What is this Dimensional Chat???

My name is Akiko Hoshino, and my life has been nothing short of a cruel joke.

My father—if I can still call him that—betrayed my mother, tearing our family apart and leaving us to fend for ourselves. As if that wasn't enough, he left behind a mountain of debt, forcing us to live under constant harassment from loan sharks.

But the universe wasn't done playing with me.

I thought I had found a spark of happiness in my bleak existence when I met Arashi, my charming and experienced senior at work. He was everything I admired—charismatic, supportive, and kind. He made me feel special, showering me with attention and inviting me for coffee after work.

And then… he confessed.

For a brief moment, I allowed myself to believe in love. Our secret relationship blossomed, and for the first time in years, I felt truly happy.

Until I found out the truth.

He had someone else. I was nothing more than a fleeting distraction to him.

The betrayal shattered me. From then on, I distanced myself from men, quit my job, and fell into a monotonous cycle of work, gaming, and reading inside my tiny apartment. My only solace was escaping into the pages of my favorite novel, "The Reaper Princess." It told the tale of Roxana, a villainess princess who fought against fate to bring peace to her war-torn kingdom from the shadows.

If only I could be like her—strong, fearless, and free.

But reality was cruel.

One fateful night, after another exhausting shift at my dead-end job, my body finally gave in. I died.

•

When my eyes fluttered open, I wasn't in my tiny Tokyo apartment anymore.

Instead, I found myself in an extravagant Japanese-style bedroom, the warm sunlight filtering through intricate silk curtains. The scent of fresh tatami filled the air, and luxurious furniture surrounded me.

Then, I noticed something else.

"My hands... Why are they so small?!"

A startled maid rushed to my bedside. "Your Highness! You're awake!"

"...Huh?" My mind struggled to process the situation.

"You've been unwell for days, Princess Fratria," the maid continued with visible relief. "Shall I call for the physician? Or summon your parents?"

Princess? Me?

Wait. WAIT.

I scrambled to look at my reflection in a nearby mirror—only to see a tiny five-year-old girl with cat ears and a fluffy tail staring back at me.

'Oh no. No, no, no. Not another cruel joke from the universe!'

"What kingdom is this? Who are my parents?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

The maid gave me an odd look. "My, my, such curiosity for a child! But of course, this is the Tempest Empire. Your mother, Lady Fran, is one of the emperor's consorts and a legendary swordswoman. Feared by many, admired by all—her sword skills are unmatched in battle."

My heart dropped.

"...Did you just say 'one of many consorts'?" My voice cracked.

The maid nodded, beaming with pride. "Indeed! His Majesty, the Golden Emperor, rules the empire with unmatched strength and wisdom. Not many know his true name, but he is our guiding light, a strategic genius, and—"

I tuned her out. Harem? WHY?!

Just when I thought I had escaped my past, I got thrown into a family situation that was just as bad—if not worse.

Before I could process my impending mental breakdown, a loud voice echoed from the hallway.

"Make way! The Emperor is here!"

"Glory to the Golden Emperor, the Padishah of Rum, Commander of the Faithful, and successor of the prophet of the Lord of the Universe, Custodian of the Invincible Golden Wall of the two horns that pierce the sky which protect us from the ravages of our enemy!"

"Leave us alone."

The Royal Guard and Maid bowed to him, leaving the room as ordered.

The room fell into a heavy silence.

Then, he walked in.

The Golden Emperor.

A towering presence, clad in resplendent armor that gleamed like the sun. Symbolized power, unity, and absolute authority. His features were sharp—dangerously handsome, like a male lead from a fantasy novel.

For a split second, I was dazzled.

'Wait. No. Focus! This man might kill me if he finds out I'm not his real daughter!'

He stepped forward, his golden eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

Then, without warning, he lifted me into his arms.

I stiffened, panicked beyond belief.

"...You are different," he murmured, his grip tightening slightly. "And yet… your soul remains the same."

He knows.

I felt my entire body turn cold. 'Oh no. OH NO. I've been caught!'

His next words sent me spiraling further into terror.

"Who are you?" His voice was low, almost playful—but his eyes gleamed with an unreadable expression.

Before I could even think of an answer, the room darkened.

Shadows twisted unnaturally. An eerie, ghostly presence filled the air, and the walls seemed to close in.

Was he using magic to intimidate me?!

"I will give you three seconds," he said, his deep voice sending shivers down my tiny spine. "If you do not answer… I will eat you whole. Like a cake."

…

What.

I blanked. My brain completely short-circuited.

Then—

"WAAAAAHHHHH!!"

I burst into tears, overwhelmed by sheer terror.

