Detective Sisilia

"Evidence collection by an investigator follows due legal procedure."

Sisilia recited the line in a flat tone. Edward raised an eyebrow in annoyance as he sheathed his sword. But the tip was still pointed at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her.

"You always suspect me."

Edward circled around her, keeping Sisilia in the center. She didn't turn her head, just tracked him with her eyes.

"Is this the captain's orders? To investigate me?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"The captain didn't particularly suspect his vice-captain. This is my judgment."

"Judgment. Fine. So what judgment will you pass this time?"

Click. Edward stopped. He was in her blind spot. Attacking from there would be hard to block. It was almost like he was asking—Do you trust me enough to expose your back?

The answer was simple. Sisilia turned her head. The instant she did, a sword strike flew at her.

Clang—! It was a fairly strong blow. Sisilia realized Edward had swung with the resolve to kill her just now.

"Wrong answer, Sisilia."

"...Doesn't feel wrong to me."

Flames coiled around Edward's sword. Sisilia's arm trembled faintly. It was hot. She slightly increased the output of her Wind Blessing.

Much better.

"I've always wondered. Between your wind and my flames, which is superior?"

"The stronger one wins, right?"

"I'm talking about talent. We're the only ones in the order with the four major attributes, aren't we?"

'The four major attributes are trash, though.'

Fire, water, earth, wind—collectively called the four major attributes. Not bad, but not great either. There were overpowered blessings everywhere. Like time, space, light, darkness.

Sisilia wanted to nitpick but held back.

"You look dissatisfied. Want me to tell you the right answer? Your wind isn't bad, but my fire is better. Fire devours everything."

Roar— As their blessings clashed more intensely at the sword's contact point, the vibrations spread to the surrounding air. Sparks flew, dyeing Sisilia's silver hair red.

"Wind can't be devoured by anything."

But Sisilia's wind neutralized the flames. The inferno that seemed ready to erupt and consume everything was gradually dying down in the fierce gusts. Edward's mouth split into a grin from ear to ear.

"Shall we test it?"

The flames roared fiercely. They were about to spread in all directions. She was channeling wind to protect the building, but there was a limit.

Sisilia made an inevitable decision.

"Wind—"

But she couldn't even say "Shear." Edward roughly shook off his sword. The flames that seemed about to devour everything vanished.

"That's enough."

"......"

"Didn't expect you'd go for Wind Shear. Planning to kill me?"

"Yes. Scared?"

Sisilia said it without hesitation.

"......I wouldn't refuse if you came at me again. But I recommend stopping."

Edward stepped in front of Sisilia. With a strange smile, he placed his hand on her cheek. She stared at it coldly, her long eyelashes half-lowered.

"I love this knight order more than you think."

Meaning, a fight here would destroy the headquarters. Edward lifted her chin. Quite the height difference—it hurt her neck.

"My neck hurts."

"Come under me, Sisilia."

"......"

"Then I'll forgive your rudeness just now."

Sisilia answered by biting his finger.

"Kuh."

Edward grimaced and pulled back.

"If you don't let go, I'll bite."

"You already did...!"

Edward was in real pain. Sisilia felt quietly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠proud.

'No, this isn't the time.'

Sisilia pointed her sword.

"Please submit to arrest, Vice-Captain. Otherwise, I'll have to use force."

"......I'm not the one."

Edward irritably pulled a potion from the drawer as he spoke. With his germaphobia, someone else's saliva was unbearable.

'Whoa, a 200-gold potion.'

Sisilia swallowed. Royals really had money.

'If I confiscate it, it's all mine?'

Sisilia decided to go for a full arrest.

"Too late. The document in my hand is perfect evidence..."

"Evidence?"

Edward finished disinfecting and returned to his usual pace. He wiped his hand with a white cloth and tilted his head.

"Check it."

"What..."

Sisilia checked the paper in her bosom. Blank. The ink had been cleanly blown away.

'That strike earlier was aimed at this. Nice one.'

"Useless. The ruins haven't been cleared yet. I can just go verify myself."

