Heavenly Swords of the Twin Stars

In his past life, Chou Sekiei was the undefeated war hero Kou Eihou—no pressure, right? Now, a thousand years later, all he wants is to get a nice, cushy job as a civil official and build a quiet life for himself. Too bad that he still has fighting prowess he can’t explain. Too bad that as a child, he was taken in by a renowned general and trained alongside Chou Hakurei, famed for her talent and beauty. Too bad that he’s gotten into rescuing pretty (and pretty immature) merchant prodigies. Sekiei was really looking forward to some peace and quiet so he could kick back and read, but when the foreign nation of Gen launches an invasion that triggers war, he’s forced to put his books down. With the power of skills he’d hoped never to put to use again, Sekiei will once more have to make a name on the battlefield... Will he and his friends be enough to save their homeland?

Sekiei and Hakurei have successfully fended off Gen’s assault on Keiyou, but the situation remains dire for the Ei Empire. The country’s former ally Seitou has joined the enemy, and now the western border stands open and hostile. With tensions continuing to rise and infighting commonplace within the capital’s courts, invading Seitou—however inadvisable—has become inevitable. A strategist to devise tactics and navigate the political waters is sorely needed, so when the self-professed ascendant who helped Meirin unearth the Heavenly Swords arrives in Keiyou, the answer has practically fallen into Sekiei’s lap...or so it would seem, were she not absolutely against participating in war. With the odds stacked against them and the armies from Gen and Seitou looming, Sekiei knows that Ei’s and the Chou family’s soldiers will need it all—Ruri’s wisdom, Hakurei’s leadership, and Meirin’s connections, along with his own strength and skill—if any of them are to survive the upcoming battle.

An invasion from the powerful Gen Empire is on the horizon, and after the ill-fated Seitou battle left the Chou family army as the only military force able to defend Ei, Emperor Adai Dada plans on completely wiping them off the map with a final attack. Unfortunately for Sekiei and Hakurei, overwhelming external threats aren’t the only thing they have to deal with; spies, conspiracies, and corruption are flourishing within Ei’s borders. These are the worst odds they’ve ever faced, but that won’t stop them. With just a genius merchant, a strategist, and the unwavering loyalty of their outnumbered soldiers, this undefeated general princess and reincarnated legendary hero must stand between Ei and total destruction. The stage is set for the final showdown.

In the six months since Gen rejected Ei’s attempt at bartering peace, Sekiei, Hakurei, and the others have sheltered themselves in the western regions, guided there by Oto. Though Oto is the strategist Ruri’s attendant, her true identity is that of U Torahime, the daughter of the U family. Within that same time period, the White Wraith Adai Dada and his armies have encroached further and further into Ei territory, and the nation is in dire straits. With nowhere else to turn, Kou Miu, the younger sister of the emperor who ordered Chou Tairan’s death, comes pleading for the Chou and U families’ help. The decision they face is a tough one. Should they stay in the western regions where it’s safe? Or should they risk their lives to defend the very nation and sovereign that have wronged their family for so long? The curtain rises on Ei’s counterattack, and Miu may just be the key to victory.

With the help of his friends, Sekiei successfully manages to defend the city of Butoku from a sustained attack by Orid Dada, a Gen noble who is a powerful general in their army, but Rinkei remains in grave danger as the White Wraith and his troops continue their advance on the capital. Emperor Adai isn’t the only threat to Ei, however; having fallen for the machinations of an organization maneuvering in the shadows, Jo Hiyou prepares to make his move as well. But now is the time for a counterattack. After deciding that their next move should be to liberate the Chou army’s homeland of Keiyou from Gen control, strategist Ruri comes up with a plan that will fully utilize the Princess Imperial, Kou Miu, and the Heirloom Seal of the Realm. The naive princess’s time with the Chou and U armies has revealed the reality her people and country face, and her resolve may turn out to be the only thing that can stop Ei from being totally destroyed.