Before the Newbie Cools Down (6)
“Sorry it turned out this way.”
Leo Ric explained the circumstances.
The story of Severus, whose soul had been stolen. The goal had been to kill the Gluttony demon who took that soul.
“……In the end, I got bewitched at the last moment.”
And how he'd ultimately let Gluttony escape.
“You can't trust what demons say.”
Sisilia sat by the fireplace, sipping her tea as she offered her two cents. A warm blanket draped over her shoulders.
“Didn't you let it get away too?”
“……That was unavoidable.”
“Could you have run away in front of your Wind Shear?”
Leo Ric grinned, and Sisilia pretended not to hear.
“If it tried to run outright, even I couldn't have stopped it.”
“……Tried to run, huh. Guess you overwhelmed it.”
“Not quite. It didn't even try to fight properly.”
As if it didn't want to hurt Sisilia.
Leo Ric listened to her story, pondered something, then muttered.
“……So that's what it was.”
“Tell me.”
Sisilia stared at him intently.
Leo Ric struggled to his feet and said,
“Nah. Forget it. Nonsense.”
Sisilia's eyes narrowed.
“If you're hiding something again, I won't help.”
“I figured out Severus's intentions. Didn't think you'd care. If you're really curious, I'll tell you.”
Sisilia took another sip of tea and replied.
“No thanks. Not interested.”
She had no desire to hear a murderer's sob story. Or a traitor's, for that matter. No matter how grand the circumstances, stabbing an innocent human who wasn't a demon was unforgivable.
“Always ignoring the boring stuff. You're the most expensive woman I've ever met.”
Beatrice listened quietly, then raised her hand.
“Um, I'm cheap enough to want to hear it.”
“……You've got a unique adjutant, Sisilia.”
Sisilia nodded.
“I think so too.”
“I don't want to hear it from you, Sisilia.”
Leo Ric chuckled and jerked his head.
“Guess I should check out this 'user' or whatever first. We'll talk details after.”
“I'll come too.”
Sisilia wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and hurried after him. Beatrice followed behind.
Sisilia chatting happily with Leo Ric.
……They kinda look like big bro and little sis.
A big bro with fourteen wives…… Beatrice vowed to protect Sisilia from Leo Ric above all.
**
“Ho, what an odd-looking guy?”
The man lying in bed was greatly flustered by the people staring at him like some zoo monkey.
“Dunno about anything else, but he looks weak.”
“Leo Ric. That's no way to talk to a hero come to save the world. As a knight, show some dignity.”
“……Hey, Betty. What's with Sisilia?”
“I don't know either.”
“I……”
The man spoke cautiously. He had no clue what was going on.
“He talks.”
“He sure does.”
“Betty, Leo Ric. That's rude to him.”
Sisilia firmly scolded the rude pair, then spoke to the newbie with a worried expression.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“……!”
The man froze, even through his blurry vision, seeing Sisilia's striking presence clearly asserting itself. She was the most beautiful person he'd ever laid eyes on since emerging from the womb—no exaggeration.
Sisilia's sincere charm hit a jobless young bachelor like a truck.
“I-I'm f-f-fine.”
“Good to hear. I was worried.”
“Um……where is this.”
“You're late on that.”
Sisilia placed a hand over her heart and knelt on one knee. Moonlight from the window illuminated her, doubling the mystique.
“My name is Sisilia Windsor, vice-captain of the Windsor Knights. You collapsed suddenly in the middle of battle, so we brought you here.”
Her expression blank, Sisilia asked,
“What's your name?”
“K-K-Kim Jinwoo.”
“Ki-ki Kim Jinwoo. Cool name.”
Sisilia Windsor has remembered your name as 'Ki-ki Kim Jinwoo'.
“N-No, Kim Jinwoo.”
“Siu. Cool name.”
Sisilia Windsor has remembered your name as 'Siu'.
Your name is now Siu.
“…….”
Fine at first, but what the hell was that last one? Even the original form of his name was gone.
“Sisilia. You can't just change someone's name willy-nilly.”
Beatrice rested a hand on her waist.
“He said 'Ji-nu,' right?”
Leo Ric frowned.
“Wasn't it 'Kim-chi-nu'?”
“No, Gim-mu-ji-nu. I have good ears. Hey, could you say your name one more time?”
Beatrice Windsor is convinced and demands an explanation from you.
Leo Ric Windsor wonders why your name is like that.
“…….”
Siu gave up and said,
“……Siu.”
“I-It's weird. It was definitely……”
“Sisilia's memory is sharp as ever.”
Leo Ric was impressed. Truth be told, the Leo Ric squad had a bit of a brag-happy streak by default.
“Siu. You must have a lot of questions about the current situation.”
Sisilia spoke gracefully.
“But don't worry. I'll help however I can.”
Goddess, she's a goddess.
Siu's pupils shook violently.
Sisilia with her hands clasped. Her eyes serene like a lake, a faint floral scent wafting. He didn't fully get it yet, but with a beauty like this……it might be okay?
“Helping's fine, but let's push the mission first. We've confirmed both are on the brink—gotta strike before they recover.”