At that exact moment, a blur of black fur stormed into the room.

"What on earth are you doing?!"

A beautiful cat-eared woman—elegant yet fierce—rushed over and snatched me into her arms, glaring daggers at the emperor.

"Satria, explain yourself!"

The Golden Emperor—my so-called father—immediately looked sheepish.

"...It was just a prank, Fran."

"A PRANK?! YOU MADE OUR CHILD CRY!!" My mother's ears twitched in fury as she hugged me protectively.

"...Ah." He cleared his throat. "I may have… miscalculated."

"Miscalculated?!" she growled. "You need to apologize, right now!"

I peeked at the emperor through teary eyes, sniffling.

Sighing in defeat, he knelt down and gently patted my head. "Fratria, I am sorry. I did not mean to frighten you. It was supposed to be… amusing."

'Amusing?! What kind of family did I reincarnate into?!'

"How about," he added, clearing his throat, "we go get some ice cream?"

My ears perked up.

Mother's eyes sparkled. "Ice cream?"

"...Yes. As an apology."

I sniffled again but gave a small nod. Ice cream… did sound tempting.

And so, my new, chaotic life as Princess Fratria of the Tempest Empire began.

Between a prankster emperor for a father, a fierce cat-girl mother, and an empire full of secrets, one thing was certain—

This world was going to be absolute madness.

•

It has been five years since I became Fratria Tempest, daughter of the Golden Emperor.

Living with this family… is an experience. They're a bizarre mix of personalities, races, beliefs, and ideologies—yet somehow, they function better than any family I've ever known.

Perhaps it's because this empire is built on diversity and tolerance. My father ensures that all cultures and faiths are respected, blending traditions in ways I never imagined. Take, for example, our yearly gatherings:

'Halal Bihalal', where the entire family gathers to seek forgiveness, mend relationships, and strengthen bonds.

'Christmas Time', where we exchange gifts and create cherished memories together.

It doesn't matter what belief you hold—we celebrate together.

At first, I thought my father was a terrifying womanizing bastard. A damn emperor with a harem? What kind of father does that?!

…Then I got to know him.

Turns out, he's just a giant child in a man's body—one moment a playful prankster, the next a wise and strategic ruler. He's both the most powerful emperor in existence and an idiot who pouts when ignored. Over time, I got used to his antics.

His greatest strength? His vision.

He built an empire that respects tradition and progress alike. Nations admire our prosperity, technology, and breathtaking cities—especially the "dummy city" in the Central Worlds, a gleaming marvel meant to impress outsiders.

But they don't know the truth.

The real heart of our empire lies on Planet Juran, a world far beyond their imagination. While they marvel at our "advanced" dummy city, they have no idea that it's just a fraction of what we're truly capable of.

And when war comes?

We offer mercy and protection… but on our terms. Some nations are cautious. Others are foolish enough to attack. They don't last long. If you let an idiot rule, don't be surprised when your civilization collapses in minutes.

Religion in the Tempest Empire is… unique.

All religions coexist except the bad one and bloody commies are forbidden to exist here. And then there's a new faith: the Imperial Cult, where people worship my father as a god.

He hates it.

He never wanted to be seen as divine, just as a leader guiding his people to unity. But when you keep performing miracles left and right, it's kind of hard not to be worshipped, right?

Language? We created our own: Tempest Language, a blend of Japanese, English, and Bahasa Indonesia. It's a symbol of unity, a national identity, and a practical way to bridge cultures.

Of course, bilingual education is still encouraged. We don't believe in isolation.

I've read plenty of reincarnation stories.

I thought I'd be ecstatic to have a new life in a world like this.

But the truth is… I don't know how to behave in this family.

The kindness I receive here is overwhelming. It's so different from my past life, where betrayal and loneliness were all I knew.

I am broken.

Even though my parents know about my past trauma, they don't treat me differently. They support me unconditionally—like I'm truly their daughter.

And yet…

I avoid my father.

I know he wants to be closer to me. I see the way he tries—but the scars of my past make it so hard to let him in.

He is not a perfect father, but he is so much better than the man who abandoned me and my mother in my previous life.

I want to move forward. I really do.

Here he comes, the Emperor of Puppy. I'm sorry, please... Give me more time to recover, father.

"Fratria-chan~! Want to come with us to—"

Before he could finish, I turned away and walked off without a word.

Satria froze. His bright expression dimmed instantly, his shoulders slumping.

"…Ignored again," he muttered, visibly deflating. His golden eyes, usually filled with confidence, now held the sad, disappointed look of a kicked puppy.

The three little girls standing beside him giggled and hugged him tightly in comfort.

