A Suitable Dungeon (1)
Curled up in her fluffy bed, Sisilia slept soundly with a smile on her face. She was dreaming something truly blissful right now—a dream of newbies arriving.
The official launch. Helping confused people settle in.
"Sword Princess is the best!"
"Let's start a fan club!"
She was being tossed in the air on a cheering crowd of adoring newbies. I wish I never had to wake up from this dream...
That was when it happened.
Swoosh—
A mysterious shadow slipped into Sisilia's room.
"......"
Sisilia's eyes snapped open naturally. Her dark-adapted vision quickly spotted the intruder.
Height around the late 180s. Sturdy build.
Stalker...?
Sisilia couldn't forgive that. How dare someone barge into the kingdom's top beauty, the Sword Princess's room without fear.
And the fact that said Sword Princess slept hugging a bunny doll was a secret that must never be discovered.
One word naturally flashed through Sisilia's mind.
'Murder and extermination.'
She immediately compressed the wind into the shape of a sword.
"W-Wait! It's me! Sword Saint Erterion! Affiliation doesn't matter, right?!"
"......A Sword Saint who's a stalker?"
"Hey, what kind of talk is that! No way!"
"Save your excuses for the goddess."
"Ehhaha! She says save my excuses for the goddess."
Sisilia, still half-asleep, turned toward the voice coming from the window.
"Masterpiece. Funniest joke I've heard in nearly a century."
Queen Lydia, perched on the windowsill, wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. Bathed in the hazy moonlight, she looked breathtakingly beautiful.
"I told you from the start I didn't like it! How could I rudely enter a grown lady's room...!"
"But you're my guardian knight, aren't you? More than that, I wanted you to get close to Sisilia."
Lydia hopped down from the windowsill and approached Sisilia. She wore a casual white dress like she'd just stepped out for a drink, her petite frame no different from an ordinary girl's. But her movements and gait exuded elegance. No matter how shabby the dress, nothing could tarnish her majesty.
"Your Majesty."
Sisilia knelt on one knee, fist to her heart.
"Rise, Sisilia Windsor."
At the playful tone, Sisilia looked up—only to have her cheek poked by the queen's finger.
"Sorry to visit so early. You must be exhausted."
"I'm fine. What brings Your Majesty here at this hour?"
"Had something to discuss. Came straight after the meeting. That imperial fossil stressed me out big time."
The queen stretched with a mischievous grin, but she didn't look tired at all.
"How'd the meeting go? I got the report, but I want to hear it from you."
"......Only one thing was decided for sure. The Windsor Knights' emergency status is lifted. Back to normal operations."
"Bold decision for such timid kids."
"Court Mage Viaton's judgment. No point maintaining the status quo if nothing improves."
"Mm-hmm. Looks like they heeded my advice not to fight. Good job. But... my children wouldn't be satisfied with that little."
"Yes."
The meeting had fizzled out with silly jokes, but Royal Knight Commander Draven's stance hadn't changed.
"The Windsor Knights' reorganization remains. Come morning, I'll petition Your Majesty."
"What does Draven want?"
"Can't say for sure, but he probably wants the Windsor Knights under his command."
Dissolution is out of the question.
In the Liannen Kingdom, the Windsor Knights weren't just a military force—they were a symbol. Dissolving a group that size was unthinkable. Realistically, Draven's talk of "dissolving the Windsor Knights" wasn't his true intent. It was basic negotiation: demand the extreme to settle for less.
Probably operational command. In short, he wanted them following his orders.
...What does the queen think?
Honestly, impossible to guess. Only the goddess could read the heart of a queen who lived half an eternity.
"Curious about my thoughts?"
The queen spoke as if peering into Sisilia's mind. Sisilia fell silent, then slowly nodded.
In the end, it'll go her way.
"The Windsor Knights must operate independently."
She raised a finger, flashing an enchanting smile.
"But... that requires trust as the foundation."
Sisilia listened tensely.
"If you can't earn their trust, I'm sorry, but I can't be stubborn either."
I see.
The queen wanted the Windsor Knights to stay as they were. But she also didn't want the noise. The way to silence the noise was results. Undeniable achievements.
Yet even understanding the queen's intent perfectly, Sisilia had one question.
"Why tell me?"
The queen's personal visit felt odd. Not to Chiron or Edward, but to a mere high knight like her.
"You saved me once. Maybe twice?"
"Me?"
Sisilia racked her memory. Nothing came up.
The queen whispered like sharing a grand secret.
"That cat you saved from the tree? That was me."
"......!"
"I'm counting on you, Sisilia Windsor. Looking forward to your exploits."
