A Suitable Dungeon (2)
“I don’t wanna work……”
Sisilia trudged out of the knight order headquarters with a sullen face. But as someone putting on a perfect act, she couldn’t exactly refuse.
…If only it’d been an unsolved dungeon.
She sighed at the mission brief Edward had given her.
Unsolved dungeons were like “cold cases” in the modern world. No one had ever cleared them. They weren’t brute-forced because the casualties would be too high, so they were left as “unsolved.” On the flip side, clearing one with minimal manpower and no losses was a huge achievement.
It’d help with the accomplishments the queen mentioned, too.
She’d asked Edward for an unsolved dungeon, but he shot it down immediately. Too dangerous to take apprentices along.
Well, this isn’t bad either…
Tomb of the Skilled
Grade: Suitable
Discovered in the Liannen Kingdom, year 483. First discovered by Edward Windsor.
All rights to this dungeon entrusted to the Windsor Knights.
Clears: 3 to date.
Death probability: 8%
Warning! Insufficient data accumulated. Recommend one Sword Demon-rank leader.
攻略 records attached on following pages.
“Pretty good chance it’s a hidden one.”
Dungeons rated “suitable” like this were often cleared repeatedly without removing the core on purpose. But demons weren’t idiots—there was a limit to repeat clears. If you farmed it forever, the demons inside would grow fat on “fear” and get stronger.
Some demons hid their power on purpose, betting on that. Dungeons set up by those were called “hiddens.”
This one had a high chance. Nearly 20 years old, but only three clears.
And…
Year 483 is the year I was born.
Something nagging at her.
“…Hope it’s a well-aged demon.”
Sisilia muttered under her breath as she headed for the apprentices.
* * *
“Phew, when do you think we’ll make it up?”
Terezia’s eastern side, Windsor apprentice training grounds. Those who hadn’t yet earned a Windsor cloak were catching a break after grueling drills.
“Dunno. Just gotta give it our all.”
“Looking at recent pass rates, it’s depressing. How’s no one made it in five years?”
There were two main ways into the Windsor Knights. Official recruitment—tests every ten years. Pass, and you’re a full knight right away.
Or become an apprentice like them, for various reasons. Prove yourself, become a knight.
Exceptions existed: scouting. Stand out enough, skip the test and join anytime. But rare.
In the last ten years, only Sisilia via scouting.
“She’s a lock, right?”
“Talking about Betty?”
Amid the rest, a girl swinging her sword hard caught eyes. Beatrice Schwartzfeder. Top of the current apprentices.
“Gonna happen? She’s the strongest, and the high knights love cute stuff like Sisilia.”
Apprentice knight Dsen narrowed his eyes at Beatrice. She sat hesitant, breathing hard from exhaustion… yeah, cute.
“Hmm… but Sisilia doesn’t have a faction, right?”
“You call that info?”
He shook his head.
Anyone faction-worthy had to match the high knight’s “type.” Lude picked magic users. Leo Ric, good-looking ones. Jerryway, alcoholics. So, Sisilia’s type?
Dsen frowned, hand to forehead. Over ten knights unaffiliated, dying to join her. But she hadn’t picked one. Just existed aloofly. That was her appeal.
“Dunno?”
“Gorgeous beauties, duh!”
The explaining apprentice yelled like insulted.
“…That worth grabbing my collar?”
“Obviously! Can’t trust a comrade with judgment this bad!”
“Calm down. Got it. Makes sense—only Sisilia here fits. Explains no faction.”
“Our cohort’s got more girls than ever, thanks to her influence.”
I worship her daily.
The serious mutter ended as the instructor appeared.
“Congrats, you maggots!”
Wondering what hell now, they stared.
“First deployment!”
Apprentices’ eyes widened.
“A m-mission? We finally get a shot?”
“Yep! Stand out in攻略, go full knight.”
Best news lately.
“Wh-who’s leading? Can you tell us?”
Instructor grinned. Their reaction was priceless.
“Windsor’s most popular.”
