Hero's Journey
"...How long do we have to keep doing this?"
It was a bizarre sight—standing in front of a mirror playing rock-paper-scissors for what felt like ages. Naturally, since it seemed utterly pointless, most of the hero party lacked any motivation.
Except for Sia, who was thrilled since no lives were on the line.
"Sisilia wouldn't make us do something meaningless."
"Ruby, I've been thinking this for a while now... aren't you a bit slow?"
Jay looked at her with pity.
"Even I, who only finished elementary school, knows that playing rock-paper-scissors with a mirror is stupid."
"For once, I agree with that monkey."
Ian pushed up his glasses.
"This is just like bureaucrats dumping leftover budget on pointless paving blocks. They lay them down, but there's nothing to do with them, so they kill time with meaningless tasks."
Ruby stared intently at the mirror, wondering if that was really the case.
"Eek!"
Then came a startled yelp. She glanced sideways to see Sia flailing desperately to cover the mirror.
"Wh-what the—"
Ruby trudged over, grabbed Sia by the scruff of her neck, and yanked her back. There in the mirror was Sia throwing scissors.
"...!"
Everyone stared at her like they'd seen a ghost.
"How'd you do that?"
The hero party was stunned—but for Sia, it was the worst possible outcome. The game was over.
Sisilia sometimes demanded the impossible and spoke utter nonsense with a straight face. But she was never unreasonable or assigning truly impossible tasks.
"Looking back, even the insane stuff she made us do as apprentices was doable. We thought it was impossible at the time. Same here. We figured 'reality manipulation' was beyond the hero party's level..."
Most of the hero party had beaten their mirror selves in rock-paper-scissors. Ariana was exempt after casually succeeding with magic.
Once Sia broke the ice, the others followed suit, seeing the possibility.
Ruby visualized victory by creating a star in her right eye and perceiving her mirror self—with a star in the left eye—as a "separate entity."
Ian deliberately cut his hand, then used a Healing Blessing to visualize winning.
In short, they tricked their brains. Imagery doesn't reflect in the mirror, after all.
And that experience of turning the "impossible" possible—might just be more valuable than surviving a battlefield brush with death.
"But even more precious is figuring out everyone's tendencies. Ruby shines on her own when faced with hardship. Ian wounds himself to push through adversity."
"Sisilnyang has it all figured out. You're as amazing as the heavens."
Beatrice stroked Sisilia, who had been giving her those "praise me" eyes for a while.
"But what's Jay's deal? I've never seen anyone so hard to read a blessing for. That unique mana signature clearly belongs to someone with a blessing."
Sisilia, purring under Beatrice's touch, blinked.
"He succeeded, didn't he?"
"...But that's..."
Beatrice hesitated before speaking. Because Jay's success was fake.
"...It looks like he won to the naked eye, but it seems like he cheated. He still doesn't even know his own blessing."
"Jay just lies when faced with hardship."
Sisilia smiled.
"A fine hero's quality."
Sisilia was thrilled that the hero party had completed their training splendidly. Hard work deserves great rewards.
She let them crash in a luxurious mansion for a sound sleep and treated them to top-tier chef cuisine. Her way of giving them proper treatment.
"Something feels off."
Ian stared blankly at the lavish feast on the table.
"It's like the last meal for a condemned prisoner."
"What? So death row gets stuff this good?"
Jay shoveled steak into his mouth with gusto.
Ian recoiled in disgust.
"You're not an orangutan—don't eat with your hands. Humans use utensils."
"Idiot. Eating with hands means the owner feeds us free tomorrow too. Why use tools?"
"...Humans keep basic etiquette."
"You think I'm that dumb?"
Jay belched loudly, then lifted his plate.
"I know manners. Lick the plate clean in front of the owner after a good meal."
Regardless of Jay's antics, the food was delicious.
"I've never tasted anything this good in my life."
It even satisfied Ruby, whose hobby was Michelin pilgrimages. Food was the one regret in this world, but these dishes surpassed any memory from her past life. Good enough to meet the chef.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen crafting this feast, the chef's assistant Beatrice looked half-dead.
"...Sisilia."
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask one thing?"
"Sure."
Beatrice couldn't hold back.
"...You cook this well—why'd you make that weird camp food last time?"
"So you can make it next time, Beti."
"...Can I hit you once?"
