Four Heavenly Kings Ashumar (3)
Sisinyang—no, Sisilia—was being dragged around here and there, subjected to a barrage of nagging.
A disciple? The 17-year-old Sword Princess taking a disciple? And a boy at that...? To the Windsor Knights, at least, it was more shocking than a bald goddess descending to earth.
"Lude. Assassination. As the greatest magic engineer in the world, deleting one beast like this should be a piece of cake for you."
"Of course. Her Majesty the Empress told me never to walk the path of black magic, but things have come to this, so no choice."
"I-I was just kidding! You're serious? What's with that black mana!"
On the other hand, Sisilia—who was spectating the black mage job change in real time—was extremely satisfied.
'As expected, I'm still not rotten.'
Though her adventure with a total newbie had failed spectacularly, she'd at least succeeded in becoming a cool heroine. That was enough. Yep, more than enough.
"Hold on, sitting around like this among ourselves is pointless. Sisilia?"
"...She's huddled in the corner over there, munching on a baguette?"
"Damn it! Even without her, this is useless."
Sisilia looked up, chewing her baguette. A bunch of rough-faced uncles had gathered. And they reeked of spoiled vinegar. If not for the cute Lude, she would've bolted right then.
"Hey, explain yourself. Taking a disciple—are you insane?"
"You really didn't know the only disciples you can take are girls?"
She was hugging Lude and petting his head when Hyter pushed through the Windsors, grunting.
"Is that even the point right now! The vice-captain was two months late for a Four Heavenly Kings subjugation!"
"Come to think of it, yeah. In this urgent situation, casually enjoying a trip."
But this was a bit unfair. Sisilia swallowed the baguette in her mouth and declared confidently.
"I left a note for Hyter."
"What?"
The Windsors' gazes stabbed into Hyter. He scowled, then paled. He hurriedly rummaged in his pocket and pulled out the note.
"This... was an official order?"
"Yes."
Even if she looked like this, she was a diligent vice-captain. Naturally, she'd properly notified them of the delay. Hyter's mouth twitched as he showed the note to everyone.
"If it's an order, at least write it legibly enough to read!"
The handwriting was so illegible it was hard to even recognize as letters.
'Edppi could read it fine.'
Sisilia munched her baguette with a dismissive expression. The other Windsors looked down at her, inwardly fuming.
'She's eating well.'
'Was she hungry?'
At least she was healthy. Good.
"For now, disciple training can wait till the way back. With Sisilia here, let's plan the subjugation properly."
The Windsors plopped down around Sisilia and dove right into discussion.
"Unlike the other Four Heavenly Kings, Ashumar doesn't seem to launch periodic invasions. Rumor has it he's got a pretty peaceful personality."
'That's why Greyslam could develop this far.'
She could tell just from the people's faces. The expressions of Greyslam residents were generally bright. Above all, Greyslam was quite advanced. That meant active trade with other territories too. For an eastern frontier territory to develop this much was thanks to Lord William's efforts, sure—but also because Ashumar didn't stir up much trouble.
"But that doesn't mean he's weak. According to my analysis, he has mana comparable to Jahar."
The Windsors frowned at Lude's analysis. Not good news at all. What kind of demon was Jahar? Even Sword Sovereign Chiron had struggled against him. There was a Sword Sovereign here too, but he was a retired veteran long past his prime.
"I thought we had enough forces, but Jahar-level? Might not be sufficient."
Knight Theo spoke gravely, and Hyter quickly asked Sisilia.
"Sisilia. You must've gotten orders to bring Gallerhead. What happened?"
Sisilia, still chewing her baguette, lowered her eyes at the mention of Gallerhead.
—You're no longer a Windsor.
'...Was that a bit too harsh?'
Truth be told, Sisilia regretted her words. No matter how infuriating Gallerhead's attitude, she'd gone too far.
'Gotta apologize later.'
"Gallerhead's not coming. We'll handle Ashumar subjugation with our own strength."
Sisilia tossed the baguette into her inventory, stood with an indifferent voice.
"We have plenty of forces already."
The Windsors focused intently as Sisilia finally moved. She was reliable on missions, backed by her countless achievements. No Windsor questioned her vice-captaincy at 17 for nothing.
"Type: undead."
"A human knight who became a demon."
Sisilia spoke calmly, stepping forward. But the info was precious—practically game-changing. The Windsors didn't question the source. They just accepted it.
"Proficient in swordsmanship, won't use magic. Likely relies on raw power."
"Probably has huge pride in his sword skills too. If challenged to a duel, he'll accept without question. No need to humor him."
