The Strongest Knight (1)
In this world, if something weird was going on, there was only one person to blame.
"The goddess poisoned our peaceful world. I'll go smash the statue in the cathedral right now."
"Please don't...!"
Sisilia could forgive mint chocolate. Her heart was big enough for that. But mint strawberry? No way. That was beyond forgiveness.
From Sisilia's perspective, the Cheonma Divine Art was pure mint strawberry. Utterly intolerable.
"Finished with your urgent business?"
"Yeah. Thanks to you."
For the record, Aiden had no idea she'd absorbed more than half of Lancaster's forces. That was Sisilia's "Newbie Nurture" operation.
The grand ambition to become a newbie's mom and wife. Sisilia's sexual fetish was stuffing massive bribes into their pockets without them knowing, then watching them sweat it out. Of course, it meant nothing now.
"You mean the Cheonma Divine Art? That's a secret technique passed down in our Hofen family."
Sisilia immediately asked Aiden about the Cheonma Divine Art. Listening to his story, a suspicion formed, and she asked,
"The guy who made it... was he the first family head, by any chance?"
"Yes. It was personally devised by our ancestral Sword Saint."
"...That ancestral Sword Saint—any records of him coming from some far-off eastern land?"
"How did you know? Even in our family, only a few are aware of that."
Watching Aiden's surprise, Sisilia thought, No way—is he a goddess-pick user like me?
It dawned on her: the Hofen ancestor might be a newbie.
I'll have to look into this properly when I get back.
Luckily, she knew an old lady who loved ancient tales. After all, even 200 years ago, Liannen had been under Lydia's regency.
"Thanks for telling me."
"N-no, thank you. I never imagined things would work out this well..."
Sisilia's group was currently camping in some nameless forest outside Lancaster Territory. They'd safely escaped the war zone.
A few more villages, and Greyslam would be in sight. Parting was near.
So Aiden mustered his courage. "...How can I become as strong as you?"
Sisilia blinked at the unexpected question. People usually begged for help in situations like this—not advice on getting strong.
...Not a total newbie, but still.
It wasn't a tough request for Sisilia. They were heading the same way, and locals counted as newbies too.
Should be fine until we arrive.
And who knew? She might run into that newbie called "Cheonma" someday. For goodwill farming, impressing the descendants was smart.
"It'll be tough. You okay with that?"
"Of course!"
Aiden nodded brightly.
"The fastest way to master the sword is sparring with the strong. Every night, at a set time, we'll duel."
Aiden learned the hard way what Sisilia meant by "a bit tough." She didn't do half-measures.
Collapse from exhaustion? She'd stomp your neck. Drop the sword? Fist to the solar plexus.
The result? Aiden never collapsed or dropped his sword, no matter the situation.
"What is your deal? It's been a month on the road, and I still don't know your master's castle."
Aiden saw Sisilia as his master and called her that. She let the title slide—"whatever"—but spars got easier when he did. So whenever he wanted something, he'd emphasize "master."
Today was one of those times. He was a bit hurt she still hadn't revealed her status, even after they'd grown closer.
"I'm not really nobility."
"...I held back out of respect, but your etiquette screams noble. Hard to hide. And that face? No commoner."
"You're still lacking in a lot of ways, Aiden."
Sisilia pointed to the swamp.
"How many do you think died falling in there?"
"Huh? ...Not that big, so probably not many."
"They probably got suspicious of someone's status and tumbled in."
Keep prying, and you'd end up like them. Aiden gulped. Beatrice hurriedly opened her holy book and started reciting.
"Anyway."
Sisilia, embracing her role as a fine master, said, "Beat me in a duel someday, and I'll tell you my real identity."
Aiden stared, dazed by her smile—the purest, most beautiful he'd ever seen.
"...Keep that promise, Master."
From then on, beating Sisilia became Aiden's goal. Maybe even above avenging his family.
"Uwaaah, finally a proper village, Sisilia!"
"Mm."
Vrrr~
Sisilia was drying her hair with her own wind aura, flopping lazily.
Lancaster to the next village was quite the trek. Weeks of rough camping in dense forests meant no real baths.
"I keep thinking it, but your Aura is so comfy. Drying hair was always the worst part."
