Newbie Hope Saga (3)
“Handing such a fine place over to adventurers?”
“You'll regret it, Sisilia!”
“Out you go.”
Sisilia firmly shoved the Windsor uncles out one by one. Only then did she let out a sigh of relief, gazing at the now-peaceful training grounds. But still uneasy, she quickly scribbled on a piece of paper and stuck it up.
Windsor Knight Order Entry Prohibited.
“That ought to do as a warning, right?”
Just then, the sound of cute newbie footsteps echoed from afar. Sisilia swiftly reached into the air and donned her pre-prepared outfit. Blouse stayed the same. Skirt switched to plaid, tie to red. The Windsor Knight Order cloak became a cream-colored cape. Finally, a bowler hat and monocle completed the look. It was the Detective Sisilia DLC—regular price, 120 gold.
Incidentally, that bowler hat was the priciest part.
—Hard to replicate in medieval times, after all—
The whole process took about three seconds. After two seconds of smug satisfaction, Sisilia leaped to the ceiling and hid in the rafters.
“You really give a sword after hitting the wooden dummy a hundred times?”
“Not a particularly great longsword, mind you. But better than nothing.”
Perfect timing—as Ruby and Marcus entered the training grounds. Sisilia's eyes gleamed as she observed Ruby.
'Ruby could nail the 10,000 downward strikes mission.'
The hidden mission reward was Deathbringer, a magic sword she'd procured herself. Its power grew with the number of souls it reaped. A perfect growth-type blade for a newbie! Sure, there was a tiny risk of the demon inside stealing your soul if mishandled, but that was a very minor side effect.
“Yah!”
Ruby swung her wooden sword down at the dummy. Legs shoulder-width apart, full body weight behind the strike—it cracked right into the dummy's crown.
“!”
Marcus couldn't hide his shock. Cold sweat trickled down his cheek.
“Impressive.”
“R-Really?”
“Even a five-year-old swinging a sword would do better.”
Ruby's swordsmanship was abysmal! The most hopeless talent Marcus had ever witnessed.
'Newbies can be clumsy.'
Sisilia's cheeks puffed out. Everyone started out awkward. Especially someone from the 22nd century—they wouldn't be used to swinging swords. If they were used to it, Sisilia's justice-filled reverse shot would rain down.
“I'm advising you seriously: give up on the sword.”
Marcus offered pragmatic counsel. Every downward swing, Ruby was hitting the target with the hilt.
Sisilia glared coldly down at him.
'Why crush my kid's spirit?'
Thirsty for death? Marcus shivered inexplicably and scanned his surroundings.
“It's fine.”
Ruby smiled brightly, opening her hands. Covered in red marks and calluses—hardly idol hands anymore. But she felt proud.
“I always start slow.”
Ruby's life had always been detached from talent. Even simple actions demanded bone-grinding effort to match others. Dance, song—all of it. Idol Han Chaeyeon had earned it through relentless toil. Sleeping three hours a day to make debut practice, extra vocal training to avoid burdening members on encore stages. Acting? Memorizing not just lines, but every micro-expression per word.
“But I always won in the end.”
Ruby winked and flashed a V-sign. Marcus blinked at her dazzling smile.
“There are things effort alone can't conquer.”
“……”
Ruby clutched her chest. Ouch—that stung.
“But I like that mindset.”
Marcus rated her drive highly.
“Can't tell a striver to quit. I'll help as much as I can.”
“Th-Thank you.”
“First, practice keeping your eyes open when swinging down.”
Sisilia sniffled, dabbing her eyes. So touching. A newbie's noble spirit. She pulled out a notebook labeled Newbie Observation Log.
===============
[NO 001. Ruby]
- Specs
Height a tad shorter than Betty. Maybe 168cm? Pretty plump. Gotta cop a feel later, but beating Betty looks tough.
- Aura
Star's Blessing (A-rank). Better than wind, at least. Wonder if she can summon asteroids at pinnacle? I'd imagine that.
- Job
Original unknown (entertainment industry? Smile's got that artificial vibe), but definitely knight.
- Personality
Not fully adapted yet, but bright side. Purer than battle-hardened Betty.
===============
Doodles and scribbles everywhere. If anyone saw this, horns would sprout from rage.
Sisilia added more.
- Excellent hard worker.
- Hardware's meh, but mindset's gold.
- Looks tasty anyway—time for trial bite.
'Solid review.'
Satisfied with her own notes, Sisilia refocused on Ruby.
“No knights in your world, really?”
“Yeah... they use other weapons.”
“Other weapons? Like what, exactly?”
“Uh... how to put it. Super-fast bows?”