Sisilia finished the essentials, then stopped. She flicked her cape dramatically and slammed the map.
"Now, the operation plan."
That evening, Lude was decoding a grimoire, swinging his short legs. He wore a monocle half his face size—an artifact Sisilia had lent him. It boosted charm by 1 when worn. Whether that was true, who knew—but on childlike Lude, it was adorable.
"Heh, Ria always brings the weirdest stuff."
Magus Lude. Usually stuck in Terezia as a city-bound spirit, handling defenses and chores. But tearful pleas got him into this Ashumar subjugation.
...He ended up doing similar work anyway, but better than the capital.
What Sisilia brought was a grimoire presumed dragon-authored. A millennium-old tome any mage would drool over.
Knock knock.
Lude glanced back casually. The doorknob turned on its own, and a brown-haired knight entered.
"Lude. How long till decoding?"
"Hmm—not long. Sisilia already translated it; just need to modernize the magic formulas."
"Where'd she learn ancient tongue?"
"Said she blackmailed the goddess as a kid?"
"...She's got no sense of humor."
Hyter, never dreaming it was true, perched on the desk.
"About Sisilia's plan."
"Yeah. Spill."
"...No matter how you look, she's planning to fight him herself, right?"
Sisilia's plan was complex yet simple. Complex because much to do; simple because 58 Windsors each had one task. And Hyter saw it ending with Sisilia vs. Ashumar.
But rebutting it? The plan was airtight, flawless.
"I see it differently, Hyter."
Lude shook his head. Removed the monocle, looked up at Hyter.
"This is a plan to avoid facing Ashumar alone, no matter what."
"...Doesn't feel that way."
"I thought so too at first. But decoding this changed my mind."
Lude smirked. When Sisilia handed it over all excited—"This is a dragon-made grimoire!"—he'd thought it a lie.
...She'd always fangirled over dragons, legendary in tales.
"Never dreamed dragons existed."
Great knights converse with swords. Great mages, with magic circles. Lude had "conversed" one-sidedly with the author.
And realized—
"Dragons really are smart. Predicted a millennium ahead."
The dragon knew its death, gave its killer a chance.
'Staked life on two spells.'
One: absolute domain inviolable by any. The other: unlocks when target reaches spot.
Activated at dragon's death. Released when Sisilia arrived at Dragon Knight's Village.
Her finding the lair was fated a millennium ago.
'But how'd it specify Sisilia? What premise makes it unlock exactly for her?'
Mystery lingered, but he could guess her thinking.
"What Sisilia envisions is probably—"
The grimoire was the spell medium. If a knight took it on request, story ends there. Saved them trouble, though.
"The most satisfying victory ever."
After Hyter left, Lude kept at it. Operation starts when he finishes decoding.
By dawn, halfway done, Lude beamed.
"Found it."
He'd half-expected, but never dreamed this spell existed. He was thrilled.
The spell he'd found—
"Magic to revert undead to human."
A revolution advancing humanity's magic history by a century.
"Lude says decoding finishes tomorrow afternoon."
Sisilia lay in bed with Beatrice, prepping for sleep. Sisilia's habit of hugging something to sleep had her squirming in Beatrice's arms.
Beatrice, now used to it, pillow-ed Sisilia's head and said,
"...Not nervous?"
"We handled Jahar fine. Why now?"
"That felt like getting swept up accidentally."
Beatrice was deeply troubled.
'Fighting the second-strongest Four Heavenly King after Demon King. And per Sisilia's orders, I'm in the vanguard.'
...Aren't buffers for rear support?
Beatrice sighed, lost in needless thoughts. Before joining Windsors, she'd dreamed of safe rearguard duty. Now, frontline in a Four Heavenly Kings battle.
"...What if Ashumar's Authority is something we can't handle?"
"I'm the type who wins rock-paper-scissors even drawing fast."
"...How?"
"Wanna try?"
"Feels like it'd hurt. Pass."
Still worried, Beatrice murmured,
"If no Aura, what becomes of humans? Same if demons had no Authority. Good for us?"
Battle looming, wild thoughts swirled.
Sisilia, like why ask that?, replied,
"Obviously I'd win."
"...Sisinyang loses?"
"Nope. Win tomorrow, day after too."
'Does she even know tension?'
But hearing that made her feel silly for worrying. The heavy burden on her shoulders vanished.
Beatrice tried drifting off peacefully. But soon cracked her eyes.
"...So why keep groping my chest?"
"Superior's privilege."
"Then adjutant's privilege to grope back."
"S-Sorry. Night."
Sisilia hated being groped herself.