Declaration of War
"That's it for today. Review on your own. Not that it'll do much good."
Lude glanced around at the students and shook his head with a sigh.
"Can't even visit Sisilia—stuck wasting time on idiots like these."
The Royal Academy. It used to be just for nobles, but with the second summoning, around fifty users had enrolled.
Swordsmanship, basic etiquette, and general knowledge didn't require masters—competent folks with decent polish handled those. But magic was different. Its foundations were crucial, so Lude from the Windsor Knights took charge.
Not just teaching spells, but how to fight with magic.
Yet their talent was hopeless. They had the Goddess's Blessing, sure, but couldn't tap half its potential. Worst of all, their grit was nonexistent. A little setback, and it was "Yeah, I'm no good at this" or "How the hell do you even...?" before quitting.
Lude could stomach no talent, but no effort? He already despised every last one of them.
"Oh, Ruby excepted, of course. How'd Sisilia spot such a smart, pretty gem?"
The devoted maid working at Sisilia's estate was a total standout, needless to say.
'...Professor's definitely nuts.'
Ruby was convinced from her past-life experience.
The second Lude left, the users erupted.
"Fuckin' hell, that little shit."
"What a smug prick. Thinks he's hot stuff?"
"If my level was higher, I'd wreck him."
"This is bullshit."
Ruby gave an awkward smile. Truth be told, from her perspective, these second-wave newbies had it made.
Targeted summons this time, plus Headmaster Chiron—Sisilia's dad—treated them right. One personal maid per user, and he'd drilled the nobles to ensure "equal status."
But they all acted like it was the bare minimum.
'Sigh... We got dumped in a dungeon floor on arrival. These newbies these days...'
That rubbed her wrong, turning her into the worst breed: a newbie boomer.
"Just level up, and we'll smack 'em silly."
"Hang in there, guys! Outleveling these NPCs is inevitable anyway!"
"Hell yeah! Payback time when it happens!"
The users bonded over it. Their plan: the "Guild Operation."
They'd banded into a user alliance guild. Goal? Play nice, level up, then dominate from the top.
These guys summoned them just to boss them around—no guilt there. So, endure the early grind.
'...Think that'll work?'
Morals aside, Ruby doubted its feasibility. She knew damn well how monstrous the Windsor Knights were.
"Guildmaster! Dinner and strategy tonight?"
"Yep. For the long game!"
All eyes turned to Siu, the most VIP-treated among them. One of the trio who'd tagged along with Sisilia.
Ruby, ex-idol, kept her distance. Ian the med student skipped academy altogether. Siu flashed a natural smile.
"Of course."
Ruby's eyes narrowed.
'Something's... off. Siu's changed a ton.'
She still remembered him bawling in the Eternal Tomb. Now? Zero trace—pure confident leader.
Position makes the man, huh.
'Siu knows the score. Why join this fool's plan?'
She figured it wasn't her business—until Siu approached.
"Hey, Ruby."
"Yeah?"
"Join us for dinner this time."
The others eyed her hopefully. She'd dodged mingling, but Ruby had that star pull.
"Haha, nah."
"You skipped last time too. Gotta bond with us."
Ruby scratched her cheek awkwardly.
'Gotta bounce.'
"Got work."
"That estate gig? Ditch it. No reason for us to play lowly maids, right?"
Ruby's smile shattered.
That hit maid pride hard.
"Siu."
"Yeah? If it's awkward, I can talk to—"
"Stay out of my business."
"!"
Siu froze. Ruby strode out without a glance.
'Hurry. Sisilia's waiting.'
At first, she'd seen her as an "NPC to befriend." But maid life changed that.
Adorable lady. Sure, serving Sisilia was intense—but the perks were absolute.
Cute as hell. Her looks made any antics endearing. Ruby was full-blown Sisilia-struck.
'...Please not bath duty today?'
Anything but Sisilia's bath.
Meanwhile, Windsor Knights' underground prison.
"Hmm. Quite the intriguing tales."
Edward lounged on the table, listening to Ian.
Stories from Ian's world: flying carriages, guns letting kids wield mana with a trigger.
Fascinating stuff.
"Adopt any?"
Edward shook his head.
"We're ahead. No need to push tech further. For Liannen Empire, better to reject them."
"Wise. Tech advances always spark world wars."
Ian kept tinkering mid-chat.
"What's that you've been doing?"
"Simple experiment. Worked on lab kits back home—it's real."
"What is?"
"Blue mold."
Ian removed his glasses, deadpan.
"Penicillin."
Sisilia was delirious from her worst fever ever.
