Approaching Darkness (1)
"From today, all of you will serve as non-regular knights of the Windsor Knight Order and make your mark."
The position of non-regular knight, which I'd created back during our first recruitment drive. Originally akin to an intern, its authority had since been downgraded to something like a part-timer. It was still too early to grant our precious newbies the immense power of the Windsor Knights, after all.
Still, wouldn't it serve as motivation for them to hustle toward that glorious dream of full-time status someday?
With those thoughts in mind, Sisilia gazed proudly at the five newbies and declared it.
"Officially, you're under my command. Your formal unit is the 'Demon King Special Task Force.' You can ignore orders from anyone except Captain Edward Windsor, to a certain extent."
Sisilia fidgeted as she pulled out their ID cards. Watching from a short distance away, Beatrice thought, Miss those days...
"Here are your ID cards. Anywhere in Liannen territory, just flashing these gets you into restricted areas and even discounts at some shops."
They were still just part-timers, so no Windsor surname or fancy cape yet—but this gleaming ID was a true symbol of pride. Like a prestigious university club ID or a major corp badge in the modern world.
Sisilia beamed as she handed them out.
First up: Ariana, the hero party's comic relief. Useless on the surface, but actually quite capable.
"Wh-what the hell am I doing here...?"
"Become a splendid mage from now on, okay?"
Element's Aura (A)—an S-rank all-around solid mage. Her only flaw was slightly low motivation due to the slave contract. And she was the only one here who wasn't a true newbie. Kinda like a foreign mercenary...?
"When we take down the Demon King, you will keep that promise about buying me a mansion in central Terezia, right?"
"Of course."
Next: Ian, the hero party's nitpicking healer.
Mercy's Aura (A)—B-rank stats overall, but as a former med student with huge potential, his future looked bright. Downside? That smug glasses-push was kinda punchable.
"Th-this is too much for me. I, I refuse."
"Aw, too bad. Guess you'll get exiled like the other academy folks, then."
"...Pardon?"
"Siu got his crimes pardoned on the condition he join the hero party, at Betty's earnest request."
Beatrice shot Siu a death glare from behind. Trembling, Siu nodded about ten times.
"F-fine. I'll do it."
"Be a good supporter for Ruby from now on."
"Supporter...?"
"Yeah. You die in Ruby's place."
"Wh-what kind of role is that?!"
"Hmm. But anything less wouldn't cut it."
Will he be useful...?
In truth, Siu was the biggest question mark in Sisilia's flawless hero party lineup. Darkness Aura S-rank, but overall stats around C-. Barely scraping by, and his personality was just too damn timid.
But he's Betty's favorite newbie.
Sisilia decided to be generous. And next...
The star of the show. Sisilia's own favorite newbie, Ruby.
"Ruby's cute as ever today."
"I think Sisilia's cuter."
Sisilia handed over the ID with satisfaction.
"Approved."
Star's Aura (A+)—A-rank stats overall. Hitting A at just level 80 was impressive. Especially since she was only one rank shy of Ariana, a poached talent from a rival outfit. Safe to call it innate genius. The Star's Aura probably edged out others in sheer mass.
For reference, Sisilia's ranking was calibrated to regular Windsor knights. The order's weakest were S+, high knights SSS+. You needed at least S+ for the official enlistment exam. And ranks widened exponentially higher up.
"And finally."
Sisilia smiled, holding the last ID. But her smile quickly soured into a scowl.
"...Why is Jay passed out?"
As Sisilia blinked at Jay, frothing at the mouth on the floor, Ruby raised her hand.
"He tried peeking up Sisilia's skirt, so I knocked him out."
"Hmm."
It's there to be seen.
But not wanting to upset Ruby, she kept quiet. Anyway, Sisilia crouched by Jay and placed the ID by his lips.
The final hero party member. No—the very point of the hero party itself: Hero Jay.
He had the most intriguing backstory of the bunch. Even his name was fun—shortened from "ee-i-jei."
Cute.
And the most fascinating part? His mana. It resembled demon mana. The magic tower we'd sent him to for stat checks replied, "Why are you sending us a demon?"
That's why Sisilia found it amusing. It perfectly matched his name's meaning: "ee-i-jei." Kill the Demon King with demon power. The straightest hero imaginable.
His Aura? Unknown. Stats? Unknown. Endless fun to uncover.
"Alright, then."
Sisilia clasped her hands behind her back and grinned after distributing all the IDs.
"Your first mission."
What defined a successful hero party? Epic tales leading to claiming a holy sword and slaying the Demon King.
So Sisilia gifted them the perfect debut.
"Win the war against the Eldrasion Empire and return. You've got about a week."
They'll be thrilled, right? Hehe.
Sisilia kept her kindly smile. A terrifying silence descended.
"Got it. Off to wipe out the Empire now."
Ariana grabbed Ruby, who was seriously heading for the Empire.
"You crazy—?!"
"...I'm not crazy."
"And she just moves on command...?"
"But a week's not much time."
Ariana awkwardly smiled at Sisilia instead of persuading Ruby.
