Hero's Village
"Lady Sisilia, you'll fall."
The rattling carriage sped along. Beatrice anxiously grabbed the back of Sisilia's neck as she stuck her face out the side. Sisilia was peering outside with eyes full of longing, looking for all the world like an innocent girl her age.
She's so cute.
"Will a slave trader show up, I wonder?"
"...Slave traders aren't princes on white horses, you know."
Of course, her words weren't cute at all.
"But in terms of not knowing when they'll drop dead, they're the same."
"Okay, slave traders aside, why does the prince have to die all of a sudden?"
"Political bedroom drama?"
"That's way too realistic...!"
The still-pure girl Beatrice clutched her face, desperately trying to erase what she'd just heard.
Meanwhile, unlike the delinquent Beatrice, Sisilia—the proper vice-captain of the Windsor Knights—was dutifully pondering the road ahead.
Someday, newbies will pass this way too.
The path to slay the Demon King should be brimming with heart-pounding adventure.
At the very least, I want them to see that sight.
The cinematic she'd witnessed after solo-clearing Another World in the past. Sure, she'd been scammed by the goddess afterward, but she was grateful for that scene.
It was an unforgettable, striking memory.
Sisilia hoped the newbies would feel the same thrill, puffing out her chest against the wind.
The first stop was a little hamlet called Kar Village. It looked incredibly peaceful and warm. Pastures came into view first, packed with dairy cows.
"Whoa—Betty's everywhere."
"...Lady Sisilia? Ahh."
Sisilia grabbed Beatrice's hand with a bright smile and dashed off. The rancher milking the cows turned around.
"Hm? Out-of-towners?"
"We're adventurers."
"...Adventurers. Oh, right—the new job that popped up recently."
The rancher seemed a bit dazed at first but soon grinned.
"Must've been tough getting here. Where you from?"
"Terezia."
"Figures. Fresh milk just squeezed—want some?"
"Yes!"
Sisilia loved milk. She'd hated it at first, but forcing it down daily to grow had turned her around.
...She hadn't grown much, but without it, she'd probably be a total beanpole.
Gulp, gulp.
Sisilia downed the milk in one refreshing go.
"Ahh."
Beatrice took a cautious sip, thinking it was a bit gamey, and glanced at Sisilia—
"Eek."
Seeing milk smeared all over Sisilia's mouth, she flailed to wipe it off. Then she gripped Sisilia's shoulders firmly and said in all seriousness,
"La, Lady Sisilia. Never drink milk in front of a man. Got it? Never!"
"?"
What's that mean? Sisilia tilted her head—and about twenty seconds later, she got it and soured.
"...Betty, I think you need to stop reading those dirty books."
"......"
Seeing unflappable Sisilia's face turn beet red, Beatrice wanted to die.
"Haha! Fun out-of-towners. Welcome to Kar Village. Staying over? I'll introduce you to the village chief first."
Guided by the rancher into the village, Sisilia smiled contentedly. As a Windsor Knight patrolling the frontiers, chances to visit such cozy spots were rare. Demons usually targeted crowds, and even small villages were grimly bleak.
But here, farther from demon threats, it felt truly peaceful.
"Well, well, another fine guest."
The chief looked every bit the village elder. Stroking his white beard, he beamed warmly.
"Name's Gandalf. Welcome to Kar Village."
"A-a wizard?"
Sisilia perked up, but alas, Gandalf wasn't a mage.
"Afraid I'm just a powerless old codger... Heh heh heh."
"Chief's our village's top sage."
The rancher crossed his arms with a smirk. But Sisilia was already hooked, even without that.
Squinty-eyed old man! And named Gandalf! Gotta be a hidden master.
Sisilia's tail swished excitedly.
"So, where's your journey headed?"
"We're going to Greyslam."
"La, Lady Sisilia."
Is it okay to just blurt that out...? There goes hiding our identities.
It was the closest territory to Four Heavenly King Ashumar's castle. They'd try to dissuade her—or if perceptive, expose them...
"Heh heh, not too far. Greyslam's got mild weather but unique snowfields."
The old man's reaction was lukewarm. Too long in the tooth for excitement? The rancher seemed unfazed too, taking it in stride.
"Hmm, about six months? Short for an adventure, but good experience."
"Lots of people head there?"
Sisilia asked curiously.
"Not none. Famous tourist spot, after all."
...Tourist spot?
Sisilia blinked at the idea of a Four Heavenly King's castle being a tourist trap.
"Ah, but take care. Security worsens past Kar Village."
