Crushing the Demon King's Army (2)
Silver hair fluttered by the window. Amid the rapidly passing scenery, Sisilia's mouth hung slightly open as she peered around.
"?"
"Lady Sisilia, you'll fall out."
Beatrice grabbed Sisilia's waist and pulled her back.
Why did it turn out like this?
Sisilia, aboard the train bound for the empire, questioned everything.
A brilliant one-strike strategy. It had burned through the calories of three cakes, but fortunately, everything had unfolded exactly as she planned.
Now, all that remained was the finishing touch: Edward's imperial debut.
In the meantime, Sisilia herself would enjoy cozy tea times in the warm capital, teasing Betty and licking up the newbies from the empire—
But no.
"Kee-hya! Northern front after so long!"
"It's only been a month."
Reality was the frigid northern fortress of Repeldown, not some cake shop. Before her stood about 1,400 soldiers.
Sisilia said with a sullen face, "First, move all the supplies."
"Yes, ma'am!"
The soldiers of the Liannen Kingdom moved in perfect unison. Sisilia stopped them.
"No, not there."
"Pardon? But the vents are..."
"Mount them on the opposite side. Facing the empire."
"...!"
The soldiers were a bit surprised but figured she had her reasons and followed her orders. They hauled massive magic cannons one by one from the magitech train.
Watching the endless stream of supplies from the train, a petty desire crept up on Sisilia.
If I smash that, maybe no more long-term missions?
But that would rob the newbies of their bragging rights.
"...Why am I even here."
Sisilia sighed. Of course, she knew she'd have to come to the empire eventually. But she hadn't expected it this soon.
She'd thought the moment of intervention—her red line—would be when Roendel Fortress fell.
—The situation is dire. You need to be on-site ahead of time to respond. Go watch it unfold.
The order made sense, but honestly, Sisilia thought she had zero talent for politics.
"There are experts for this stuff. How's a cute, delicate girl like me supposed to deal with the empire?"
Sisilia glanced sideways at the sudden chill. Beatrice looked like she had plenty to say.
"Got a problem?"
"...No. None."
Just then, a shivering soldier approached.
"Vice-Captain!"
"Yeah."
"Could you turn on the heater, please?"
"Okey-dokey."
"...Pardon? Wh-what's that?"
"It's Sisilia. Cut her some slack."
"Fair enough."
"?"
Sisilia, marked by a question, ambled up the tower. Then, on her impassive face, she spotted a corpse.
"An imperial."
Looked like demon handiwork. Sisilia closed the eyes of the man who died staring wide open.
After a brief moment of mourning, she opened her own eyes and looked where he'd been gazing until the end.
A wall. Covered in magical formulas.
His hand had frozen just short of touching it.
"...You must've been cold."
Sisilia approached the wall with sad eyes and extended her hand. As her slender fingertip touched it, the formulas ignited in blue flame.
This was the heating system from the Tower of Truth. Activated by infusing pure mana with an Aura.
It took considerable mana, so only Sword Demon rank or higher could manage it.
Whoosh—
Magic circles bloomed across Repeldown's skies.
"It's on."
"Finally livable."
The air in Repeldown gradually warmed.
"Wind Aura, huh? Unique heating method."
"Right? Captain Edward did it once—my soles got all hot."
"Huh? Then the top stays cold?"
"That's why we all crawled on the floor."
Aura manifestations varied by user. The standard was a big fire in the central brazier, but ones like Sisilia's or Edward's that directly transferred heat adapted to their traits.
Soldiers rated the heaters each time a commander activated one.
"This heater's—"
"Top-tier. No freezing on this northern trip."
As the soldiers beamed with the warming weather, Sisilia extended a hand to Beatrice.
"Betty, got a trowel?"
"H-how did you—"
Beatrice panicked but froze at the "something" behind Sisilia. A corpse.
"Hand it over."
"Here you... Lady Sisilia, let me handle that. No need for you to—"
But Sisilia took the trowel and started digging herself.
"Superiors do this stuff."
"From Lord Chiron?"
"Yup."
Beatrice smiled faintly and tossed a light jab. "Figures all the socialization training fell to the former captain..."
Sisilia shot her a glance. "170cm, 37-22-38."
"...A code?"
"Betty's height and three sizes."
"Pardon?"
"For the grave."
Beatrice eyed the snow piled on Sisilia's trowel, then knelt obediently.
"I-I'll never sass again."
Watching her, Sisilia thought, ...Jealous.
Big chest, tiny waist—explosive proportions. Sisilia trembled.
Reason to kill the emperor? This was enough.
"Let's go, Betty."
"...Where?"
"Capital."
"Pardon?"
"Persuade him. Assassinate if not."
