Approaching Darkness (5)
The place where the Demon King had appeared. Beatrice, arriving in the Markel Territory in the western part of the Eldrasion Empire, gaped in shock.
"Th-this is where the Demon King showed up—"
The vast wasteland stretched out before them, utterly barren. It was hard to believe this had once been a decent-sized city. Even without knowing it had been raided by the Demon King, anyone would have guessed as much. After all, only the Demon King could pull off something like this.
"...We can't investigate a damn thing like this."
Sisilia bent one knee and scooped up a handful of the wasteland sand. The grains slipping through her fingers were as fine as desert dust.
"Given the surroundings, it's unlikely this happened naturally."
This was clearly sand formed by erosion. Countless winds had blown, countless particles had ground against each other until they became like this.
"What was Markel Territory's specialty again?"
"...Wheat."
Farming on sand like this was absurd. Sisilia wasn't a scientist, but she knew erosion like this didn't happen overnight.
In other words, this sand had been created by artificial power. And by Sisilia's common sense, only one thing could cause a phenomenon like this.
Heaven-Breaking Powerless Sword.
Sisilia rose slowly, a chilling smile creeping across her face.
"What now, Betty?"
"Y-your expression is scary."
"Things are getting way too interesting."
Sisilia turned away with a blank face.
"Leisure time's over. Once we're back in Terezia, you better work hard too, Betty."
If a day were the world, what time was it now? When would day end and night fall?
No one knew exactly when the Demon King would come—not even him, probably. But whether desired or not, the darkness was steadily approaching.
It was such obvious common sense that there was no need to fear it overly much. What truly scared Sisilia was if the darkness didn't come.
All those fancy fluorescent light sets she'd prepared would go to waste.
"You're light, Betty, so darkness must be scary, right?"
"...Not really. I can just make light. The only thing that scares me is you, Sisilia."
"Pass."
For now, confirming that was enough.
Lizbeth ascended the throne without incident. The way she'd held her head high even before the overwhelming powerhouse Sisilia left a deep impression on the nobles. With hostile factions purged, she was poised to become the strongest emperor in history.
"She'll make a fine emperor."
Back from her mission, Sisilia reported to Lydia. Lydia gazed proudly at the knight who'd exceeded expectations.
"Time for a reward. What do you want?"
"The budget..."
"Prison for real this time."
Prison was a no-go. Dank and musty. Reluctantly, Sisilia voiced her second choice.
"I'd like to focus on raising the hero party for a while."
"Granted."
"And the dragon corpse too."
The dragon, originally Windsor Knights' property, had been bought by the imperial family for a fair price. Edward, whose heart was made of gold, had sold it off quick.
Sisilia wanted it back.
"No need to take it as a reward. I was planning to process the dragon corpse and have your sword forged anyway."
Sisilia looked up at the news.
"A plain longsword is plenty for me."
"I heard. You don't get attached to swords. In battle, you'd toss a dulled blade and pick one from a corpse nearby."
Sisilia smirked proudly. Lydia narrowed her eyes.
"Not a compliment."
"Sharpening's a hassle."
"...Sharpen it properly."
But it was inevitable. Sisilia's techniques drastically shortened a blade's lifespan—especially Heaven-Breaking Powerless Sword. Even famed swords crumbled after one or two big swings. No point in handing her an expensive one.
Though yeah, her laziness played a part.
"If it's such a hassle, take a squire."
"Haven't found a cute enough girl yet."
"...Gotta be a girl?"
"Sword stands need good design."
"Impressive."
Lydia decided to let it slide. Normality was rare among Windsors anyway. Sisilia was quirky but avoided major screw-ups.
...Her criminal-level sense of money was a flaw, but whatever.
"Decoding the magic on the dragon corpse will take a couple months. Once done, the finest smith will craft you the finest sword."
"...I'd break it in two or three swings."
Lydia smiled sweetly.
"Two's enough."
Demon King once, Demon God once.
Sisilia was a bit spooked by Lydia's eerily sharp intuition but puffed up her chest anyway. She was an eco-lover who recycled little but sorted trash religiously.
"Give it to the hero."
"...A mythic dragon-forged sword to a hero just starting on goblins?"
Lydia smiled prettily. Sisilia smiled back prettily.
"No. And one reward only. Dedicating the vice-captain to hero training is concession enough."
Sisilia pouted. Lydia's eyes softened at the protruding lip.
"You really care about them, huh? You truly believe in their potential?"
Sisilia countered.
"Don't you see potential?"
"First to answer a question with one. But..."
Sisilia's eyes still sparkled with curiosity. Lydia sighed, turning serious.
"I've never opposed your plans. That answer enough?"
Sisilia shook her head.
"..."
Lydia was blunt.
"Honestly, I can't picture them beating the Demon King. But."
Her intuition spoke.
"I trust your judgment. You have confidence, right?"
Sisilia flashed a bold V-sign.
While Sisilia was at the empire, Leo Ric had been tending the hero party—bored with nothing better to do.
"Oh, Sisilia. How's empire water?"
"Hello. Hard water, lots of lime—tough to drink."
"...Lime?"
Leo Ric boomed his usual playboy laugh at the unfamiliar term.
Still laughs at what he doesn't get.
"Where's the hero party?"
"Tossed 'em in a dungeon. They'll grow on their own. Real men do."
"Three girls."
"I got ten wives."
"One more since last time."
Beatrice pulled Sisilia from Leo Ric.
"Sisilia, hero party's two girls."
"Ruby, Ariana, Siu—three?"
"...Siu's a guy—"
Beatrice trailed off, sensing Sisilia's intent.
"Thanks. How were they?"
"Skill-wise, solid. As expected from your picks. Especially Ruby? Masterpiece. Her demon-killing face was just like yours."
Sisilia beamed inwardly. Pet her head silly next meet.
"In a dungeon now? Which?"
Leo Ric tossed a dungeon攻略 guide. Sisilia scanned it eagerly—then deflated in massive disappointment.
200 clears. Easy difficulty. Level 50-60 mobs equivalent.
Demon in a dungeon like this? Bottom-tier trash. After 200 runs, probably begging for death.
"...Thanks for your valuable time."
"That face says mass dying ahead. Haha! Don't grind too hard."
Leo Ric clapped her shoulder heartily and left. Sisilia scowled at the guide. Beatrice watched, stomach churning.
That look... I've seen it.
She remembered: Sisilia's face upon first facing apprentice knights.
"S-Sisilia."
"Yeah."
"You won't, right?"
"What?"
"...They'll all fold in half."
Sisilia's eyes widened.
"Fold them all...?"
Beatrice had poked a trauma.
Bad memory surfaced.
Past Sisilia met a newbie whining to quit for boredom. Dressed in trendy "stitched-mouth bunny" costume, she'd approached.
The button eyes were adorably cute on the mascot head.
-This game's real start is post-max level. How 'bout sticking it out a bit? ^_^
Newbie freaked, said okay, logged out.
-Back tomorrow? Haha!
But no adorable newbie in meeting hall, rain or snow or seasons changing.
Then Sisilia realized: Too boring till max level.
So she'd rushed that phase. Most RPGs had XP caps—no instant 99 from level 1 bossing. But Another World? Straight XP from any boss.
No grinding needed. Advanced info only death-game starter Sisilia—who skipped bunnies for local superbosses—knew.
"Folding? Can't have that."
"R-right? Even you can't treat them like lifelong trainees—"
Sisilia admitted her complacency. Protecting newbies from quit-pain led to coddling. Result? Academy newbies'惨敗.
"So, next spot: a fitting dungeon."
Sisilia opted for cliff-drop over flight lessons.