"Newbie one... newbie two..."
She murmured newbie visions. Blurry sight conjured one, then split as vision hazed.
"Heehee, newbie fission jutsu. Make a million like this."
Visiting Hyter and Jerryway gaped.
"This is bad."
"Lord have mercy. Sisilia with a cold?"
"Hey, Sisilia—how many fingers?"
"Whoa, six-fingered guy."
Hyter fretted seriously at the severity.
"...No joke, this is rough. Jerryway, let's bail. She's really sick."
"What? That's normal Sisilia."
They hadn't come purely to visit. Needed her Wind Shear for a mission. Kidnap the malingering berserker and go—that was the plan.
Hyter felt guilty realizing it was real.
Jerryway snorted. He wasn't buying it.
"Fool me? Not my eyes. Know how much I won at poker yesterday?"
Sisilia rasped.
"Classic dopey."
"...Dopey?"
Jerryway blinked, then shot up.
"See? Totally normal! Just bantered back."
"...She looks out of it."
"You don't get it? Sisilia's never been right! Hey, up! Your Wind Shear saves us a month!"
"Stop. She's legit sick."
Jerryway had his desperate reasons. Lost his fortune at poker yesterday. Blew all favors—only hope: quick mission, fat bonus.
"Stay put, Hyter. I'll prove it's fake."
Jerryway tensed, slowly—so slowly—reached for her head.
No one petted Sisilia. Hyter knew, swallowed hard.
"See? Told ya—"
He stared blankly at his hand on her hair.
"N-No way?"
Shocked, but he gulped and stroked anyway.
Limp Sisilia didn't resist.
"Worst cold in the world. No doubt."
Now convinced.
Hyter eyed him like trash.
"How? You've known her since she was six."
"Burying me? You thought the same!"
"You egged me on. Grandpa's dying words: never trust thieves."
Hyter dodged; Jerryway felt most wronged ever.
As Jerryway rallied—Hyter sensed something, shoved him.
BOOM!
"...!"
Jerryway froze at the grazing wind blade. Wall scarred huge.
Cause: massive wind blade.
"Heh—gotcha. Boss loot, roast..."
Zzz...
They stared at each other, then Sisilia.
Angelically asleep. Room wrecked.
"...Sick, but not weak?"
"Nah, weakened."
Jerryway grinned at his arm.
"Reaction's ten seconds slower. Doable?"
Hyter dragged him out by force.
"Lady Sisilia, get well."
Post-academy Ruby wiped her sweat with a damp cloth.
Blurry vision caught Ruby.
"Oh, Ruby."
"Yes, it's me—your Ruby."
"Happy, but your parents might grieve if I claim I named you..."
Ruby smiled softly. Amazing person.
"Academy going well?"
"Yes. Super fun—all thanks to you saving me."
Ruby paused thoughtfully, then beamed.
"Truly grateful. I'll cherish the life you gave me."
"Good."
Sisilia smiled faintly, caressing her cheek. Eyes saddened.
"Will Ruby be a mage...?"
"L-Lude said I have talent..."
Ruby gauged her mood.
"What kind of adult will Ruby become—"
"I'm already an adult...?"
Ruby flustered. Sisilia coughed delicately.
"Wanna watch you grow up close."
'...This feels familiar.'
Ruby's eyes widened, but she shook her head. Knew it was nonsense.
"R-Rest well."
"Mm."
Sisilia watched her go, idly fantasizing. Mage? Needed a serious talk later.
As delirious Sisilia passed time, visitors flooded her room.
"Words... Who trashed my nest?"
Freya, time-rewound the mess.
"Pitiful fool. A knight saving multitudes neglects her own health."
Bianca dumped elixirs, "abandoning" her.
"Gartan stabilized thanks to your efforts, milady. We advanced much in the truce. Grateful."
Aldred Gartan, en route from empress audience.
"Heard from Jerryway, Sisilia. Colds don't suit you. Shake it off."
"No vice-captain, rookies rioting. End times. Come discipline 'em."
Scores of Windsor Knights.
"Don't die, Sisilianyang...!"
"Your Majesty, Lady Sisilia just has a cold."
Even Queen Lydia and Erterion.
All genuinely worried.
'Thanks, everyone.'
Even hazy, Sisilia vowed: a happy ending for all, no tragedies.
Deep night as she slept again.
"The Butcher's gravely injured, immobile."
Four Heavenly King Jahar eyed the capital's massive gates.
"Fortunate. The Demon God's design."
Behind him, darkness hid hordes of beasts and demons.
"This war."
He smirked confidently.
"Belongs to the demons."