In Search of the Newbies
"Jahar is dead."
Walpurgis.
"Freya has betrayed us."
The Demon King Cain intoned in a heavy voice.
"And the prime candidate for the next Four Heavenly King, Lust herself, has been stolen away."
"A painful blunder."
But Cain's expression was one of intrigue rather than dismay.
"Is this a crisis?"
It was nostalgic, even sweet. Humanity was finally shining. He could confidently declare that the humans of this era were stronger than those of any century before. To be the Demon King in such a time was truly a blessed life.
Cain felt genuine gratitude toward Sisilia.
"This Demon King sure knows how to joke around."
At that moment, a pink-haired demoness spoke with a leisurely smile.
"It's just Jahar, isn't it? A pathetic serpent who couldn't even earn the call of the Demon God."
She flashed her small fangs in smug triumph.
"A loss like this doesn't dent demonkind's forces at all. W-well, losing Lady Freya does sting a bit..."
But her confidence faltered at the end—unavoidable, really. Lumia of the White Night had long admired Freya.
"Lady Freya must have her reasons. The idea that someone stronger than the previous Demon King could be subjugated is absurd."
"Indeed."
Cain replied indifferently. Truth be told, he didn't believe Freya had been subdued by force either. Yet he had already written her off from their forces. The reason?
'Sisilia Windsor is more than captivating enough to pique Freya's interest.'
Freya might genuinely be intrigued by Sisilia and choosing to stay. She could even have formed a contract by now.
"However, humanity hasn't paid the price yet. The weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings has fallen, but one nonetheless. It's fitting that we repay that grudge."
It was the Demon King's command: You messed up, so handle it yourselves.
In truth, the Four Heavenly Kings were "kings" in their own right. Such words from the Demon King were profoundly rude. The previous one would have faced backlash. But none dared challenge Cain. Unlike his predecessor, who matched their power, Cain was unmistakably superior.
"I'll go."
Lumia, already irked by Sisilia stealing Freya, raised her hand.
"I'll just slip in and give her a little scratch."
"No, I'll go."
A guttural, grating voice echoed through the chamber. All eyes turned to one figure. There stood a massive suit of armor with at least eight arms.
Ashumar. One of the Four Heavenly Kings, also called the Hell Legion Commander.
But he couldn't care less about revenge.
"I have a feeling it'll be a real fight."
He was a pure martial king, a being who lived solely for battle.
What he craved was stimulation in this tediously monotonous life. A sacred clash where lives hung in the balance.
"Sisilia Windsor... I'll be the one to kill her."
"I told you, that's not it!"
Sisilia lost her composure, slamming the table and standing up. Her slender arms trembled with fury, her face twisted in horns of anger. Most tellingly, her hair was braided.
"When Sisilia braids her hair, she's seriously pissed."
"This is grave."
The unprecedented crisis that led Sisilia to braid her hair was simple: Jahar was dead. With the vacancy, a new Four Heavenly King would soon be appointed. A freshly appointed one would be weak—perfect to nip in the bud before they grew strong. That was Edward's policy.
"Survival of the fittest."
Edward said quietly.
"It's what the demons have always done to us."
"But."
"You know full well how effective it is, don't you? Sisilia."
A chilling glare pierced her. The atmosphere between Sisilia and Edward turned colder than ice.
"The strong should target the strong. Not the weak."
'No newbie hunting, ever.'
Sisilia's vehement opposition stemmed, as always, from the newbies. Let the Windsor Knights handle entrenched Heavenly Kings, and leave the rest to the newbies. They'd grow swiftly, soon standing beside her.
'Am I the only one who sees it?'
Newbies' heroic quests to slay the Demon King. The classic route: topple the Heavenly Kings one by one, then challenge the throne. With Jahar's death, only three remained. The newbies' heroics would culminate when she felled the last.
A sacred clash between demon newbies and human ones. How fair, how poetic.
...But hunting demon newbies?
"I'll report you to the Fair Trade Commission! You rotten old-timer!"
"What's that?"
"Hah, you don't even know? The Fair Trade Commission!"
"...We don't have that in our kingdom."
"Then make one!"
The Windsor Knights slumped in defeat.
"Last time it was constitutional amendments or whatever. Where does she even learn these words?"
"Amendments? Pervert!"
Beatrice, witnessing the Windsor Knights' grand strategy meeting for the first time, got chills.
'He's a pervert after all.'
She vowed to protect Sisilia from Edward.
"Captain, how can you sexually harass Sisilia like that?"
"Damn it, why didn't you say so sooner? Little girls are my type."
Suddenly cast as the lecherous captain harassing his subordinate, Edward closed his eyes quietly.
Is this order really okay?
"If you want to pioneer the west that badly, just go now. No new Heavenly King has been appointed yet."
Of course, Sisilia wasn't just throwing a tantrum. She countered Edward with her own logic.
"Sending knights to an already empty house is a waste of manpower. Concentrating forces there endangers the east."
