The Strongest Party in History
"You sure it's okay to ditch work and run off like this, Captain?"
In the train car, Sisilia said it flatly. Beside her, Beatrice was neatly adjusting the muffler that Sisilia had just thrown on haphazardly. She was still sulking.
Well, she got her lines in. I know the vice-captain's supposed to support the captain. And once we hit the final war phase, it makes no sense for the captain to be stuck in the capital—
Edward had done the sensible thing. But even if her head got it, Sisilia's little chest was stuffed full of dissatisfaction. There was no naughty scent like she'd imagined—just the sour stink of someone who'd rolled in the dirt one too many times.
"I'm heading to work right now, though."
"Hmph."
"Hmph? You've gotten moodier since we last met. C'mere."
"No."
Edward stretched Sisilia's cheeks. Beatrice marveled at how far human cheeks could pull.
"Hmph."
Her cheeks puffed red, but Sisilia still turned her head away in a pout. Edward stared at her sourly for a moment, then crossed his legs and picked up some documents.
"They can't get a read on the Demon King's forces that breached the defensive line. Reports say there are multiple upper-class demons in the bunch..."
"Th-this is the devil's carriage made by heretics!"
Edward set the papers down and glanced over. Seraphina was plugging her ears against the train noise, on the verge of tears.
"Seraphina. Th-this isn't made by devils—it's made by mages. So calm down."
"Hic. Betty... it's so scary. You're not a devil, are you, Betty...? I heard if you meet a devil, they steal your soul. Tell the devil lord my soul tastes bad."
Seraphina sobbed into Beatrice's arms. Sisilia watched the scene with extreme amusement.
"...She really seems like someone from the Middle Ages. No trains in the Holy Nation?"
Edward's "Middle Ages" meant about 500 years back. It went without saying, but from his perspective, this era wasn't medieval. Sisilia found that amusing too.
Her pout forgotten in no time, Sisilia raised a finger confidently.
"Captain, imagine a future world that's light-years ahead—and they treat you like a Middle Ages relic. How's that feel?"
"No idea why you're asking, but..."
Glad she's in a better mood.
Edward played along, pondering seriously for a moment.
"By then, there'd be no demons left, I bet. Can't picture a future without 'em, though."
"In the future, you can fly through the sky."
No clue why she looked so proud, but Sisilia beamed with pride. Edward replied with a sour face.
"I can fly right now."
"...That's not all. In the future, carriages drive themselves."
"Stealing coachmen's jobs? The leaders there must have rocks in their heads."
"...!"
But Sisilia wouldn't quit.
"No leaders in the future. The people vote for 'em."
"No clue what nonsense you picked up from Ian this time."
Edward scoffed.
"Common street rats and a queen who's ruled 300 years get the same one vote? If I saw a world like that, I'd fix it myself."
Sisilia jumped in shock, frantically shielding Edward with both hands.
"...Why the reaction?"
"E-Edpie's turning red."
Edward's brows furrowed angrily. Sisilia pressed them down until they relaxed. Edward sighed in exasperation.
"Anyway, we're sweeping the Demon King stragglers quick and heading to take down Lumia of the White Night."
"I refuse."
Sisilia leaned her head against the window.
"That's the hero party's job. We're just clearing the path for them."
Edward chuckled.
"Nah, it's mine."
"Not letting you steal any more glory."
Sisilia asked, half-disbelieving.
"...You came along for the credit?"
"Pretty much."
Edward acted like it was no big deal. Sisilia shook her head wildly, thinking, This guy's the hero...?
"Betty, say something. To this power-hungry prince lump."
Beatrice averted her eyes subtly.
"The hero you picked doesn't look much like one either..."
"!"
Sisilia shot to her feet.
"I can't accept you as captain. The op's called Hero's Journey. Can't hand humanity's future to a captain with zero hero vibes."
Edward grabbed the back of Sisilia's neck and yanked her down.
"Zero?"
Sisilia bit her lip and glared daggers. Edward's blue eyes softened quietly.
"Not even one?"
"..."
Sisilia stayed silent a long while, then looked away and mumbled tiny.
"Except the face."
Edward leaned back on the sofa with a satisfied smile.
* * *
The train arrived in Brockenfeld, northwest of Terezia. Liannen's largest granary region—and the Brocken family's domain. Brocken ran Liannen's biggest trading company; it was Leo Ric's home turf. (For the record, Sisilia had once been scammed out of 550 gold by a Brocken impersonator.)
If the leaked Demon King forces took this area, Liannen wouldn't survive the winter.
"Smells like fire. Targeting Brocken first, huh."
"I-is that maybe... the smell coming from you, Sisilia?"
Edward started to snap What're you on about? but lost his words at the sight of Sisilia. Her eyes blazed with ferocious intensity.