"Your Majesty! Another runaway... Wh-where are you going! And why a cat this time?!"
The Sword Saint chased after the queen plummeting out the window. Sisilia stood dazed.
She can turn into a cat too, huh.
Guess I have to watch out for falling leaves from now on.
A queen who did surprise inspections as animals? Total disaster.
Edward sat in his office, basking in the lazy afternoon sun as he read reports.
INCIDENT:Demon Realm Duke's Royal Capital Assault
• Knights who confronted the duke all report severe pain.
• Even upper Sword Demon Hyter was unable to respond.
• Simulation result: Total Annihilation.
• However, one victory in 5,921 simulations:
Hold for ~5:30 with Sisilia's Wind Shear, then slay with max-output Extreme Art from Sword Saint Erterion and Sword Sovereign Chiron.
Caution! High probability of capital destruction.
Caution! High chance Chiron Windsor disobeys orders.
Caution! Observed max Wind Shear limit: 2:29.
Conclusion: Sword Princess's judgment to avoid combat was optimal. Sisilia Windsor's disposition illogical.
"......Hyter was right."
Edward calmly closed the file.
The kingdom's mages were excellent. Their analyses rarely erred.
"Missed the golden opportunity. The goddess always denies me that one thing I truly want."
With a wry chuckle, Edward rose and gazed out the window. He spotted Sisilia walking by, expressionless as ever.
What are you thinking?
Edward traced a line near Sisilia's neck in the glass. His eyes narrowed, touch delicate.
"Did you really do your best, like this report says?"
Sisilia's image lingered in his mind.
"Too many suspicious parts for that."
Killing intent.
Edward had rushed to the scene right after. He'd seen the killing intent Hyter mentioned.
But his interpretation differed slightly.
A fundamental question.
Since when could the weak emit killing intent?
Killing intent arose from restraining the urge to kill. Sure, foolish weaklings sometimes bared disproportionate intent.
But Edward suspected Sisilia had deliberately let the demon go.
"Why?"
If true, one question remained. For what purpose?
Maybe to prevent harm to people?
If so—
Drip.
"Pathetic."
A tear fell from Edward's eye, filled with profound pity.
"So, so pitiful."
He wiped it away, shaking his head. A knight too afraid of harming insects to kill an enemy? What contradiction was this?
Chiron. Must be because of him. That's why her brilliant talent lost its shine.
He didn't like Sisilia. She arrogantly doubted him, needling his temper at every turn.
But like it or not, she was a Windsor Knight. Pity was pity.
With sad eyes, Edward opened a drawer.
"Sorry, Sisilia. I... can't save you."
He pulled out a single paper. An old mission order.
"Not like this."
Knock knock.
A light knock, like a breeze. Edward knew who stood outside without asking.
He plastered on a prepared smile.
"Come in, Sisilia."
Creeeak.
Sisilia entered cautiously.
"Sorry to call you on your day off."
"No problem. I had something to say too."
"Something to say?"
"Thank you for the other day."
She bowed perfectly.
...Thank you for what?
Edward couldn't comprehend. Then her next words hardened his face.
"Thanks to your pointing it out, it helped a lot."
This report went to her too. Is she mocking me?
The report had already proven his error blatant. Rubbing it in was pure sarcasm.
Of course, Sisilia was just innocently thinking, Thanks to Edward, I remembered the tomato sauce.
"No need. Sorry about that time. I was flustered too."
"No. It was a valid point. I want to repay you... Anything you desire?"
Absurd.
Infuriating attitude, but Edward endured. He was curious about the fallout from what was coming.
"Of course."
"I realized something from this incident."
Edward slowly flipped the papers and looked up.
"How weak the Windsor Knights have become lately."
He tossed it out with a smile. But it felt ominous.
"Mind training the apprentice knights? A very suitable dungeon."
Sisilia froze for a moment.
"......A suitable dungeon?"
"Yes. Suitable."
Sisilia skimmed the mission order quickly, pondering briefly.
Edward sipped his tea leisurely, waiting.
Report to Chiron, and he'd probably refuse. But she couldn't.
Know why vipers scare you, Sisilia?
She'd grown up with poor upbringing assumptions.
They know it's venomous, but not how potent.
He hoped this would make her realize. The world needed the talented, not pathetic bugs.
"No thanks."
Edward's relaxed expression shattered.
"What?"
"Not suitable. An unsolved dungeon instead."
"Un, unsolved dungeon?"
Sisilia nodded.
"That's the level for real training."
"......"
Edward couldn't fathom what was going on in that tiny head of hers.