Sisilia and Beatrice were blissfully soaking after ages.
"Cool breeze version too."
Sisilia smirked and switched to chilly wind.
"Eee-yah."
Beatrice looked nirvana-bound.
As they relaxed—footsteps approached.
"Oh, Aiden. Sisilia."
"...!"
Sisilia's eyes widened; she scrambled for cover.
"Betty. Say I'm not here."
She barely hid before Aiden scanned around and asked Beatrice.
"Master! Sparring... uh, Beatrice. Where's Master?"
Beatrice smiled meaningfully, glancing at the rocks. A glimpse of silver hair peeked out.
"There you are! Let's spar!"
Sisilia dragged off with a pathetic look. Beatrice covered her mouth, giggling.
First time seeing Sisilia like that.
After promising her identity for a win, Aiden's drive had skyrocketed. Sisilia had underestimated a teenage boy's stamina.
Now he hounded her for spars all day, win or lose, exhaust or not. Even Sisilia was sick of it.
Heh heh. She'll come crawling to me exhausted again?
And Beatrice loved it—drained Sisilia turned adorably meek.
Meek Sisilia was extremely cute.
Beatrice grinned, watching their duel. Beside her, Raoul murmured in awe.
"Incredible every time. Young Master Aiden's swordsmanship outshines his peers, but to dominate without Aura like that... and her age matches his?"
"Sisilia's the strongest."
Beatrice puffed with pride. Sisilia's personality embarrassed her anywhere, but her skill never faltered.
"True. Strongest knight I've seen... second in my life."
Beatrice latched onto "second," eyeing Raoul.
"...Not first?"
"The first isn't really human, so don't mind it."
Beatrice beamed. Arms bend inward. Even if she secretly thrilled at Sisilia's woes as her wicked adjutant—Sisilia was always number one.
"Who?"
"..."
Raoul hesitated, then decided it was fine.
"Years ago, we stayed in York Earldom."
"When you were on the run?"
"Pretty much. Huge danger, like when we met you. A knight saved us. White cape."
Beatrice instantly knew: Windsor Knights. Sisilia still hid it, pricking her conscience, but she played dumb.
"White cape—Windsor Knights?"
"From Terezia. Seen them?"
Beatrice laughed awkwardly, twirling her hair.
"Ahaha. A little...?"
"...I didn't buy the 'strongest knights' hype either. Thought it was central propaganda. If they could crush demons, why not end the war?"
We're trying...
Beatrice wilted a bit. This trip was for beheading a Four Heavenly King. Sisilia had leaked a bit midway.
"That changed the instant I saw him."
Raoul recalled. As a knight, he studied superiors. But that Windsor knight brought only torment.
"Couldn't even grasp his strikes. No idea why that timing, that spot. No intent visible."
That alone? Just admiration. But the agony came from...
"With that skill, basics were abysmal. Look at Sisilia—textbook form. Rational perfection any swordsman admires. But him... like a total beginner, sloppy."
Innate genius. Never learned swordplay, never needed to. Undefeated from birth, strong without effort.
"His name: Gallerhead. Of the Windsor Knights. Heard of him?"
"...!"
Beatrice's eyes widened. The name she'd been seeking. East somewhere, no leads—yet here it was.
Makes sense if he saw Sir Gallerhead.
Gallerhead, strongest high knight. Beatrice joined after his long vacation; never seen up close. But she knew the high knights were monsters. Overwhelming first? What a beast.
Anyway, not the point now.
After the duel, Beatrice pulled Sisilia aside.
"Sisilia. Sir Gallerhead was last spotted in York Earldom, it seems."
Four Heavenly King subjugation loomed. Greyslam neared; distance short. Including Gallerhead? Success guaranteed.
Even if delayed, secure him.
But Sisilia shook her head.
"Never planned to find Gallerhead."
"Really?"
"Straight to Greyslam. If fated, we'll meet."
Beatrice eyed the limp Sisilia. Worse than usual—today's duel brutal.
Today might fulfill her dream: that.
"...Sisilia. Try calling me 'big sis'?"
Current Sisilia: everything annoyed her. No energy for arguments—total obedience.
Gulp.
Tense moment—Sisilia eyed Beatrice sleepily.
"Auntie."
Beatrice turned to stone.