Save My Hero Party (2)
Academy. A dull morning. Drab.
There, Sisilia was quietly sweeping. Users passing by whispered among themselves.
"That's her, right? The Sword Princess."
"Yeah, the knight who came back after racking up some huge achievement."
"She looks so young, though…"
Sisilia's ears perked up. As soon as she heard her name, she inched forward millimeter by millimeter, broom in hand. But she'd taken Beatrice's advice to heart and kept her mouth shut.
And the silent Sisilia was—
"She's insanely pretty."
"Even idols couldn't hold a candle to her here. Right?"
—so stunningly beautiful that her pure looks alone boosted her likability sky-high.
Just then, Beatrice's trust level shot through the roof in Sisilia's mind.
"But why's she cleaning here?"
"Dunno the details, but I heard it's some punishment."
"Punishment?"
"Yeah. Apparently, she defied the Empress over some unreasonable order and got slapped with community service."
"……That's pretty light for a medieval punishment."
"Nah. Sisilia's a knight. For knights, honor's more important than life itself. So right now, she's cleaning with her life on the line."
Of course, the truth was Sisilia had only gotten punished for trying to steal the Empress's panties. Few knew that, and even those who did had no desire to tarnish their vice-captain's honor.
The result?
"Unreasonable order? Wonder what she refused."
"She's cleaning the academy as punishment… Maybe she refused the evil queen's order to send us into dungeons?"
"Makes sense. First-gen users say the queen deliberately summoned them to dangerous spots to slaughter them, and Sisilia stopped her!"
"Ha, wanna go ask her?"
And so the newbies approached. Sisilia blinked with a blank expression.
The two hesitant newbies cautiously asked,
"Um, is the reason for your punishment… something like that?"
Sisilia put on a distant look, her gaze growing misty. It was the face of a heroine with a tragic backstory.
"……It's classified. I can't say."
"!"
In that instant, the users thought:
That bitter expression seals it!
She protected us from the villainess Lydia!
The users vanished to spread the rumor, and Sisilia sniffled quietly out of sight.
Who knew getting praise from newbies was as easy as shutting up and staying still…
Sisilia clenched her fist.
From now on, I'll keep my mouth shut.
With renewed resolve, Sisilia resumed cleaning. That's when she spotted an adorable girl walking with her eyes on the ground.
It was Sisilia's favorite newbie, Ruby.
She moved to greet her warmly and pat her shoulder—but
"What a pain."
"Even in another world, celebrities get special treatment."
"We know she grovels to NPCs, though."
"Ugh, disgusting."
……She overheard the nasty talk and couldn't approach. Ruby walked on without reacting to the blatant gossip, as if accustomed to it.
Bullying?
Sisilia ducked behind a wall. Her pupils trembled faintly.
If so, what do I do?
Execute them for bullying her favorite newbie? She shook her head at the ideas popping up.
"…No, too soon to assume. Could just be bad blood between them."
As Sisilia stepped out to confirm if Ruby was truly being bullied, she recalled the newbies' words.
—Even in another world, celebrities get special treatment.
"……Ruby was a celebrity."
She'd sworn to live for the newbies, yet she hadn't even known her favorite's past life job. Sisilia felt terribly sorry.
**
In conclusion, Ruby was being bullied. It was confirmed.
"Huh? Ruby, forget your materials again?"
"……Yes."
"Troublesome. Gathering them is part of magic class."
If Sisilia hadn't known the context, she'd have puffed her cheeks thinking, Our Ruby doesn't need magic anyway! But knowing Ruby had gone out to buy materials yesterday, she ran a hand through her hair.
—Kekeke. A few figures snickered mockingly at the scolded Ruby.
Those aren't good newbies.
As Sisilia's fist gathered wind—
"……But will stepping in fix it?"
She wondered if medieval discipline would work on modern folks. Besides, Sisilia still couldn't control her strength enough not to slice plates when cutting cake.
She could only swing freely against Windsor Knights. And…
—We know she grovels to NPCs, though.
It might breed needless misunderstandings. Sisilia was confident in any problem.
But this one was tricky. She'd never experienced or witnessed bullying in her past or present life.
In cases like this.
She needed advice.
"……Ruby's being bullied."
Chiron fell silent for a long moment before speaking.
"Reminds me of you."
"…Me?"
"You couldn't get along with peers when you were young."
"Because I was an unprecedented genius. And cute."
