Sisilia's Scheme (1)
"Lady Sisilia."
Beatrice grabbed the hem of her cloak with sad eyes. Monsters began swarming as if on cue. Dungeon raids one after another, day in and day out. And...
"I don't know what you're looking for, but there's nothing under that trash bin."
"......"
Sisilia, who had always been a bit odd, had grown even stranger. She peered intently under the trash bin, then blinked and stood up.
"Really? What a shame."
"You're not ashamed at all!"
Sisilia gazed into the distance with a wistful expression. A gentle breeze tousled her long silver hair.
My soft, squishy newbie... what are you up to right now? Or... do you even exist?
Sisilia had received a strict order from the queen: "Absolutely, absolutely do not go searching!" But Sisilia never listened to Chiron either. Especially not when it came to newbies—she ignored the queen completely and wandered around.
She was proud of her efforts so far. She'd scoured the entire capital. Checked inside dungeons as much as possible. Lifted every rock. Explored the swamps. Crawled through sewers. Even flipped up Betty's skirt.
"White again today. Boring."
"I'm going to hit you."
But no newbies anywhere. It was bizarre. She wondered if they had really been summoned at all.
Two possibilities.
Either they're clustered in the outskirts. Or no users have cleared the tutorial yet.
"......You're looking for users, right?"
"How'd you know?"
"Even an idiot could tell."
Beatrice sighed and grabbed Sisilia's wrist. If she didn't hold on, Sisilia would vanish again. Return covered in mud, sniffling. It was a pattern she'd endured for nearly a week.
"Why not search for beginner dungeons instead? Even the goddess wouldn't drop them in a scary place like this."
"If we clear those too, what do the others eat to grow? Besides, they could handle a hundred goblins easy."
Sisilia thought it was a solid idea. Whether those users could actually take on a hundred goblins was debatable.
"......Do the users worry you that much?"
"Yeah."
Sisilia stared glumly at the ground, looking almost pitiful. She must be anxious about people dragged into an unfamiliar world, unable to help herself.
She has her quirks, but she's fundamentally kind.
Beatrice felt she should offer some comfort.
"Don't you remember?"
Beatrice clasped her hands behind her back and smiled faintly.
"What you said during the Windsor Knights' entrance test."
"Huh?"
"Eagles deliberately push their young off cliffs."
"......"
"It seems cruel, but eaglets that don't fall from the cliff will never learn to fly. You said the eagle pushing its young is actually being kind."
Beatrice smiled faintly, recalling the past. She'd endured the grueling training because she believed Sisilia was right.
"If they can't handle trials like this, they won't last even if we save them."
Sisilia listened, then bowed her head quietly, as if enlightened.
"I just made that up to sound cool."
"......"
"They'll fly eventually, cliff or no cliff."
Beatrice said coldly.
"I'm really going to get mad."
While an angry Beatrice shook Sisilia's shoulders...
Chaeyeon walked alone through the dense forest.
Where the hell...?
Head to the capital Terezia
The floating alert window was her only guide. Following it seemed best for now.
What awaits in Terezia? If only Doil were here...
Would they meet someday? The cute dungeon lord's words had been meaningful. She hadn't denied it, and with all those illusions lying on the floor—it suggested replications based on real entities. Probably that type of demon.
So.
Someday, we'll meet.
Chaeyeon smiled faintly. The unknown future was scary. But she decided to press on. To face that eventual someone with pride.
"Search the right flank! Bring back anyone you find, no matter who!"
"Yes, sir!"
Chaeyeon's steps halted at the human voices.
Who's there?
She hid behind a massive tree stump and peeked out.
"Who's there!"
It wasn't like some movie idiot crunching leaves or getting caught staring. The foe pinpointed her by presence alone.
......Reality's not like the movies.
She stepped out slowly. Several knights in full plate mail pointed swords her way. The royal knight frowned at her unique attire.
"......Black hair? Demon?"
"Captain, what 300-year-old tale is that? The guy's young."
"Ahem. Show your citizen's seal."
Chaeyeon swallowed hard. In Another World, knights were kind to innocents from experience. But the problem—
I have nothing to prove identity. Show my iPhone?
"W-well."
"What—no way a Liannen Kingdom citizen lacks a seal, right?"
