Sisilia's Scheme (2)
Beatrice's dire news spread swiftly through the capital.
"H-how did this happen? The truce is still in effect!"
The contract with the demon race still had eight months left. Full-scale war at this juncture was premature. Erterion gnashed his teeth, looking ready to charge out at any moment.
"Your Majesty, I request permission to join the fray."
"No— this is no time for a Sword Saint to move."
"What do you mean? Terezia is under attack!"
Yet the queen wore a relaxed smile.
"The truce remains in effect, so calm yourself, Sir Erterion."
"...Pardon?"
"The Demon King cannot betray the Demon God. It's a pact sworn to both the Demon King and the Goddess. Neither side can break it."
"Th-then what is this?"
The fact that the Demon King himself hadn't stirred meant one thing.
"Likely some fool demon acting out of line. Lords on both sides have always suffered headaches from their subordinates. More importantly—"
Lydia's expression turned icy. Rash action wouldn't do. The Demon King would notice for sure. He'd realize they were dead serious about this summoning, staking everything on it.
"I'm worried about the Royal Knights. At a time like this, they're the only ones who can move for the users' sake. Losing them would be a grave blow."
A thick pall of war hung in the air. Terezia's walls were shrouded in silence. A mad storm tore across the sky. No need to spell out who commanded that tempest.
"Why's a retired knight showing up here?"
From atop the wall, Edward muttered lowly, glancing aside. Chiron, clad in a black suit without his white cape, looked utterly out of place.
"Sisilia."
"...According to Beatrice, she's probably buying us time to prepare."
Edward nodded toward the sky. Even to the naked eye, a ferocious storm raged at identifiable range.
"Doesn't look like she's planning to just stall, though. Worried?"
Chiron shook his head.
"She'll retreat when the time comes. She's not foolish enough to fight a full demon war alone. I didn't raise her that way."
"The space is trembling for someone who knows better. The wall might collapse at this rate."
"An illusion."
Edward sighed.
"No need to fret. Breaking the truce for the Demon King's army to move is absurd. At worst, it's one of the Seven Deadly Sins stirring."
Chiron didn't question the process. He trusted Edward's judgment completely. Instead, he asked quietly,
"...And the Four Heavenly Kings?"
"Unlikely. If it were one of them, it'd be hard to pass off as mere insubordination."
But Edward saw this uproar as the 'Demon King's scheme.' More precisely, a test to probe if the capital's barrier had vanished, disguised as a rogue demon's antics.
'At this timing, of all things—the one secret we can't afford exposed.'
The Sacred Flame had burned out. What filled its place now was the queen's Authority. No longer the absolute barrier that repelled any demon intrusion, but an imperfect one that could be breached with effort.
It would be discovered eventually, but not now, while they were still building the framework.
'...Or have they caught on to our hand?'
The Liannen Kingdom's top priority was 'user cultivation.' They might have sniffed it out early and moved to disrupt.
'More concerning is the Royal Knights. They're the only ones who can act for the users now. Losing them would hurt deep.'
Either way, it was a nuisance. Edward's brow twitched. A Demon King who could think? Humanity's worst nightmare.
"I see."
Chiron drew his sword.
"...What are you doing?"
"Sisilia's gale has died."
"It's still raging fine."
The storm indeed whipped fiercely still—enough to pity any demons being shredded in it.
"Residual wind. Once activated, her Blessing holds form even without mana supply."
"...Thanks for the intel. Real helpful."
Edward flashed a hollow smile. Only now did he grasp what Chiron had sensed.
"She's a handful all around."
Chiron swung his sword lightly. Crack— Space split, and from the rift emerged a pure white steed. Slumped atop it, barely clinging on, was a silver-haired girl.
Sisilia looked in poor shape.
"It's Sisilia!"
"She's back!"
"Open the gates! Hurry!"
"Vice-Captain Sisilia!"
Beatrice rushed out, voice half-sobbing.
"Be... ti..."
"D-don't speak!"
The wound-riddled Sisilia tumbled from the horse. Beatrice caught her hurriedly.
"Why push yourself this far...!"
Tears splashed from Beatrice onto Sisilia.
"Don't you trust me? If it was this bad, you should've—"
Beatrice sobbed, clutching Sisilia's face. The girl's once-radiant silver hair was caked in dust, her niサクス torn in places—proof of brutal combat.
'If only I were a bit stronger...'
Beatrice bit her lip amid tears.
'I wouldn't have left Sisilia alone in that hell...!'
Who to blame? It was all because Beatrice herself was too weak.
