Mission Complete
"What beautiful light."
"A sanctuary—this truly is a sanctuary, isn't it?"
A realm where no one died had unfolded in Terezia.
The golden waves were sacred even to first-time onlookers. They were entranced by its beauty.
"Lord Chiron!"
"A-Are you conscious?"
Beatrice's extreme art, Valhalla.
Humans within the domain wouldn't die even if their life force hit zero. But it didn't heal them.
"Betty! Maintain your extreme art as long as you can!"
"How long can you hold it?"
Chiron's black flower hadn't vanished yet, and his life still hung by a thread.
"Betty."
If Sisilia hadn't appeared, Chiron might never have pulled through.
"......From now on, you can stare at my panties all you want."
Sisilia had sliced away the roots of the black flower embedded in Chiron's body with precise winds. That miracle had saved his life.
"Ugh, it's over."
"What about Jahar?"
"Chiron! They say the former Windsor Knights captain staked his life to kill him!"
People embraced each other, tears streaming down their faces. Soldiers who'd fought tooth and nail, civilians who'd only been able to watch from evacuation zones.
"This is our victory!"
The damage was immense. Scars remained. But Liannen had taken a step forward.
For the first time since the war with the demon race erupted—they'd slain one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
A few crumbled buildings couldn't steal the light of hope from their hearts.
"Hurry up over there!"
"Her Majesty might kick the bucket at this rate!"
"We gotta time the funeral right!"
Everyone poured into the streets for reconstruction, no exceptions. For themselves, for their neighbors, under someone's orders—the reasons varied, but they gladly pooled their strength.
"How ya gonna hammer like that?"
"Uncle, what do you expect from medieval folk?"
"Wh-Wh-What's that thing?"
By the way, users joined the rebuild too. A guy with field experience was there, but he broke down after seeing magic levitate boulders mid-air.
"I thought users were just freeloaders who ate our food, but they can do this too?"
"You know pyramids?"
But a construction pro from the 22nd century was on another level. He worked with efficiency that stunned the Liannen locals.
"Man, how's your head so sharp?"
Above all, every user had an aura blessing, and channeling it into building skyrocketed productivity.
Unlike at the academy, they got showered in praise, so users naturally leaned toward this line of work.
"Hey, we could make a living just building stuff."
"Come to think of it, no real need to fight, right?"
More and more started daydreaming happily.
"Users hanging around here is a problem. Know the Adventurer Guild?"
Of course, Sisilia the righteous NPC conscripted them straight into the Adventurer Guild.
"That's some scary rumor."
"......Where does that shamelessness come from? Why are you in my garden? Get lost!"
"Ahaha. How cute."
Ruby and Bianca had grown close.
—Though Bianca would never admit it—
They still growled a bit, but it looked good, and Sisilia was pleased. Even more pleasing? The main quest was finally kicking off.
"Hehe. The newbies must've watched my awesome show."
A city shrouded in darkness. A massive invasion by ill-tempered demons.
And shining through it all—the Sword Princess!
Pretty and cute! Plus strong!
"Be wary of Captain Sisilia. She's dangerous."
After her spot-on impression, Sisilia beamed with pride. Perfect timing—a pack of newbie newbies strolled by.
She struck a pensive pose, waiting for them to approach.
"It was insane. Who knew the Windsor Knights were that strong? Never saw it coming."
"They're built outside the specs from the start. ......But damn, it was cool."
"Agreed."
Yep. Your Windsor Knights vice-captain's right here.
Feel free to chat me up.
"Especially that knight Beatrice...... Legendary."
"I thought that Edward knight was pretty cool?"
Sisilia turned to white ash. Her composure crumbled.
"I-I like Sisilia best......!"
But she brightened right up.
Why's she over there?
Ruby gawked at Sisilia, who was hiding between apple stalls and stressing out the shopkeeper.
I wanted to help the newbies grow too. Shame there's no time this round.
Regrettable, but Sisilia shrugged it off.
"Eh, first clears are always for the vanguard anyway."
Sisilia smiled faintly.
"The cute newbies can just stroll down the well-paved Betty road."
Putting cute newbies up front wasn't affection—it was cannon fodder.
Medieval style, so magic shield fodder.
Sisilia wasn't cruel enough to shove newbies into that meat grinder. Still, it was time to nudge their growth.
She pulled her robe low over her face and headed to the Adventurer Guild.
"Time to kick off full normalization."
*Ding-a-ling*—the door swung open with a cheerful bell.
"Kekeke, that build screams rookie. What brings ya to the Adventurer Guild?"
Rough-looking mercenaries. Cute.
"Can tell you're a girl! Nearly missed it with those flat tits!"
That wasn't cute. Sisilia slammed the rude merc vertically into the wall.
"S-Si-Sisilia?! Warn a guy!"
"Windsor's tyranny!"
"Why beat up a poor merc?!"
Amid the boos, Sisilia strolled on, content. All so cute.
But her eyes widened at the counter girl.
"??"
"Ah, Lady Sisilia."
"Ruby, why're you here......?"
......Clone jutsu?