"V-Vice Captain...? That's too harsh a job for part-timers."
"Why?"
"Why? What's the Empire got to do with the Demon King?"
"Everything. Some nobles have already allied with demons. They'll just be obstacles at this rate."
Watching it all, Beatrice flashed back hard. Dangerous. Sisilia means it.
Proof? Her speech. Using casual "you" meant she now saw them as full subordinates.
And Sisilia was surprisingly authoritarian. No tolerance for defiance.
Beatrice slipped away quietly from the hazardous(?) scene.
"I-I see. So, how big's the force heading to war?"
Luckily, Ariana knew Windsor protocol like a local and toed the line.
Sisilia answered kindly.
"Just you lot."
"...?"
Ariana turned to stone at the devastating reply, naturally.
"You're saying... conquer the Empire with four newbies...?"
"Yep."
When something's too absurd, words fail. That was Ariana now.
Ian raised his hand.
"We're not even at war with the Empire, last I checked."
"Hm. That'll change soon."
"Speculation... or certainty?"
"Certainty-level speculation."
Ariana backed away. Cold sweat trickled down her neck.
She's insane.
Forced into it via shady contract, but she'd secretly thought it wasn't bad. Windsor perks were top-tier.
Terezia had a famous saying: Seek honor? Windsor. Wealth? Windsor. Power? Windsor.
Ariana aimed for success anyway. Means didn't matter. And she was mage-tower caliber. Culling weak demons? Easy. With the team's low levels, she'd figured easy payroll gig.
But... but...
"Th-this is unreasonable!"
"Well, taking down the Demon King with this lineup was never reasonable to begin with."
Ian glasses-pushed, backing her up.
"Logically, five people can't destroy an empire."
Sisilia smirked mysteriously, hands behind back, circling them.
"One bit of advice for you all."
She raised a finger, speaking calmly.
"When your superior gives an order, don't think refusal—think how to complete it first."
"...!"
"No arguments. If I say do it, you do it. That said—I'll brief you on basics before the mission."
As Sisilia moved to outline the op...
Panting, Beatrice burst in noisily.
"S-Sisilia! Her Majesty summons you."
"Yeah. I'll wrap this up, drop the kids at the train, then go."
"No!! She said now!"
Sisilia blinked.
"...Okay."
A bit disappointed, she told the newbies:
"Wait here a sec. Op briefing after."
**
"You ordered the brand-new 'Demon King Special Task Force' to war with the Empire..."
Lydia's lips twitched as she addressed the prostrated cute knight.
"My, I'm dying to know why. Why's Sisil-nyang so sure war with the Empire's coming?"
"Because Your Majesty forbade war with the Holy Nation."
"Eh?"
Lydia startled, then narrowed her eyes.
"You don't mean."
"You said no war 'with the Holy Nation.' My take was the Empire's fair game."
In other words, Sisilia had foreseen this while snatching the Saintess.
Lydia sighed.
"You knew all along."
With the massive delegation—including the Saintess—not returning, the Holy Nation sought a secret alliance with the Empire. And intel said the Empire was receptive.
Not just them. The Pope aimed to unite the entire Arcadian continent against Liannen.
World war, basically.
Lydia wouldn't sit idle, but Sisilia had preempted her.
"Better tidy up annoyances before full war with the Demon King."
"...You know the Demon King's been moving lately?"
"Yes. That's why I'm rushing to clean house."
Lydia slumped.
"Tried to hide it."
Sisilia beamed triumphantly.
"Mages spotted it; no way I miss it. Your Majesty's defeat. Back to duty, winner."
As Sisilia strode out boldly...
Lydia clutched her aching head and ordered Erterion.
"Fetch Sisil-nyang."
"Ahem. Yes, ma'am."
Sisilia arrived slumped over Erterion's shoulder. Lydia eyed her disdainfully, then asked curiously:
"Do you know what the Demon King wants?"
Of course—Sisilia knew. Only her and the Demon King did.
It was their private promise.
'Bring the hero party!' she whined.
This op was perfect for it. Showcase the hero party in the Empire war to pique the Demon King's interest. Plus, cull troublesome factions before the real fight.
Sure, clumsy newbies might screw up and unite the world against Liannen.
But get this? Modern peace came after two world wars.
No war, no peace. If measles must be had, better early and mild.
"You get it, huh."
Lydia read it from Sisilia's face.
Good—thinking ahead. So, with that in mind, Lydia commanded:
"Sisilia Windsor."
"Yes."
Sisilia had zero doubt. The loli queen was Team Sword Princess.
Bound to say, "Do whatever you want, Sisil-nyang~"
"Go tidy it up yourself. The Empire. Now. Right now."
"?"
"????"
This deja vu scene—Sisilia pressed her cheek to the window, scanning frantically. Terezia's sights whipped by.
What is this? The newbies? My hero party?
"N-no way."
"...Sisilia, structurally, this makes sense."
Sisilia boarded the Empire-bound train. Small chest brimming with grand mission: stop world war.