Gandalf nodded in agreement.
"Two girls alone might struggle—hire mercenaries once you reach the nearest territory."
Sisilia flashed her tiny fist with sparkling eyes.
"We're adventurers. Pretty skilled ones."
"Heh heh heh."
"Cute kids."
Gandalf and the rancher chuckled brightly. Beatrice wore an awkward grimace.
That's what's really scary—that it's true.
Unlike in Terezia, frontiers rarely knew Sisilia's face. Without Windsor uniforms, no one would dream they were knights.
...Female knights were rare anyway.
"Still, be careful. Ride three weeks, and you hit war zones. Problem is, Greyslam's right through them."
"The war will end soon."
Sisilia said with her sunny smile. The rancher waved it off laughing.
"Been thirty years—ain't ending easy. Only stops when one side's done. Would be nice, though..."
"War causing trouble?"
"Our territory's big on cheese. Nobody indulges in wartime."
War termination confirmed.
Sisilia blinked. She'd have handled it anyway, even without these kind folks. Simple logic: war was bad.
"Anything else we can help with? We're adventurers, after all."
The chief and rancher exchanged glances, chuckling in surprise.
"Nah, we're good. What could those little hands do?"
We can totally do it! Sisilia was about to pump her fists when—
"Chief! Big trouble!"
"What is it?"
"The taxman's here!"
"Wha—? Not even a month yet, what...?"
Taxmen collected for lords—villages belonged to territories, after all.
"Perfect—let's help. Right, Betty?"
"Yup."
Beatrice patted Sisilia's head; she was too cute.
Taxmen terrified villagers. Lords terrified taxmen. Windsor Knights terrified lords—with summary execution rights.
Maybe even scarier than the Empress.
"Chief! Chief! Get out here!"
"Wh-what brings you so soon, sir? We paid the taxes—"
"Insolent fool! Baron Gedes fights on the front lines for scum like you!"
War meant higher taxes, basically. The chief slumped.
"...We got nothing. Scrape all you want—extra like that, and we'll starve before month's end."
"Can't pay?"
The taxman sighed, nodding to his knights: rough 'em up, loot what you can.
Not "moderate" to villagers.
"Hello?"
"...Who're you?"
"Adventurer."
Wha—? As he opened his mouth—
Sisilia smiled oddly, flashing her ID.
"What's that supposed to—? Some mercenary thinking she's safe..."
Sisilia kept beaming.
"Safe, you say..."
The taxman's voice trailed off. Eyes bulging like a goldfish, he stared at her hand.
A Windsor Knight insignia.
"......"
Cold sweat soaked him in three seconds.
He'd heard tales: nobles vanishing after crossing Windsors on duty.
If nobles vanished—what about a mere taxman?
Real or fake, he wasn't betting his life.
"S-sudden urgent business... H-hey! Know who this is?!"
That day, Kar villagers witnessed the almighty taxman fleeing without a trace.
Noble blood, surely? The chief asked as he saw Sisilia off.
"Just plain adventurers."
The silver-haired girl gave no more info.
"Heh heh, like a fairy visited us briefly."
From then, the already-kind villagers treated outsiders like royalty.
"Lady Sisilia, what're you doing?"
At Kar Village's edge, Beatrice tilted her head at Sisilia pawing the air.
"Ah, found it."
Sisilia pulled a sword from her subspace—the one Cain had given her, the Hero's Sword.
Demon King say-so, so not super reliable, but...
It did slay the previous Demon King, so real enough.
Plus, it'd tanked Heaven-Breaking Powerless Sword once—solid blade.
"Chased off the taxman, and we'll brush the lord en route—but feels insufficient."
Sisilia believed in going all-in on good deeds.
"Decided to help a bit more."
She infused mana into the sword. First-time skill, huge drain.
Climbing a suitable boulder, she aimed dead center and slam—jammed it in.
Clang!
Her image: A sword no one could ever draw.
Admiring the prettily embedded Hero's Sword, she rested a hand on her hip and smirked.
"...Overwhelming mana just from looking—even from that worthless rock till now."
"This is Excalibur. Someday, a hero to slay the Demon King will draw it. If Betty pulls it, I'll call you sis."
Beatrice glanced at Sisilia, then bolted, grabbed the hilt, and yanked.
"Please...!"
But no dice, despite her all-out tug. 'Cause Beatrice was a scrub.
Sisilia confirmed the blessing took hold, smugly satisfied.
"Villages need proper tourist bait to prosper."
From that day, Kar Village became the Hero's Village.