly like some questionable roleplay.

”Ara, Setsuna, so you had this kind of interest?”

Kurumi Tokisaki’s eyes glinted with mischief.

”Hmm, while I am willing to follow my dear husband’s wishes, being led around like a puppy might be a bit too much...”

”Really now, I’ve already been doing my best to meet all of Setsuna’s needs...”

”...”

”Don’t talk nonsense, Kurumi.”

Mio ruffled Kurumi’s hair, and she obediently quieted down.

As the Spirit of Origin, she was essentially Kurumi’s spiritual parent—not someone to be trifled with.

On the other side,

Seeing Setsuna unresponsive,

Ikaros looked up again, puffing out her chest slightly as she spoke softly:

”Master?”

”Is there something you need Ikaros to do?”

”Tsk—”

Setsuna’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to the overwhelming presence in front of Ikaros.

Omnipotent gravity!

The greater the mass, the stronger the pull!

Even if Kurumi stood before him in a bikini, he could keep a straight face.

But in front of Ikaros? Impossible!

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