“Tch, any Windsor knight could snatch even the fastest bow barehanded.”
'Jealous.'
Ruby trained hard for ages, chatting with Marcus during breaks while toweling sweat. Sisilia was purely envious. She wanted to talk to Ruby too. But she couldn't. Newbies were like rabbits. Approach first, and they bolt in fright.
Wait for the rabbit to approach first.
'Marcus... I liked you.'
Sisilia pouted sadly. Marcus was now her enemy.
“...You said you were with the Windsor Knights before?”
“Indeed.”
“So you're close with Sisilia too?”
“I was the one who tested her for Windsor.”
Marcus boasted proudly. A brag that never got old.
“Wow, you must've been amazing.”
“Ask away if you're curious.”
“R-Really?”
“She lived boldly as a knight. No reason to shy from speaking of such a knight.”
'Marcus is a god after all!'
Sisilia decided to befriend him again.
“Know what Sisilia likes? Anything's fine.”
“Wanting to get close? Makes sense—you live at Sir Chiron's estate.”
Marcus pondered, then said,
“Strawberry cake and chocolate cake.”
“...Pardon?”
“And pricey accessories.”
“...Pricey accessories?”
“Also, odd trinkets. Weird stones sometimes.”
“……”
Sisilia's face flushed crimson. She wanted to drop down and gag him.
'Misinfo. Don't buy it, Ruby.'
Furious at the slander.
“Sounds kinda cute. Ahaha.”
But hearing that lifted her mood again.
Chat over, Ruby's training resumed. She swung till late, even after Marcus left—expecting him to call quits. Her strikes didn't stop.
'Such a hard worker.'
Sisilia watched silently, losing track of time. As drowsiness hit, Ruby slumped, panting.
“...Gotta head back.”
No dazzling progress today. She still closed her eyes on swings. But less so—now just a blink.
For that sliver, she'd bashed the boring dummy for five hours.
'Keep at it steadily, and she'll improve.'
Sisilia wanted to pet her head. Such a praiseworthy newbie. Not the stage yet, but she craved giving encouragement. Someone had noticed her efforts.
“Up we go.”
As Ruby rose and straightened her clothes, Sisilia moved quietly too.
**
Ruby dragged her exhausted body home. Late night streets of Terezia still bustled decently. The city's safety wasn't hype.
“Even modern times had pickpockets, but this is wild.”
Ruby eyed her hands. Barely strength to hold a spoon, but viewing the fatigue as pure EXP made her proud.
'Gotta grind tomorrow too.'
Smiling softly—then a familiar doll passed by.
“Huh?”
Sisilia, in unusual attire. She turned at Ruby's stutter.
“Too late for a lady to walk alone.”
Sisilia offered her smaller hand. The outfit gave major little-sister vibes.
'Who's protecting who?'
The thought crossed her mind.
“Oh, hi. Heading home?”
“Yes. You too, after training at the Adventurer Guild?”
Ruby's eyes widened.
“How'd you know?”
“You smell like sweat.”
“……”
Speechless at the bluntly realistic reason.
“Must've trained hard. Commendable.”
“N-Not that hard...”
“Liar.”
Sisilia gently pressed a finger to Ruby's lips.
“That's a scent only from serious effort.”
“...D-Do I stink?”
“I've got a good nose.”
Sisilia tapped her own. Ruby giggled despite herself, covering her mouth. They fell into step side by side. Maybe the night air, or the bright moonlight—Ruby voiced what she'd never say normally.
“...Honestly, I wonder if it even matters.”
“What?”
“I'm hopelessly talentless. Always have been.”
Words she'd never uttered as an idol. Feared they'd manifest reality. But this strange world, future opaque, dredged them up.
“I've overcome somehow till now, but some things are impossible no matter the effort.”
Sisilia's eyes sparkled even in the dark night. Meeting Ruby's gaze, her usual blank face returned as she slowly shook her head.
“Everyone starts clumsy.”
“...!”
“It's perfectly natural, Ruby.”
Ruby blinked, staring at Sisilia.
“Even you had stuff you couldn't do?”
“Of course.”
Sisilia replied like she'd waited, hand on chest, a hint of backstory in her tone.
“I'm human too—bound to have weaknesses.”
“L-Like what?”
Sisilia paused. Off-script. Ruby was the specifics type. No problem—her words were true.
“For example... knife handling.”
“Unfamiliar with etiquette?”
“No, that was fine.”
“...?”
Medieval etiquette was simpler than thought. Just knife order, basic table manners: no talking with food in mouth, hide contents, no slurping. But Sisilia was clumsy with knives—even now, Betty helped.
Because—
“I'd slice right through the plate.”
“……”
Ruby regretted asking.