Sisilia wanted to go home fast. It'd be better for the empire too.
**
"What nonsense is this?!"
The emperor's roar filled the hall. Ministers couldn't lift their heads.
"Say it again."
The emperor pressed his forehead. Two terrified men stammered.
"G-Gauss Fortress—has fallen."
"...No reinforcements unless conditions are met."
The emperor couldn't decide which infuriated him more. The demons' unstoppable advance? Or Liannen eyeing the chaos?
One thing was clear: the empire faced unprecedented crisis.
Why in my reign?
He ground his teeth, clenching his fists.
"Father!"
The crown prince prostrated.
"Grant me Your Majesty's invincible army. I'll drive out the demons threatening this land!"
"No, Your Highness!"
"Y-Your Majesty, request aid from Liannen instead. Or the empire..."
"Sell the whole nation?! Even now, fretting your fief falls?!"
The emperor clutched his throbbing head amid the chaos. He judged coldly.
...Demons first. But no unequal treaty.
A millennium-old empire. Its fate couldn't end here. They had to weather this. But how? 270,000 troops lost. Even with conscription, maybe 700,000.
"...Crown Prince."
"Y-yes, Father!"
"Your thoughts?"
The prince answered eagerly, sensing opportunity. "Redirect southern forces—block the demons at all costs!"
"Southern."
The emperor eyed him coldly. "Then who faces the Holy Nation?"
"Th-that's."
This boy's no good. Spirited, but shortsighted.
The emperor looked away. Seven children entered his view. Most captivating: First Princess Lizbet.
Only she meets all criteria. But...
No woman had ever ruled the empire. No precedent—a fatal flaw. No minister saw her as legitimate heir.
But the emperor had seen her excellence since childhood.
"Lizbet."
"Yes, Father."
"Your thoughts."
"...In my view."
Lizbet said calmly, "Accept the treaty. Request aid from Liannen Kingdom."
"You think this safe?!"
The emperor raised his hand roughly. "Quiet!"
The crown prince bit his lip. The emperor rose shakily, coughed, then stared at Lizbet.
"Why?"
"Lost rights can be reclaimed. But more losses? Irreversible."
"Irreversible when?"
"Roendel Fortress."
The emperor's face hardened visibly.
"Not much time."
From demons' position, only two or three fiefs to Roendel. It was a key stronghold, well-fortified—but its fall meant irreparable damage.
The emperor resolved: time to settle the long-delayed issue.
If you're fated to be empress, Lizbet.
He closed his eyes.
You'll overcome this trial. The crown weighs heavier.
"I command First Princess Lizbet Eldrasion Bellatio La Carmine."
Lizbet gripped her dress and bowed.
"Go to Liannen Kingdom yourself. Secure aid."
All present understood: fulfilling this claimed the throne.
The crown prince's eyes gleamed dangerously.
**
"Your Highness, water route's fastest to Liannen."
"...My brother won't let that slide."
In the moving carriage, Lizbet said nobly, "We take land route."
"L-land route—"
"North. Repeldown's flank is still kingdom territory, right? We can contact them there."
No safe spot in empire. Only way: kingdom aid, then return together.
Lizbet knew her brother's brutality. For power, he'd kill her without blinking.
But even she hadn't anticipated one thing: his moves were faster than thought.
"Pity. Truly unfortunate, First Princess."
Passing Roendel, nearing Gauss fief. Thugs surrounded her carriage.
Posing as common bandits—but crown prince's assassins, surely.
"H-how so fast?"
This is it.
Lizbet closed her eyes quietly. She'd taken the shortest path with minimal delay. Yet spotted.
...When did you plant spies nearby, brother?
Treachery inside. The moment she missed it, she'd lost.
As she accepted it all stoically—rustling. She opened her eyes.
"Who's there!"
A masked thug shouted, sword drawn.
Two girls emerged from the woods. Tall one, small one. Blonde, silver-haired. Unique colors. Empire had similar, but this radiance? Lizbet's first.
The silver-haired girl blinked, pointing. "Whoa, bandits."
"...For real."
"See? Told you. Bandits robbing carriages."
Lizbet bit her lip at the innocently proud, cute silver-haired girl.
"...Run."
"Pardon?"
"Flee. They're no ordinary bandits."
The leader of the twenty smirked. "Sorry, too late. Witnesses are basic cleanup."
...Innocents die because of me.
How to face them in death? As self-pity hit—
The silver-haired girl, tension-free, said innocently, "We'll pay fair price. Just let us go."
"Sorry, but—"
"Super rare and pricey. No regrets."
No one lacks greed. Even these money-killing assassins.
And even without—her "super pricey" tone sparked curiosity.
"...If truly valuable."
"What's the price?"
Sisilia beamed. "Your life."