"What's her problem?" Valiana daughter pouted, crossing her arms. "Don't worry, Daddy! You still have me, the Azure Dragon Emperor!"

"Me too. I love you, Daddy~" Ophis daughter chimed in, clinging to his side.

'… Onee-san.' Koneko daughter muttered shyly, tugging at his sleeve.

As the girls giggled, someone else watched silently.

A lone figure, standing at a distance, eyes following the direction I had gone.

•

Every dawn, Fratria Tempest stood alone in the training grounds, her katana a blur of steel and discipline as it cut through the crisp morning air.

Her strikes were precise, relentless—each one an exorcism of the past.

The grounds echoed with the clash of metal and the steady rhythm of her controlled breathing. This was her sanctuary. A place where she could forget.

Or at least, try to.

"You push yourself too hard, Fratria."

A voice from the spectator's seat pulled her from her thoughts.

She turned sharply, her grip on the katana tightening.

"But even the strongest need to rest and heal."

Her eyes widened

"W-W-What do you need from me, Brother Vergilnava?"

She stumbled over her words, her heartbeat quickening.

Her brother. Her beloved brother.

Fratria's heart fluttered like a butterfly caught in the wind.

He was different from anyone in this family. He spoke in riddles, in wisdom beyond his years. Many called him the pride of the Tempest name, the one who walked the path of enlightenment.

Whenever someone asked him how he achieved such wisdom, his answer was always the same:

"The more I tried to achieve, the more I was at a loss. I could not achieve it. So how can I say I have achieved?

The more I tried, the more I was involved. I could not achieve it. The mind was trying to transcend itself, which was impossible.

It is just like trying to be a father to yourself, just trying to give birth to yourself.

I can only say I have lost something—the ego, the mind—I have not achieved anything at all.

Now I know that all that I have was always there. It was in every stone, every flower.

Only I was blind.

So, I have lost my blindness—I have not achieved anything. I have lost something."

Vergilnava Tempest, the Enlightened Dragon.

The strongest dragon in the empire.

Some whispered that his power rivaled even the Golden Emperor himself.

Yet, despite his strength, he never boasted, never sought admiration.

His kindness was his greatest weapon.

Where others would judge, he forgave.

Where others would abandon, he offered a hand.

Even to those who did not deserve it.

He would always give a second chance.

Vergilnava smiled warmly, stepping closer.

"I only wanted to make sure you were okay." His voice was gentle, soothing. "Is something wrong?"

Fratria hesitated, her grip tightening on her katana.

"Nothing," she murmured.

Then, after a long pause—

"I just… remember the past. I feel like I don't belong anywhere. I don't want to feel this pain anymore."

Vergilnava's golden eyes softened.

His heart ached at her words.

He reached out—but didn't touch her, giving her space.

"Fratria," his voice was barely a whisper, filled with quiet understanding.

"I'm sorry you're going through this. It must be incredibly hard."

She didn't reply, just stared at the ground.

"But I want you to know something," he continued. "Your life is precious. Even when it feels unbearable, there is hope. And a future beyond this pain."

Fratria's lips parted slightly, as if to argue.

But he didn't let her.

"Sometimes it feels like it'll never get better," he acknowledged. "But pain is temporary, even when it doesn't seem like it."

"There are people who care about you. Like me. Like our family. Even if you don't feel it right now."

Fratria exhaled slowly, shoulders relaxing.

"…But what if it never gets better?"

Vergilnava smiled gently.

"Then we'll keep walking forward, together."

A beat of silence.

Then—slowly—she nodded.

"Maybe… maybe I'll try."

Vergilnava's smile brightened. He reached out—this time, not hesitating—and gently patted her head.

"Good girl."

Her cheeks warmed instantly.

Vergilnava had that effect on her—his smile like warm sunlight, his presence like a gentle breeze.

She had to stop this.

'Stop! Don't fall harder, Fratria! It's forbidden!'

She squeezed her eyes shut.

'Control yourself! You're stronger than this!'

Not far away, a pair of watchful eyes observed the scene.

A woman with long black hair and a knowing smile.

The Blade of the Golden Emperor.

Fran.

She watched as her daughter melted under Vergilnava's touch, as if seeing a version of herself from long ago.

The warmth in Fratria's eyes, the soft blush on her face—it reminded Fran of her own youth.

A nostalgic sigh escaped her lips.

"Fran… No."

A voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

Fran turned, grinning mischievously.

"You can't stop me, Master. I will do anything for my beloved daughter's happiness."

"That's not the problem!" the voice groaned in frustration. "Geez…" The sentient sword sighed dramatically, stretching. "I miss the days when you were just a cute, innocent little girl."

To be continued...