"…No, that's not— You were bullied too."
Sisilia blinked and pointed at herself.
"…Me?"
"Outstanding stones draw ire."
"…When?"
Chiron closed his eyes. He should've started there.
"They said mingling too much with adults was bad for kids' education, so I sent you to teas. Lots happened then."
"Oh, I remember."
"Then you recall flattening that kid's parent who dumped hot tea on your head. A marquess."
Sisilia said earnestly,
"I couldn't hit the kid."
"……."
(For the record, Chiron had to ditch his gloves too, thanks to backlash from nobles.)
Given her childhood, Chiron judged Sisilia couldn't handle this. Even he couldn't.
"In such cases, ask a peer for advice… Sorry."
"……Why apologize?"
"……."
"?"
Chiron never answered, leaving Sisilia deeply wronged.
"I have friends…!"
**
For the record, Sisilia did have a real friend: Bianca Eisenberg, the duke's daughter already rumored as a villainess.
"Hmph, I heard you're sweeping as punishment."
Sisilia hugged Bianca on sight and squished her cheeks. Too cute.
"Eek…! What the hell right after reunion?!"
Bianca freaked and shoved her off. Delicious reaction.
"What brings you this time?"
"Lady's cheeks… No."
Realizing playtime was over, Sisilia pouted and sat beside Bianca on the bench.
"Actually."
Bianca listened diligently, unexpectedly, and fumed head to toe upon hearing it all.
"What? Such scum exist? Outrageous. Bulling a girl favored by the duke's daughter and Windsor vice-captain—"
Bianca turned icy.
"Those lowly plebs need a lesson in their place."
Snap. She folded her fan.
"Just to check. What's your plan, Sisilia?"
"Suggest they get along without fighting."
Bianca started to retort but stopped. Sisilia had lived a life where that worked.
"Never step in, no matter what."
"……Why?"
"You intervening turns it from a user issue to a national one."
Sisilia's name weighed more than she thought. Her words, wanted or not, would spread far and wide.
Most would stop bullying Ruby upon hearing. But then Ruby couldn't live normally.
Why did she know so well…?
"……N-not that it's my story or anything. But one thing."
Bianca turned away, deflated a bit. Sisilia perked up, thinking, Bianca's tale.
"Not sharing the same view as others is lonely in itself."
"……You were lonely."
"No, I mean it's not my story…! Sigh, whatever. Folks like us who ignore stares from birth are fine, but Ruby clearly thrives on love."
Bianca murmured low,
"It'll be tough for her. So no intervening. Got it?"
She poked Sisilia's cheek with her fan. Sisilia pondered.
"……Then what? All I know is splitting mansions barehanded."
"……That's impressive. Be proud."
Bianca eyed her awkwardly. She sometimes forgot amid the absurdity, but this silver kitten was top-tier knight material.
With a soft sigh,
"No fixed solution for such issues. Anything can be right or wrong. But ideally."
Bianca shared advice: dialogue, communication, understanding's basics.
And the prerequisite.
"Strength."
"Strength?"
"Question: How many dare contradict you?"
Sisilia pondered, folding fingers. None beyond three.
Bianca smiled coldly.
"Dialogue's persuasion stems from power—status or force."
Class time neared; Bianca rose.
"Give Ruby irresistible power. Problem solves itself."
Sisilia noted it down. Fittingly rational from a noble lady.
Great. Tonight, counseling and dungeon run.
Sisilia nodded, awaiting class end. But as dusk fell, Ruby hadn't returned.
Time to search—then the mansion's eyes opened.
The sight shocked Sisilia.
"……Ruby?"
"S-Sisilia."
Ruby's body was covered in wounds.
Bruises. Human, not demon. At least ten assailants. Kicks and punches. Minimal damage relative to hits suggests ordered action.
Analysis flooded her mind at the wounds.
"Th-this."
"Who?"
Ruby bowed her head, then awkwardly smiled.
"Just tripped a bit."
Sisilia wouldn't let it slide. Gripping Ruby's wrist, staring intently, she recited morning document names one by one.
"Jimin."
"Rian."
"Daniel."
"Minelli."
"Siu."
"Ian."
……
"Evan."
At "Evan"—Ruby's pupils quivered minutely, pulse racing.
"……Confirmed."
Sisilia ground her teeth and stormed out the gate.
In all cohorts barring Ruby—they were all out.
No qualification for heroes who tarnish stars.