“N-no way.”
“Yup. Sisilia Windsor. The Sword Princess herself guides you to death’s door.”
Rooooar! The grounds erupted in deafening cheers.
* * *
“Long time, Instructor.”
Sisilia stood before a hut, fruit basket in hand. Bald instructor Marcus polished his sword inside. His face lit with joy at the guest.
“Sisilia. Come in.”
“Yeah. Glad you look healthy.”
“Retired or not, I was Windsor once. Ten years easy.”
Marcus set the sword down, grinned at the basket, took it carefully, brewed tea.
“Fifty-plus years instructing, you’re the only one bringing stuff every visit.”
“You’re my teacher.”
“Teacher? You aced the test in five seconds flat.”
Was busy then.
Sisilia recalled that now-distant memory. She hadn’t gone full knight just from HQ chaos. Started apprentice.
Proved herself by smashing Marcus in five seconds, though.
“You were six then. Ten years back, my wrist still good… lost in two exchanges.”
“Wrist hurt?”
Sisilia’s eyes filled with worry.
Marcus smiled, wrinkles deepening.
“Yeah. Can’t beat time.”
“Take care of yourself.”
“Haha! Don’t worry. My sword rusty? Won’t miss testing those brats.”
Knights lined at the window looked motivated.
“No one pass-worthy?”
Marcus shook head. “None. Worst cohort.”
“Really?”
“Compared to you? Sigh-worthy. Five years at least.”
He stated firmly. If he said so, true.
“Test’s not easy, but not that hard.”
“Hmph. Idiots don’t notice I’m holding back. Faking’s getting old.”
How don’t they notice?
Sisilia wondered innocently.
Windsor apprentices promoted one way: beat sword instructor.
Noticing that was the test too. Marcus still limited power. Sword Emperor. Should feel off.
No one had? Surprising.
That’s why Edward sent me.
Newbies going extinct? Problem.
“Got a favor. Play along.”
“Sure.”
“One kid noticed. Skill lacking to act.”
“Who?”
Marcus sipped tea, grinned. “Finding out’s the fun part.”
“Fiiine…”
Sisilia stood, bowed.
“Gotta go. Don’t wanna overstay.”
“Brats half-baked. Stand ’em all day.”
“Harsh.”
Marcus laughed loud. Rare big one.
“You saying that?”
“??”
Sisilia tilted head, confused. Who kinder than the cute Sword Princess boss?
* * *
“Hi.”
Sisilia approached tense apprentices. Cute lil sis in order, but here? She could play senior.
Up on platform, blinked around.
Sour.
A bit spoiled, but still newbie range. Strict discipline cute too.
Teach with all I got.
“I’m Sisilia, your leader. Let’s all come back safe.”
Clap clap—knights thought:
Real angel.
Total angel.
Cute, pretty, kind, skilled. How’s she perfect?
“First, gear check. Bags out, line up.”
Square-shouldered, booming yes sirs. One by one with gear.
She inspected meticulously. Close-up knights blushed, gulped.
“Potion?”
“Yes!”
“That sword?”
“Enchanted from my lord! Flames on use!”
“I see. Right side.”
Full effort obvious. Arm potions, mansion-worth artifacts.
She sorted all.
“This enough.”
Sisilia straightened, drew sword leisurely, thrust right.
Boom!
“……!”
Massive wind crushed gear. Not a trace.
“Water.”
Sheathed, down from platform.
“Bread.”
Knights’ pupils shook wildly.
“Sword.”
Step.
Sisilia stopped.
“Knights need nothing else.”
Dead silence but her flat chant.
“Mission brief.”
Pulled paper, read.
“Grade suitable. Clears: 3. Death rate: 8%.”
Frozen knights barely heard. Some stared desperately at her lips.
攻略 next. Memorize every word.
But—
“攻略 secret.”
Sisilia’s lip quirked. Paper shredded.
“More fun that way.”
Apprentices felt it then. Their future.
We’re screwed.
Very dark.