Anyway, Sisilia continued treating the hero party well afterward. Without skimping on guidance.
"My priciest dagger. You won't find better anywhere."
To Ian, she gifted the sharp dagger he'd always wanted. Sisilia eagerly awaited the newbie's reaction.
"...Why's it so noisy?"
"It's an Ego Sword."
"...Ego?"
"The soul of the 'Slayer of All Things' is bound to it. Passed down from the penultimate Demon King..."
"Skip the lore. Just the functions."
"Cuts anything, roughly. Get along with the soul, and it'll swing itself."
For a healer, a self-defense tool was essential. This dagger would be Ian's great partner.
And next—
"N-no way."
"Sisilia doesn't do stuff like this."
"...Huh?"
Sisilia got awkward sometimes. Like when referring to herself in third person.
She cleared her throat and lightly explained the staff's function.
"One unrestricted spell use. No mana cost, no matter how powerful. You still need incantation—here's the grimoire too."
That grimoire was made by humanity's first mage. Also the first Lich. He became undead to chase magic's depths.
"Y-you have this? D-did you clear the great archmage 'Calix's' dungeon? It's legendary—supposedly mythical."
"That big a deal?"
"O-of course! I can't accept it. Not for a scrub mage like me. Donate it to the Magic Tower for research..."
"Want Calix's last words?"
Ariana's eyes widened; she nodded frantically, about fifteen times. Irresistible for a mage.
Sisilia beamed.
"He begged for life like a little girl. Not great at all. I think Ariana can be a better mage."
Next was Siu, now Sia.
"This is...!"
Incidentally, girl Sia was insanely cute. About 150cm, startled and wrinkly at everything—like a squirrel.
Sisilia never skimped on gifts for cute girl newbies.
"...What is it?"
"Bunny headband."
"M-must have insane effects, right?"
"Of course."
Sisilia spoke confidently.
"Makes you cuter."
"......"
And the final gift—Sisilia's favorite newbie. Ruby, the strongest in raw power among the current hero party.
"Something special for you, Ruby. What do you need?"
She'd give Ruby what she wanted. Special treatment for favored newbies.
But Ruby made an unexpected request.
"Th-then... can you sit in front of me...?"
"...?"
"A-and look up at me intently."
Sisilia didn't get it but knelt obediently before Ruby and gazed up.
"Can I pet you?"
"??"
Sisilia tilted her head quizzically but nodded. Ruby petted her. Sisilia wagged pathetically.
Come to think of it, last time too.
She said one wish at level 99, so I agreed. Days ago, she hit 99 and wished for 30 seconds of me doing nothing.
I said okay, and she hugged me for 30 seconds.
"This really enough?"
"Of course."
Ruby looked deeply satisfied.
"This is plenty for me. So... if I have tasks ahead, can I get rewards like this?"
"No reason not to."
Sisilia grew curious.
What'll she ask next...?
Something made her uneasy. Ruby's petting face mirrored Sisilia's when she licked newbies.
Anyway. After rewarding the whole party appropriately, shocking news rocked peaceful Liannen.
"Your Majesty! Disaster! Part of the northern defense line has collapsed! S-some Demon King forces are advancing south!"
The Demon King's army had launched a full assault.
Lydia smiled coldly.
"Weather's turning chilly. Quite the sudden gift this year."
Nothing odd. Truce long over—and Demon King forces rampage most in winter.
They'd prepared, though. A partial breach was unexpected. Many territories would fall; demons would dig in on Liannen soil.
"Pull back to line one. Order the Windsor Knights to return from leave. And—summon the Windsor Knight captain and vice-captain."
Liannen swiftly mobilized the Windsors—but before the order dropped, one knight strode into the central noble council.
Sword Princess Sisilia.
She crossed the chamber. Nobles parted; all eyes locked on her.
Silver hair fluttering lightly, face utterly emotionless.
One image burned in the nobles' minds: the flawless, impeccable Sword Princess.
Sisilia perfectly observed etiquette, kneeling on one knee before the Empress and bowing deeply.
"Your Majesty."
And declared:
"Grant me the Hero's Journey."
Nobles held their breath.
Hero's Journey. The quest to slay the Demon King.
Countless knights had volunteered before.
Not one returned—earning it a cursed name.
And now, a mere 17-year-old girl uttered it.
"This Sisilia Windsor vows to bring peace to humanity."