"You think I wouldn't have handled that? If you're looking for an inside man, wrong address."

Sisilia tilted her head.

"I told you. I love this knight order quite a bit. I don't know what you've thought of me all this time."

Edward neatly put away the items, pulled a document from the drawer, and tossed it to Sisilia. She used her blessing to pick up the fallen paper.

'Cool move.'

As she admired her perfect form, Edward spoke.

"Investigation records on the inside man I did separately. I'm sure it's one of those four."

"Why give me this?"

"I expected it, but didn't think the captain would suspect even me."

'He thought he'd handle it himself, of course.'

Sisilia blinked. So, to sum up... Edward was innocent? No, he was too obviously the black幕.

"I demand an explanation. Then why did the vice-captain want the mission to fail?"

Edward smirked.

"Everyone has one or two secrets they want to hide."

Sisilia's expression hardened seriously at his next words.

"Like how you're hiding your power."

* * *

Sisilia left the vice-captain's office with clouded eyes. A soulless smile was etched on her lips too.

The best pro tip for office life: pretend not to know even if you do. Pretend to know even if you don't.

"Yeah. I don't know anything."

"Don't know what?"

"......!"

Hyter appeared suddenly, and Sisilia flipped him over in surprise.

"Gahk!"

Hyter, mid-toothbrush, clutched his waist in agony.

"What the hell!"

"Th-the culprit...!"

With 'So is the culprit Edward?' in her head, Sisilia blurted it out in panic.

"What? W-wait, no!"

Hyter shot up, denying it vehemently.

"Me, a demon spy? Ridiculous...!"

Windsor knights passing by the flower bed whispered.

Did you hear? Hyter's the inside man?

I knew it seemed like him.

"Hey! Who just said that?!"

The knights sweated and vanished quickly. Sisilia covered her mouth.

"Hyter's the inside man..."

"I'm not, damn it!"

"Strong denial means strong affirmation, they say..."

Hyter was on the verge of tears from injustice. Sisilia decided to stop teasing him.

...But it's fun, so a bit more.

"I'll interrogate you. If you're guilty, just kill yourself."

"......"

Hyter, suddenly branded the inside man while brushing his teeth, clamped his mouth shut.

'Right, I gave him the documents.'

The pressure of his identity being exposed. The fear of getting a shady title. She'd forgotten momentarily.

"Listen. When you and Jerryway were on mission..."

Sisilia focused on the documents, forgetting Hyter was there.

"......Hey, are you even listening?"

"Yes. Keep going."

Sisilia flipped pages, letting Hyter's words go in one ear and out the other.

=============

"S-Sisilia? You really listening?"

'Obvious culprit.'

Sisilia finally looked up.

"C-can I go now...?"

"My hunch was right."

"Huh? Wait! Think again! I have a solid alibi!"

"The more perfect the alibi, the higher the chance of guilt. Humans aren't perfect. Except me."

"Why except you?!"

Sisilia made a pained face. She'd reasoned it out, but something nagged.

Something just out of reach... Super annoying. She'd do a ponytail tomorrow.

"For real! I was in a meeting with Earl Eloise! He wanted a knight for a new sponsor, so I brought Ridel and showed a spar!"

"......!"

Sisilia's eyes widened. Hyter's words were a massive kick. The jumbled info in her head connected like thread.

A crystal-clear feeling. Like finding a lost AirPod after a month.

'Too obvious, I forgot. Lost things are always right in your hand.'

Sisilia quickly donned her monocle from her chest.

"The mystery is solved."

"......?"

"Hyter, assemble all knights immediately. This is an order as investigator."

"Uh, wha...? F-fine, if the investigator says so."

Sisilia felt proud. Investigator—the word itself was cool.

"I'll catch the culprit for sure."

But no time for play. Sisilia's eyes gleamed as she whooshed her cape.

How long she'd waited for this moment.

"On my grandfather's honor!"

Hyter hesitated, then spoke.

"But... do you even have a grandfather?"

Sisilia's monocle fell.