A Bit Late, But...
A little late, but—clunk. Inside the rattling carriage, Han Chaeyeon's mouth was bone-dry.
The other knights haven't noticed.
The suspicious man riding with her. His stardust was ashen gray. From her experience in the last tutorial, Chaeyeon was certain this guy was a demon.
I have to let them know somehow.
But announcing it in this cramped carriage was no easy task. And she sure as hell couldn't just yell, "Hey, you're a demon!" right in front of him.
As Chaeyeon's worries deepened, the demon flashed her a beaming smile.
"Looks like this lady's from some far-off foreign land, huh?"
"She's none of your business. Mind your own."
Dick replied coldly. It wouldn't be a big deal to reveal her identity, but his instincts were screaming that this man was bad news.
"Scary stuff. Two royal knights talking to me like that."
The demon grinned again.
"She must be someone important?"
Chaeyeon flinched. She'd been avoiding his gaze, but now she looked up. Had his voice just gotten a little louder?
"She is important."
Dick kept his eyes locked on the demon. His hand was inching toward his sword.
"So why are you so interested in..."
Just as Dick's suspicions peaked, a storm erupted not far off. An overwhelming tempest that seemed ready to devour everything.
All eyes turned toward it.
"A storm out of a clear sky? That's..."
"...Sisilia Windsor?"
Sisilia?
Chaeyeon's eyes widened. Was the legendary NPC from Another World here too?
"Something's happening in the capital."
"No, the direction's outside the capital."
"What the hell's going on?"
"Who knows. Probably some monster worth that much noise."
Chaeyeon stared blankly at the distant storm. Made by a human? She couldn't even fathom how strong someone would have to be.
This isn't the time. I have to warn them about the demon.
Chaeyeon turned back to the demon—and froze. His face had twisted into something demonic, like a snarling鬼.
"...!"
As Chaeyeon trembled, Rupin beside her turned too. He flinched at the sight. No human could make that expression.
"...Looks like you swallowed a bug. Deal go south or something?"
"Is that how all you humans are these days?"
The demon's vibe shifted. The friendly smile was gone. Instead, the carriage filled with thick killing intent and a foul stench.
Dick and Rupin exchanged glances, hands on their sword hilts.
Demon.
It's a demon.
But they couldn't draw yet.
"Trampling and spilling food someone prepared with sincerity. Don't you see the farmer who sweated blood for fresh ingredients?!"
The raging demon showed no openings.
"How could you do something so cruel! Do you even have hearts?!"
His outstretched arms and fury made him utterly grotesque.
"But I understand."
Yet in an instant, he suppressed his emotions, reverting to that friendly smile.
"You've never starved, so you don't know food's value."
"... "
"Have you ever experienced war?"
The demon had grabbed both of Chaeyeon's hands, smiling brightly. Dick and Rupin couldn't twitch a finger. Drawing now would endanger her life.
High-ranking demon, probably. First time seeing him, but I've heard the stories.
Dick took a deep breath, regaining composure.
They have their own twisted logic. Play along, and you can tilt things in your favor.
A Windsor knight had told him that. Demons don't see themselves as evil—and they hate being seen that way. Grasp it right, and you can use it.
Recalling Sword Emperor Jerryway's words, Dick focused on the demon's speech.
"Soldiers begging for death with legs hacked off. Kids eating their own parents' flesh from hunger. Knights driven mad seeing a baby's brains splattered."
Meeting the demon's eyes, Chaeyeon vividly relived those horrors. Her teeth chattered in terror.
The demon didn't stop.
"War is humanity's most horrific creation. No evil in the world can touch it."
"What're you getting at?"
Dick asked, and the demon finally released Chaeyeon's gaze.
"War must vanish from this world. Long ago, I realized that by chance."
"I agree war should end. If demons stopped killing humans, it might actually happen."
"No, no. Isn't that off somehow? Demons eating humans is our natural right."
The demon chuckled like he'd heard a great joke.
"Think about it. Humans eat pigs, right? Rabbits? You slit open those cute things, roast 'em, and devour."
"... "
"Demons are more humane. We don't gut you or roast you. Just kill and eat fresh. Sometimes we feed on emotions without taking lives."
The demon wiped his mouth, saliva practically drooling at the thought.
"How ideal and beautiful? And..."
He grinned grotesquely, leaning toward Dick.
"Without demons, would humans really stop warring?"
"Th-that..."
Dick was speechless. He knew demons had logic you could turn against them if matched right. But executing it was another story. Even trained Windsors struggled. He'd just overestimated from Jerryway's tales.
"Humans are hopeless trash. Raging when others do what they do casually—hypocritical scum."
The demon mocked Dick's silence, then sighed genuinely pitying.
