Prologue: The Queen's Summoning Decree
In the Liannen Kingdom, on the 500th anniversary of St. Michael, Queen Lydia Belladis Liannen made a shocking announcement.
"The power of the Sacred Flame is steadily weakening. To resolve this, we shall summon beings from other worlds still under the goddess's unyielding domain. Call them 'Users' and treat them with the utmost respect."
The queen had already publicized this fact before, but only to foreign dignitaries. This was the first time she revealed it to the kingdom's citizens and provincial nobles.
Her supreme command left the people bewildered, yet they offered their support. She was the overwhelming leader who had guided the kingdom for 300 years—an unquestionable, wise queen's decision. Those who opposed it...
"Your Majesty! Is that words or shit coming out of your mouth?!"
"Wake up, Queen!"
There were tons of them!
The decision to appoint Sisilia as humanity's proxy? People had shrugged it off with, 'Hmm. Our Sword Princess is... cute, after all.' But summoning complete strangers from another world to decide the kingdom's future—no, humanity's future? The nation was in uproar, as expected.
"Summoning otherworldly beings will only doom the kingdom!"
"The goddess would never approve such a plan!"
As protests threatened to erupt in earnest, something bizarre happened.
"Gasp!"
"I... I support Her Majesty's noble words."
"Just now... I feel like I saw something I shouldn't have."
A strange phenomenon afflicted all the dissenters. Witnesses had no choice but to abandon their opposition. Their stories varied, but the common thread was terrifying: a ferocious cat radiating murderous intent, the kind that made you piss yourself just looking at it.
It became a collective nightmare, and the protesters sank into oblivion. What a cute story.
"That's not cute at all!"
Beatrice knew the culprit behind the vicious cat rumors spreading across the capital. Who else would pull such a weird stunt(?)? Still, she shot a glare at Sisilia, who brazenly muttered, "Heard there was a cat sighting."
"Lady Sisilia. Even if it's urgent, intimidating ordinary citizens is a bit..."
"I'm innocent."
She didn't look innocent, but Sisilia truly was blameless. Beatrice could tell if Sisilia was lying. She was speaking nothing but the truth. So, Beatrice wondered seriously: Then who...?
"Achoo."
"Caught a cold?"
"Nah. Cat hair."
"There are no cats in the palace, though. Don't tell me..."
Lydia shot Erterion a sidelong glance and declared with dignified poise.
"Sir Erterion, prepare yourself. This moment will echo through history."
"Don't change the subject! Don't you pity the poor citizens?!"
"Kyaa! Pervert!"
And so—another peaceful day in the Liannen Kingdom, as always. The grand clock tower of beautiful Terezia struck the hour precisely. January 1st. The citizens of Liannen, who should have gathered in the square to bless the new year, had assembled for a different reason this time.
"It's Her Majesty the Queen."
"First time seeing her."
"She sometimes comes to the market in a maid outfit—didn't you know?"
"...That's not the queen. It's a maid named Lydia."
"Damn, brainwashed."
A massive crowd gathered before the faintly flickering Sacred Flame. They gazed up at the altar's pinnacle. There stood the queen, utterly unlike her usual self. A simple dress. Loose hair. Yet Lydia's inherent majesty showed no sign of fading. If anything, her platinum locks contrasted against the Sacred Flame, proving she was the closest being to the goddess herself.
The naturalized priests clasped their hands and murmured at the sight.
"Saintess—no, calling her that might be disrespectful now."
"...We finally realize how arrogant we were. The true holy nation was right here in Liannen Kingdom."
As national pride swelled the citizens' chests at the priests' words, commotion stirred from all directions.
"Look over there!"
"It's Lady Sisilia!"
"The Windsor Knights are here too!"
Children stared at the Windsor Knights with sparkling eyes. Forty knights strode forward, white capes billowing. The symbol of Liannen Kingdom, the world's finest order. Some kids watched them stone-faced, burning with resolve to one day join their ranks.
"Sisilia Windsor."
The queen spoke clearly from her precarious perch atop the altar. The Windsor Knights halted. From their midst emerged a single girl under escort.
Sisilia, dressed in a simple frock like the queen, approached the Sacred Flame. Lydia commanded her softly.
"Herald the new era."
The Liannen Kingdom's New Year's Festival had a tradition dating back to its founding. At the dawn of the new year, the purest maiden selected by the queen would light the beacon fire. For the past decade, Sisilia had done it every time. Since she was seven.
Edward Windsor knelt before her and offered the bow with utmost courtesy.
"May the light of dawn bloom from your fingertips. Please accept Arcus Aurorae, Lady."
The Dawn Bow, Arcus Aurorae.
'This thing's probably mythic-tier in Another World. Effect's likely a permanent recovery limit break. Essential for demon god subjugation. Wonder which newbie gets it.'
Inside, Sisilia was wagging her tail furiously like a hyper puppy, but outwardly, she received the bow from Edward with a perfectly expressionless face.
"Do it right. Don't break it like last time."
Edward whispered just before departing. Handing over the era-opening bow was always the Windsor Knight Order captain's duty. Receiving it from someone other than Chiron for the first time, Sisilia finally felt the weight of a "new era."
Sisilia held the bow in her right hand, an arrow in her left—and brought the arrow to the Sacred Flame.
Simple, but not easy. The Sacred Flame wouldn't ignite just anything. Only the qualified could light the arrow.