“…….”
Sisilia glanced sideways at Leo Ric, then clutched her shoulder.
“Ugh. My wound……”
“Sisilia, are you okay?”
“I'm f-fine, but maybe not……”
What the hell?
It was the clash between Sisilia's self, who needed to play the perfect Sword Princess in front of the newbie, and her self, desperate to fake sick for leave.
“Can't plan here—let's move spots.”
“I'll stay here.”
Leo Ric blinked.
“Why?”
“Siu hasn't even adapted to this unfamiliar world yet.”
“Hey, you good?”
Siu flinched but nodded.
“Yeah.”
“He says he's fine?”
“Sisilia, let's go.”
Beatrice grabbed Sisilia's arms to drag her, but she wouldn't budge.
“Separating suddenly from the first person he meets could cause separation anxiety.”
Anyone could see who was suffering separation anxiety—it was Sisil-nyang.
“…….”
Beatrice watched for a moment, then grabbed the back of Sisilia's neck and dragged her out.
“Still as unpredictable as ever.”
Leo Ric was dumbfounded by Sisilia's demeanor, unchanged even after a mortal wound. Though he couldn't imagine her moping either.
He turned and started walking, but paused before leaving.
“Lucky bastard.”
Leo Ric shot Siu a glance.
“Saved by the Sword Princess. Cherish that life.”
An unfamiliar killing intent struck Siu straight on. He trembled in fear.
Leo Ric smirked coldly and left.
“Take care of yourself.”
Leo Ric Windsor's favorability has dropped by 1.
Left alone, Siu stared blankly at his status window.
Did I really get isekai'd into the game?
More pressingly,
“……Why the hell did his favorability drop?”
**
“Recovery will take time.”
Sisilia knelt demurely as she spoke. Leo Ric scratched his head.
“It's just a shoulder injury—what's the big deal?”
“Plus mana depletion and organ damage.”
“Really……?”
“Yes. Sorry, but my role in this mission ends here.”
Sisilia pushed Beatrice forward.
“Instead, I'll lend you cute Betty—use her as you like.”
“Sisilia?”
Beatrice's respect for Sisilia dropped by 1.
“Hmm. Didn't expect you to push this hard. Back in the day, you fought with a broken arm.”
“That was my youthful, vigorous days.”
Also prime leveling time.
Back then, she'd fought with a broken leg using her sword as a crutch. Sisilia could manage decently on one leg.
“……You're still a kid.”
“Women past seventeen have an expiration date, in my book.”
“Am I expired then?”
“A bit sour.”
Beatrice sniffed her sleeve in shock.
“You brats aren't even women yet.”
Leo Ric crossed his arms and shook his head. To him, both Sisilia and Beatrice were green kids with wet-behind-the-ears vibes.
“But who knew you'd hit adulthood so soon. Thought it'd never come.”
Beatrice blocked Sisilia warily.
……What the hell is he misunderstanding?
Leo Ric looked baffled, but knights responded in kind.
“Ho, think you can block me, Beatrice Windsor?”
“I'm blocking you right now.”
“…….”
Leo Ric caught a familiar scent from Beatrice.
“You're starting to resemble Sisilia.”
“!”
“The weak version.”
Words she absolutely hated hearing. Beatrice's mentality crumbled.
“Bad cost-performance.”
Sisilia sipped her tea and gave a curt assessment.
“Anyway, injury means I can't fight.”
“Yes. I'll head back to the capital with the newbie.”
“Can't you at least pin the enemy with Wind Shear?”
“……Impossible. Used too much mana.”
Hate this mission.
Of course, she did want to get back quick because of the newbie. But that wasn't all.
She didn't want to see Severus's face again. Plus, both Severus and Gluttony were on the ropes—Leo Ric could handle it solo.
So Sisilia played it cool, but—
Leo Ric said in a slightly angry tone,
“Don't lie.”
“…….”
Sisilia flinched and averted her eyes.
“……Just pinning them down, right?”
“Won't allow anything more, even if you offer.”
Leo Ric tossed a log into the dying fire.
“If it's just to pin with Wind Shear, you can hold for a bit?”
“Under those terms, ten minutes.”
Leo Ric grinned.
“More than enough.”
“……You're planning to fight Severus.”
“Yeah. Kill Gluttony first, and Severus vanishes. Does sustain time change?”
Then kill Gluttony—why target Severus first?
Sisilia didn't get it but nodded anyway.
“No. Similar. Maybe even longer.”
“Always thought Extremes were handy.”
……'Cause it's not a true Extreme.
An Extreme was the manifestation of one's strongest imagined image. Naturally rigid. Even domain-types were the same.
“……Got it.”
With Sisilia's assent, Leo Ric slung a massive spear over his back and headed out.
“Rest up today. Tomorrow's a long fight.”
“Gasp.”
“Hm?”
Leo Ric turned at Beatrice's gasp. Sisilia, who moments ago wore a dress, was now in uniform, poised to leap from the window.
“Finish before this tea cools.”
She had no intention of waiting till tomorrow.