"Sad. I once thought like you. Back when I was a knight, sworn to save as many lives as possible."
"...You were a knight?"
"Never introduced myself, huh."
The demon knelt on one knee, hand over heart—a knight's salute.
"Former Windsor Knights Sword Emperor Severus. Demon Realm rank 11. Now, I embody one of the Seven Deadly Sins: Gluttony."
No time to worry about Chaeyeon now. Traitors were bad enough—betrayer Windsors were the worst.
Dick and Rupin drew simultaneously, slashing for his throat.
"Bon appétit, then."
As Severus's lips curled in a tear-like grin, a translucent window appeared in Chaeyeon's vision.
Survive the Seven Deadly Sins: Gluttony
"A little late, but..."
Sisilia didn't look back. Her gaze fixed solely ahead.
"It's not too late from now on."
There were always newbies out there, breathing, waiting. Sisilia never betrayed that faith.
"But with time short, we go all out."
Windsor Knights briefing. Vice-Captain Sisilia addressed them squarely. Her unusually prim tone carried strange persuasiveness.
"Remember: our effort saves one more precious life."
The Windsors listened solemnly. But soon, they couldn't resist blurting the burning question.
"Vice-Captain."
"Yes."
"...Why are you normal?"
It was what every Windsor wanted to ask. Today's Sisilia was too normal—like the ideal knight straight out of a storybook.
"Saving the weak is a knight's duty. Fulfilling duty means seriousness."
Sisilia recited blankly. The Windsors felt profoundly awkward.
"Now, the operation."
Sisilia pointed at the map, explaining calmly. Simple, yet clearer than any lecture.
Basically, 'find 'em yourselves'?
She'd just divided zones. The rest was up to them—the most efficient use of Windsors.
"That's it. Begin immediately."
"Roger."
"Quick trip, then."
"Boring mission."
The Windsors slinked out, dopamine-starved. They figured the task was too easy.
But Sisilia's parting words halted them.
"To make it fun, simple reward."
"Reward?"
These old-timers'd probably fish if I let 'em go like this.
Windsors fought demons, so they were a step detached from common sense.
'Users? What's that again?'
They wouldn't take it seriously. As stellar vice-captain, Sisilia had to focus them.
"What is it?"
"The knight saving most users gets..."
Sisilia puffed her chest—lately confident there—and winked.
"Head pats."
"... "
"Want it? I'll do some saved-up cuteness too."
Sisilia had about 100 cute acts. Well, only some planned, but whatever.
Beauty Sword Princess's hug collection too. Worth risking life for, right?
She posed cutely from angles. The Windsors' eyes rotted like salted fish.
"...We going?"
"Big whoop."
"Sisilia, save that for your dad."
"!"
Like a sister after 10 years. No Windsor saw her romantically. Head pats from that sparked zero thrill.
Sisilia took a huge hit!
N-no way.
But she couldn't send them off. Desperate, she played her hidden card.
"F-fine, one bento voucher too."
Rational temptation failed? Go full little-sister mode! Sweet, innocent cutie's bento melts big bros' hearts...
"H-hold up."
"Reward, my ass!"
"Damn it, I'd rather bite my tongue than eat that!"
The granola-melting trauma was too vivid! No melting hearts here.
Sisilia reeled back in greater shock.
Can't be. Discipline too lax lately?
Off-script panic hit. She yelled,
"Th-then I'll steal Dad's priciest booze from his study!"
"That's it!"
"Let's go!"
"Heroes' hour!"
As cheering Windsors headed out, Edward burst in.
"...Do you morons not know self-control?"
"Oh, Captain."
"Heard? Most users saved gets Chiron's top-shelf stash!"
Edward pitied Chiron. But no playing along this time.
"Sisilia Windsor."
"Yes."
"Take this."
The rowdy room froze at the black envelope in Edward's hand.
"... "
Sisilia took it blankly. Inside: one name.
Sisilia Windsor
"Who's it from?"
"Leo Ric."
"... "
Sisilia's silver eyes fixed on the black letter. Windsors sent these before demon temptation won. Reasons varied: mental corruption, willful betrayal. Even then, they sent it right before falling. Meaning: execute.
Usually to who they'd most want to die by.
"...Could be a trap—he's already turned, luring you. He's a rank above you. Weird he'd pick you."
"If I don't go, who?"
"Me."
Sisilia couldn't look away.
If I go, first newbie meeting's toast. Might all be gone by return.
Little deliberation.
"I'll go."
"Sisilia."
"Betty. Prep."
Sisilia glanced at flustered Beatrice, murmuring,
"Long-term assignment."
Words done, she left the briefing room. Steady pace, no hesitation.