This morning, she'd brushed Sisilia's hair. At lunch, crashed Bianca's tea time. Ran into her on the street earlier. Now moonlighting at the Adventurer Guild counter.
Anyway, Sisilia cut to the chase.
"My pup should've been here."
"Pup—oh, you mean the divine beast! In that room over there!"
Divine beast? Oh, right.
Just a special breed, Fenrir.
Sisilia opened the guided room. A nicely furnished space, with a stubby-legged pup lounging on the sofa.
The pup spotted her and bounded over, panting happily. Sisilia petted it.
"Came to ask a few favors."
"Woof!"
"Guide people well. Sexual harassment and fights are fine, but no lifestyle users. Especially punish herb-gathering rice-munchers harshly."
Sisilia set proper guild policy, then stood.
The Welsh Corgi nodded like it understood. True to its special Fenrir breed, it got human speech.
But Sisilia tilted her head.
"Wait, what's your name again?"
The Welsh Corgi looked utterly shocked.
Chiron had saved his life, but his body wasn't whole.
"Good thing I retired early."
His right arm was critically damaged. Nerves shredded, and worst, the mana circuits were severed.
No big issue for daily life, but wielding a sword with that arm was now impossible.
"Don't make that face. An educator doesn't need to swing a sword like an active knight, right?"
Sisilia was heartbroken. She sat frozen, clutching his arm for ages.
"I'll fix it for sure."
Chiron closed his eyes quietly.
In truth, he felt the world's deepest relief.
Good, she didn't sulk that bad.
She'd threatened a month of silence if he got hurt. He'd braced for it.
......Still, limiting damage to this is a miracle. I owe Beatrice a debt I can't repay.
Tanking a Four Heavenly King demon's assault barehanded. If not for his pure martial prowess as a Sword Sovereign, he'd have died several times over.
Infinite Heaven's Gravity—maybe twice more now.
He'd lost an arm, but it could still turn key battles. He took solace there.
Hell, he was grateful to have inflicted agony on Jahar at that cost.
"Sorry for taking your time. Tough getting here alone."
"It's fine."
Once somewhat recovered, Chiron leaned on Sisilia and headed somewhere.
A modest graveyard. Where Seria and his territory folk lay.
His fief near Roendel, Pelox Territory, was small. But the people loved Seria, and she loved them.
At this place full of memories, Chiron halted.
"Mind if I visit a bit?"
"Yeah. I'll nap over there by that old tree."
Sisilia pointed to a distant withered tree, nagging repeatedly.
"You won't hear a thing."
"Right."
Chiron gave a faint smile, watched her worriedly head to the tree, then stepped forward.
"Sorry, everyone. I...... came too late."
Knights usually got a small fief from their lord. As royal Windsor Knights, the queen granted theirs.
Chiron too—until that incident. After, no more Windsors got fiefs.
Demons could target them for revenge. A late realization.
So Chiron buried them near Terezia, in a small sanctuary Lydia made. Not far from his mansion—but he'd always dreaded coming.
Felt unworthy. Until slaying Jahar.
"Windsor Knights, Chiron Windsor."
"Your lord of Pelox hereby...... reports mission complete, after 56 years."
His voice trembled with emotion. Fists shook.
He'd longed to say this. Believed the moment would come.
It had. His lifelong wish, now uttered.
"I finally took Jahar's head."
After, Chiron knelt by the stones, sharing stories. Caressing each name, reliving memories.
All vivid. What they did, their personalities—
Then he paused long at one, staring blankly before fondly stroking it.
"Seria. Got something to say."
"Got a daughter who looks just like you. Not sure a wretch like me deserves it."
Chiron couldn't speak for ages. Unworthy even to cry for his love.
But after beheading Jahar—maybe he had the right now.
"......Forgive me. I'll keep my promise of a long story later. Wait till then?"
Memories with Seria flashed.
—Do knights really never cry?
—Yes. Knights don't cry.
—Hehe, decided! Someday I'll make Chiron cry.
—Sorry, Seria, impossible.
—Lifelong dream!
—No sulking.
—Watch me. I'll do it someday.
"For now, this'll have to do."
He smiled through bursting tears.
Chiron wept endlessly.
"Sisilia. Hurry, you're late."
"Coming."
Post-graveyard, Chiron softened further. He'd always carried bottled rage; now he seemed utterly relieved.
"A knight keeps time strictly. Show up late as vice-captain? Your subordinates'll see."
"I'm still a baby."
......Stricter than before? Nah, imagination.
Sisilia rubbed sleepy eyes, descending the central stairs.
Maids awaited at the entrance, greeting Chiron.
Sisilia's gaze locked on his neck, eyes widening.
"Th-That's."
Rarely flustered, face flushing, she stammered.
"Why do you still have that? It's a failure......"
Childhood training to become Sword Princess: knitting!
Kept botching midway, quit. But finished one as a gift for Chiron.
Even Sisilia, with sky-high self-esteem, cringed at the mangled scarf.
Yet Chiron smiled warmly.
"Failure to you, maybe. To me, it's the world's one-and-only precious scarf."
Scarfscarf?
Sisilia shook her head vigorously.