...Too weak to even fight alongside without getting in the way.
Tears streamed down Beatrice's cheek. The moment they touched Sisilia's face—
Lick.
"...?"
Beatrice blinked through her sobs. Had Sisilia just... licked her tear?
'M-must've been my imagination...'
"Sisilia!"
"Vice-Captain!"
The Windsor Knights arrived late, checking her state.
"Healer! Call the healer!"
"Sisilia's in critical condition!"
"Lude! Heal her now!"
"You okay? Lia! Lia! Heal! Heal! Heeeal...! Why isn't recovery magic working?!"
"N-no way, an incurable wound...?"
"Not now—!"
Jerryway gnashed his teeth, bloodshot-eyed.
"You gonna waste Sisilia's sacrifice?!"
"...!"
"What matters now is intel! Sisilia, enemy numbers? Strength?"
Sisilia placed a hand on Beatrice's cheek with hazy eyes.
"It's fine."
"S-Sisilia."
"Set me down. This, I wanna say myself."
"...!"
Beatrice bowed her head, gently lowering Sisilia. Barely steadying herself, Sisilia exhaled faintly.
"The enemy..."
All focused intently.
"Wiped out."
"...?"
"..."
The Windsor Knights exchanged glances, then stared at Sisilia.
"Huh?"
"Say that again."
"I killed 'em all."
Beatrice finally grasped it, lifting her head.
"EXP belly full."
Sisilia giggled, patting her stomach.
"..."
Beatrice fixed her with cold eyes. Her tears had dried.
"So, Sisilia."
"Beati. Scary eyes."
"You went off alone to solo a threat that wasn't even that dire...?"
Sisilia, losing confidence, averted her gaze.
"It was close."
"Talk to me."
Beatrice grabbed Sisilia by the nape, dragging her off.
The Windsor Knights watched in stunned silence, then turned piercing stares at Chiron.
'Not foolish enough to fight demons alone, huh?'
'What kinda parenting is that?'
Chiron slyly turned away, heading back to the academy. Best perk of retiring as captain: no more cleaning up after his wild daughter.
"How could you?!"
Windsor Knights HQ. Emergency meeting. The Windsors coughed awkwardly, averting eyes.
"Do you know how worried I was?!"
Sisilia shrank, a placard around her neck reading 'Sisilia in Reflection.'
"Over twenty Windsors in the capital alone! No need to push solo!"
"...B-but the barrier."
"Excuses! A signal like always, and we'd have mobilized!"
Sisilia felt wronged.
'But the newbies...!'
The foes matched city forces, per Beatrice. Enough to cause a ruckus, though. Capturing culprits would be key, but to Sisilia, Seven Deadly Sins level.
That threat exposed? Capital alert maxed. No leisure for vice-captain to roam on trivial quests.
"Enough, Beatrice. You've played adjutant well."
Edward spoke; Beatrice halted. Still sulking, though—Sisilia eyed her warily.
"So, details on enemy numbers? Report later, but this is urgent."
Sisilia answered readily.
"Just orcs and ogres."
"...Orcs and ogres."
"Mostly orcs."
Edward clamped his mouth shut.
'She expects me to buy that?'
He hadn't seen the fight. But all had sensed that immense mana.
Orcs or ogres in numbers wouldn't wound the Sword Princess.
"...Don't think you took dumb orc swings or sluggish ogre blows."
"Too many."
Sisilia stretched her cheeks—appeal to drier skin. Unnoticed, of course.
"Slept short too."
"...I see."
"I mess up sometimes."
"..."
Tap tap. Edward drummed the table.
'Hiding something, but no grounds to press.'
Edward ended the meeting. Talking to Sisilia was futile anyway—she didn't converse, she evaded. Better to watch closely.
'She'll move for sure.'
Post-meeting night. Edward tailed her discreetly.
As expected, Sisilia didn't head straight to Chiron's manor. She ducked into an alley hastily.
'Knew it.'
Edward followed covertly. As he neared the alley—
He ducked into hiding.
"Hic."
Hack—
"...!"
Sisilia vomited blood, collapsing to her knees. Edward's eye twitched faintly.
"...Pushed too hard. But if 'that' reached the capital, many would've died."
'...So that's it.'
Edward leaned silently against the wall. She meant to shoulder it alone.
'Still trapped in that delusion, are you?'
The fairy tale of knights sacrificing for the weak. Just a fantasy spun by the weak.
'Wait a little longer. I'll surely free you from that folly.'
Edward reaffirmed his vow.