"It's lighting!"
"She always nails this part—the problem's what comes next."
"Our Sword Princess is strong as an ox."
"Hahaha!"
"......"
Sisilia flushed red at the surrounding chatter. Truth be told, her archery was superhuman. Hitting the towering beacon from here? Piece of cake. She'd always hit it, too. Just... not Terezia's beacon. Nearby territories', sure.
'I'm an adult now. No more slip-ups.'
Sisilia drew the string. The murmuring crowd fell silent as a mouse. A soft wind whistled, stirring her silver hair. Bathed in flame-light, her face was so breathtakingly beautiful, you wondered if anyone more perfect existed.
Sisilia held her breath, released with exquisite precision.
Twang!
The arrow flew lightly and struck dead center. The firewood blazed blue and bright.
"Woooaaah!"
"Sniff—finally seeing her nail it after ten years."
"She's all grown up."
"Truly... does that mean our communal parenting ends?"
'Ends, huh...'
Sisilia lowered the bow amid the cheers, eyes tinged with quiet sorrow. Only maidens could light the beacon.
'I'm spoiled goods now.'
This role was over. But newbies were coming, so all good! Sisilia strutted back to the Windsor Knights with renewed vigor.
"V."
Declaring victory triumphantly, the knights swarmed her with praise.
"That was awesome, Lady Sisilia!"
"...The fact it looks so legit from afar pisses me off most."
"Never been this on-edge in my life."
"Nice way to kick off my term—thanks."
"Well done. Would've been perfect if you'd nailed it when I handed you the bow."
Chiron stroked her head with a faint smile. Sisilia savored the touch. She glanced up at the neglected(?) queen.
Lydia was bantering with the crowd.
"Our little cutie finally lit the beacon!"
"Hahaha!"
'Is this country okay?'
Sisilia narrowed her eyes. Lydia pointed at her playfully.
"Everyone, give a round of applause for the pure maiden who worked so hard all these years."
The crowd cheered and clapped toward the Windsor Knights' cluster. Sisilia stood unmoved.
'Praise feels good.'
She was thrilled, actually. Lydia smiled brightly and descended the altar toward the Sacred Flame. The people quietly parted for her.
Beatrice watched and spoke up.
"Lady Sisilia, I've got a question."
"Yeah?"
"Is Her Majesty a great mage? Or a demigod who can sway the goddess?"
"Betty."
Sisilia patted her cheek.
"You grew up unloved, huh? Parents never read you fairy tales?"
(For the record, Chiron always read Sisilia bedtime stories.)
Beatrice felt wronged.
"I was loved plenty...! But there are dozens of fairy tales about Her Majesty's life. I figured you might know what her real Authority is..."
The enigmatic Queen Lydia. Legends abounded, but boiled down to two: either the greatest mage in human history, or the goddess's daughter receiving divine revelations. She always said she "asked the goddess" when using her powers.
'We'll see.'
Both seemed plausible. But Sisilia's hunch?
"She can wield the goddess's power."
"...Pardon?"
Beatrice was about to press as Sisilia's baffling words hung in the air—
"Oh—it's starting."
A murmur drew eyes away. Lydia had reached the Sacred Flame, hands behind her back.
"Been a while since I touched this."
The queen muttered cryptically and gestured lightly. The dim Sacred Flame transformed. Its shrinking form swelled massively one last time, blazing grander and brighter than ever.
"The Sacred Flame—"
"Is unleashing its final power."
As the kingdom's people smiled— a colossal magic circle materialized from the flame.
"We beseech thee."
Lydia said with a faint smile.
"Great goddess."
The circle expanded to blanket the entire kingdom. Sisilia's silver-blue eyes analyzed it instinctively—its structure, the mana poured in. But then her gaze met the queen's.
—Shh.
Lydia flashed a meaningful smile and shook her head slowly at Sisilia.
'Busted.'
Sisilia whistled silently and looked away. Only then did Lydia resume her chant.
"Guide those with the will to defend this land to us here."
The queen ended confidently.
"——Thus earnestly pleads Lydia."
The circle spun slowly, passing through everyone before soaring skyward. And then?
"A shooting star?"
"Mama, the stars are falling!"
Beautiful meteors streaked like a celestial painting.
'Feels like watching Starlink crash.'
Sisilia's eyes gleamed. She dropped into a sprinting stance.
"Wow, so pretty... But why are you posing like that, Lady Sisilia?"
"Catch her! She's up to no good again!"
"Damn, impossible! Too much tension!"
"Th-this mana...!"
"No Wind Shear, you bitch!"
Sisilia bolted first to lick the newbies. The horrified Windsor Knights and Chiron gave chase. The 500th anniversary New Year's Festival and historic summoning rite teetered on the brink of chaos.
———!!
The meteors fell.
"Gasp."
"Huff...!"
The crowd couldn't hide their shock. Sisilia especially looked like she'd just witnessed 8.26 billion deaths.
Because—
"What?"
"Nothing there?"
"Where'd the otherworlders go?"
"All dead?"
Nothing had changed.
"Newbies, where?"
Sisilia's eyes darted frantically. Beatrice flinched at the sight.
It was the gaze of a serial killer hunting prey.
"L-Lady Sisilia, your eyes are scary..."
"Huh?"
Jerryway, standing right beside her, glanced casually and shrugged.
"She's always had eyes like that."
Jerryway just didn't get it.