I'll drag this out here—keep us far from the north. Can't let Edpie have Lumia. Do you know how much XP that is?
They'd jumped regions by train. The hero party was on carriages, faithfully following Sisilia's "achievement route."
They'll probably say let's take Lumia's castle ourselves once we get there first. Stall till the hero party catches up.
All they needed was time. Time for the hero party to grow. Sisilia planned to do her utmost.
"Human, hear me out."
"What?"
"We're burning this granary. You buy food in the meantime. Sell it later for profit. Deal?"
Edward gripped the demon's throat, not even glancing.
"Shut your trap."
Whoosh.
The demon ignited in Edward's flames, shrieking horribly before crumbling to ash.
Sisilia glanced back dismissively.
"...Was there a mountain there before?"
"What're you saying, Sisilia? That's the demon mountain you made."
It's so beautiful. Beatrice was thrilled. She'd known Sisilia was strong, but Edward was destructive. Precisely once. One swing of his sword wiped out dozens of demons. Sisilia's airy swordplay was cool, but Edward's fiery style was just shocking.
Yes. Edward was strong. And Sisilia was strong.
With the captain and vice-captain of the strongest knight order together, no ordinary demons stood a chance. And—
"Betty, use Valhalla. Can't let this many people die."
"B-but my ultimate only prevents death. Just for one minute—and if I can't save them in time—"
"It's fine."
Beatrice was strong too, but as a buffer, her utility shone. Once her buffs activated, even stamina-lacking Seraphina moved like a knight. Especially Seraphina.
"The goddess never passes by those in need."
...Her overwhelming holy power made sense why the Holy Nation had kept her locked away her whole life. As long as they had breath, she could save any number.
She synergized perfectly with Beatrice's no-death buff. The result?
Huh?
Sisilia broke a cold sweat. Progress was too fast. At this rate, they'd beat the hero party to Lumia's castle. No—
With this firepower, they could take on the Demon King right now and win. Even without Sisilia going all out.
Dunno how strong Lumia is, but Edpie and I synergize too well. No reason to wait for the hero party.
Wind fueled fire's destruction doubled. Intuitive synergy made combos easy. After seven years apart, they meshed like old partners.
"Sisilia. Seraphina's hitting her limit stamina-wise. Maybe rest...? It's been a week without sleep."
"No real need to push. We're ahead of schedule defending the granary—with time to spare. Up to you, Sisilia."
But they couldn't stall artificially.
"...Just a bit more. Brocken territory's close."
"I-I'm fine."
"This'll help. Elixir."
"S-Sisilia giving me a potion...! When you usually steal my spares!"
Sisilia wasn't a saint like those two. But...
...She'd save who she could. She hadn't expected this many Demon King forces pushing to Brocken. Demons rampaging meant mass deaths. And Sisilia had already buried several corpses.
"The kingdom sending its knight order captain and vice-captain. Thought we'd been abandoned—blessed luck. Ah, it's an empire now. I'm Marquis Brocken, lord of Brockenfeld. You'll be honored guests here for life."
Judgment spot-on: the territory was besieged by hordes of monsters and demons. Beatrice and Seraphina went inside first to heal the wounded. Meanwhile, Sisilia and Edward split north-south, smashing the Demon King army.
Sisilia broke two swords in the brutal fight. They liberated Brocken territory, then the group rested.
* * *
"Mm. What to eat."
Sisilia agonized over the menu. High rewards deserved good food.
Today's mood is...
"Today's mood is super well-done steak, right? Already ordered."
"..."
Sisilia glared at Edward with hazy eyes. Beatrice beside her jumped.
"How'd you know? Sisilia's moods change by the second—I had no clue."
"...? No one's more predictable than Sisilia. After heavy bloodshed, she skips bloody food."
"Oh, right."
The steak arrived. As she reached to enjoy it, Edward snatched the plate.
"Give back my steak."
"Hold on."
Edward elegantly sliced off one piece like a noble, left it, and moved the rest to his plate. He slid the lone-piece plate back to Sisilia.
"Whoa."
Beatrice figured Sisilia would explode at the stingy move. But nope?
Sisilia forked the steak contentedly—om nom—and savored that one piece for two full hours. Done, she smiled happily, belly full.
"Stuffed."
Beatrice stared blankly at Edward. Seraphina, half-asleep beside her, eyed them suspiciously back and forth.
"...How do you know Sisilia's portions exactly?"
"Everyone in the order knows. Hasn't changed since she was six."
Edward pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped Sisilia's mouth. Then he stood.
"Bedtime?"
"Dessert time."
"But Sisilia said she's full."
"Should've said dessert stomach's separate."
"Dessert stomach..."
Sisilia went quiet. For some reason, Edward knowing her that well irked her.