"I see."
"So... so!"
Truth be told, her fervor came from desperation beyond expectation. If even weakened Heavenly Kings were snatched by old-timers, newbies would have no room to grow. Without slaying one, the Demon King was impossible—especially the irregular Cain, who had exceeded her predictions twice over. A monster among monsters.
'If I lose to Edgelord here—the newbies' future is doomed. I'll have to see 'that scene' again.'
Seemingly thoughtless, yet resolute.
"Stick to the original plan: subjugate the remaining Heavenly Kings. I absolutely oppose targeting the new weak one."
Did her sincerity sway him?
"Fine."
Edward nodded.
"Then go slay Ashumar in the east. Pick up Gallerhead on your way back."
'Captain's the best!'
Sisilia nearly beamed innocently, then realized something was off.
"...Me?"
"Obviously. You're the only one ranting about taking down the other Heavenly Kings. Vice-Captain Sisilia."
Sisilia stared blankly at Edward.
"When did I...?"
Edward flashed a dazzling smile.
"Right now."
Sisilia's world crumbled. From the start, this was Edward's ploy to dispatch her east.
"She's not a child anymore."
In the Imperial Academy headmaster's office, delinquent student Edward sipped tea before Chiron.
"How long do you plan to keep raising her like a flower in a greenhouse?"
The issue was Sisilia's dispatch to the east.
From Terezia, the east was the farthest. Thus, the harshest conditions. Among east, west, north, south, it was the only land fully conquered by Liannen. West had the Empire, north demons, south rival kingdoms—but east had nothing. Even its main foe, Heavenly King Ashumar, was unusually docile. Liannen's warmest rear lines.
But reality wasn't so warm.
"The east is a horror Sisilia must face someday."
"Sisilia is still a minor."
"...That minor slew Maui, whom no one else could. She's a knight with achievements too numerous to list."
The east was peaceful compared to elsewhere. In war-torn Liannen, the only front without a true frontline.
Yet that very peace had turned it into a human-made hell. Riddled with noble infighting and tyranny worse than anywhere. Atrocities unimaginable in Terezia or even the north were everyday there.
Chiron’s worry was understandable. For Sisilia, it posed dilemmas worse than demon-slaying.
"She'll manage. If you don't trust your own daughter, who will?"
Edward smirked.
Sisilia would thrive.
'...I can't wait for her return. She'll be a better knight than before.'
Having killed more humans than demons, perhaps. With luck, she'd return broken. That version of Sisilia would be easiest to tame.
Of course, Edward hid his dark thoughts, mimicking a righteous knight for Chiron.
"Have faith."
"...Edward."
But Chiron's shadow lingered despite it all. One arm spent its knightly lifespan, yet the Sword Sovereign's aura remained.
"Sisilia's birthday is one month and 21 days away."
"...Pardon?"
As Edward eyed Chiron oddly for the non sequitur, the headmaster shattered his teacup with a feral growl.
"If Sisilia doesn't return before her birthday, you die."
"..."
Having avenged his wife, Chiron had shed all restraint, embracing doting fatherhood openly. Edward was genuinely scared.
Meanwhile, Sisilia was locked in heartfelt combat with Beatrice in an inn room on the eastern edge.
"I've grown up too! I won't play along with Sisilia's tyranny anymore. Because I'm a high knight now!"
Beatrice placed a hand on her hip, looking down at Sisilia.
Sisilia's cheeks puffed out.
'Flat chest is bad enough, now she's taller too.'
Convinced her face would crush under the pressure, she slammed down her adventurer's license.
"Lame Betty, stick to healing. That's what suits you."
"I-I'm a knight too! Not a healer...! You taught me that knights don't just buff from the back...!"
This spat arose from Sisilia's decision.
-Send the other Windsors ahead east. Betty and I will go slow.
-Subjugation date starts when Beatrice and I retrieve Gallerhead and reach the rally point.
Officially to hide as adventurers seeking Gallerhead—but really different. Summoned newbies had piled up, some wandering Liannen enjoying travels.
'With luck, we might party with a newbie.'
Sisilia eyed a chance to "lick" newbies. The issue: forcing Beatrice into priestess role.
-No interest in healer newbies.
Beatrice, freshly skilled, wanted to test herself. Priestess? Worse than mage!
"I wanna swing a sword too! Be a warrior! I'm good at tanking! You could be the mage...! Get someone else for priest...!"
Beatrice devolved to tearful tantrum. Furious at her disobedient adjutant, Sisilia pointed.
"Then don't have big boobs!"
"...?"
"What warrior in any party has huge tits? Impossible!"
Beatrice, eyes reddening, was dumbfounded by the reason. She squeezed them shut and yelled.
"You think I chose to be born like this? I wanted to be small like you!"
"...!"
Sisilia grabbed her sheathed sword and chased to smack Beatrice. Beatrice fled desperately. They spun around the cramped inn room for a while.