The knight's face darkened. Her heart sank coldly; her fingers froze.
"Could happen."
But the royal knight nodded.
"Looks like one of the 'users' we're seeking?"
"Seems so. Different appearance."
"Hey, do you understand me?"
"Y-yes."
"Then..."
The royal knight saluted crisply.
"I'm Dick, captain of the royal knights. Sorry for the suddenness—please accompany us."
"......!"
Suddenly so polite.
Chaeyeon smiled as kindly as possible.
"Yes."
Captain Dick's aura specks were golden. So were all the nearby knights'.
......Nice people.
Chaeyeon boarded the wagon compartment as guided.
"Why's the captain riding there?"
"First user found. Captain must escort, obviously. What if something happens?"
"It's a bit far, but still near the capital. Just monsters at worst. You just wanna get back quick, right?"
The subordinate protested, then whispered as Dick glared.
"Take me too. I'll buy you a drink."
"Ahem. Fine—Rupin and I escort. Rest continue searching."
"Damn, quit this shitty order!"
"Complain? Become captain yourself!"
Chaeyeon quietly turned from the live corruption.
The departing wagon filled with silence. Dick's blank stare at her face was burdensome.
"Um—anything to say?"
Unable to bear it, she asked. Dick replied instantly.
"Security worsens away from the capital. Cover your face unless you want slavers drooling."
I see.
Chaeyeon touched her cheek. She'd heard: in medieval times, beauty wasn't always helpful. Now it hit—suddenly dropped into a strange world.
Be careful. Lucky first met knights; otherwise...
She sought her hat tensely—but remembered giving it to young Sisilia. Hastily, she wrapped her cloak over her face like a thief.
"......"
Dick eyed her pitifully.
"Only outskirts. No need in the capital."
"Wow, great security there."
"Well, yes, but."
Dick tilted his head at her.
"No need to hide that much."
Chaeyeon felt deeply hurt.
"M-my looks aren't that standout here?"
Immense injustice laced her words. She'd never been dismissed for appearance.
Rupin, riding beside, chuckled.
"Not saying you're not beautiful, lady. Just..."
Dick, anticipating, tsked and looked out the window.
"Capital has beauties who'd make you second-best weep. Raises the bar high. Right, captain?"
"......Skills aside, face is undeniable."
"Haha! Joking. You got wrecked, captain."
"Hey!"
"Uahaha!"
Rupin laughed gut-busting at his captain. Dick's rubber-band-taut launch skyward lingered.
Dick's face burned explosive red.
Wow, infuriating.
Even oblivious Chaeyeon bristled at Rupin.
As they bickered, the coachman yelled.
"People ahead!"
"I'll check."
Rupin exited. Soon, footsteps and a mysterious man entered Chaeyeon's view. Pale beyond white. Odd, but smiling kindly.
"Was fretting over tardiness—thank you for your mercy."
"Captain, traveler—robbed of all by bandits. Pitiful case; give him a lift to capital?"
"Fine. Seats aplenty."
Dick nodded quietly; the man boarded.
Chaeyeon's nape soaked in cold sweat.
No way.
The man's aura specks were ashen gray. Ominously flickering, unlike any she'd seen.
**
Sisilia, swaying like a windmill, halted abruptly. Beatrice stopped shaking her in anger, instinctively shrinking.
"I-I overstepped. Sorry."
But Sisilia showed no reaction. She just stared somewhere. Her eerie silver-blue eyes held stillness.
"Betty."
Sisilia drew her sword.
"To the capital. Now."
"Pardon?"
Beatrice froze, but Sisilia slowly raised her blade tip. Air trembled unstably. As if terrified.
"......!"
Beatrice realized. No joke. An order from the Windsor Knights' vice-captain, utterly serious.
"And relay this."
Wind gathered at Sisilia's tip, forming a thick vortex. As if the world held its breath.
Sisilia stated flatly, clearly.
"——Demon invasion."
Beatrice sprinted full-tilt to the capital before the words ended. Confirming she was out of range, Sisilia leveled her sword at the multiplying demon gates.
Cheonapbong (Heaven-Pressing Wind)
Kwaaaa—!
Overwhelming gravity crushed the entire space, as if the sky collapsed.