Sisinyang and Edppi's Adventure (3)
*Whoosh.* Only after Edward smashed the golem's core did Sisilia finally wriggle free. She plopped down in a daze right there on the spot.
"The Sword Princess almost got eaten by a mere golem?" Edward's face was one of utter disappointment.
...Honestly, it was a bit embarrassing.
'But I didn't expect it to still be active.'
Sisilia glanced at the golem's wreckage. She'd thought for sure it had stopped functioning ages ago. Both shoulders sagged limply, and weeds had sprouted all over its head from years of neglect. That's why she'd poked her head inside out of curiosity...
"Strange. Who could have built a golem still capable of moving after all this time?"
A golem was a magical thoughtform. It bound a single powerful obsession to an object, compelling it to repeat that action infinitely until its mana dispersed—until the core shattered or its lifespan ended. And a golem's lifespan never exceeded fifty years, unless it was in a mana-rich dungeon.
'The mana in the air is faint. No way it could sustain itself for centuries.'
Edward rummaged through the crumbled remains and paused at a stone fragment.
"As I thought—not a mistake."
"Found something?"
A small stone etched with a golden crest.
"The crest of the founding royal house. Mother changed it upon her ascension, so this golem's at least three hundred years old."
Edward was intensely focused. That must be why he slipped and called Lydia "Mother" without noticing.
'Total mama's boy.'
Sisilia had uncovered a monumental fact(?).
"Any way to figure out what it was guarding?"
Edward smirked and reached toward the wreckage.
"Don't underestimate imperial blood."
Golden mana flowed from his hand.
"Mana holds memories. I may not know the details, but I can sense what this golem obsessed over for centuries."
The golem's core slowly absorbed into Edward. He narrowed his eyes briefly, then spoke.
"Protect the weak. That was the value this golem defended."
"...Sadly, it failed its mission. This city fell to an outside invasion."
Traces of invasion were everywhere—collapsed buildings at odd angles, signs of breakfast prep abandoned mid-motion. It screamed sudden catastrophe, no time to react. Looked like a powerful demon's doing.
Sisilia's hair wilted at the tragic truth.
"No."
But Edward denied it.
"This golem fulfilled its duty admirably."
"...Really?"
"Yes. Even as its body crumbled, it stood firm for centuries, waiting for us."
'Edppi's such a romantic.'
Sisilia stared at him blankly.
"There must be something it desperately needed to pass on. Let's find it. The value this golem guarded so fiercely, Sisilia."
* * *
The ruined city date was surprisingly fun. Felt like exploring a historical site.
'Always wanted to visit Pompeii someday—'
She wondered how thrilled a modern archaeologist would be here.
'Gotta bring a newbie archaeo-user next time.'
"Sisilia! What's that over there?"
"Here."
Edward called from across the way. Sisilia proudly held out a small jar.
"...What's this?"
"Looks like yummy honey."
"......"
"Sisilia will taste it."
As she moved to pop it in her mouth, Edward panicked and stopped her.
"Don't eat random junk you find!"
'His reaction's hilarious.'
Edward never failed to deliver.
"Trouble. If it endured beyond its limits, something important must be here."
"Then that's it over there."
"I searched everywhere, nothing... What?"
"Here."
Back at the golem spot, Sisilia pointed down.
"Space underground."
"...How do you know?"
"Wind's coming out."
Edward fell silent, then said,
"Why tell me now?"
"You didn't ask."
Edward was seriously pissed this time. He calmed himself with effort and drew his sword.
"...No more pranks like that, or you'll get it."
Thud! He stabbed the floor without hesitation. It crumbled amid faint flames.
They landed in a vast chamber.
"The entrance."
"Old place."
"Stone tablet."
A massive door loomed ahead. Edward lit a flame in his hand, brushing dust from the tablet cleanly.
"Ancient script?"
He frowned. Unreadable.
The tablet and door had a circular mechanism. Decoding the unfamiliar tongue was likely key.
'Could smash it, but an ancient structure might collapse entirely.'
Luckily, an ancient language expert was present.
"Can you read it?"
"Elvish is my specialty."
"...Sisilia, elves are fictional."
Sisilia's eyes widened hugely—always amazing how human eyes could bulge like that.
"Decode it."
"Says they've sealed a demon that doesn't cry, so go home."
"...A demon?"
"How much do you know about demons, Ed?"
"Mana beings that lend power for a price."
Sisilia clasped hands behind her back with a sly smile.
"I haven't grown a single cm this year. Hoped my chest would get a bit bigger, but I stopped at 13, so probably stuck like this forever."
She pouted down at her chest. Edward was baffled but listened patiently. Sisilia's whimsy demanded it. But her offhand remarks often changed everything.
"Demons are the same. They don't grow—power or chest size. But."
She beamed.
"Summoned demons learn from humans. Emotions like sorrow and fear. The more they learn, the weaker they get. Yet demons crave those emotions—they love them."
"So a demon that doesn't cry is strong?"
"Not always. Like that choice-and-regret demon we killed yesterday—it was weak."
Edward thought, 'This cheeky cat hid something that crucial?' Annoyed, but he pressed for more info.
"What's the difference?"
"A hesitant human can't beat a choice demon. Same for regret demons and regretful people."
"...Depends on the person."
"Yeah. We just got lucky. I don't regret, and you don't hesitate."
Sisilia stepped to the door.
"Beyond here, a way to beat the real demon."
'This should've been the sequence—territory falls to demon, hero party finds this, learns counter, kills demons.'
Sisilia felt it. But she and Edward had the power to skip straight ahead. A special case.
"Good talk. Back in Terezia, prep your report. Step back. I'll smash the door and see what's inside."
Edward drew his sword, mana surging.
But Sisilia kept her sly smile, not budging.
"Sisilia. Not the time to be stubborn."
"You couldn't decode it alone anyway."
She tilted her head.
"Hand it to the hero party. Not our share."
"...I said I'd be hero or whatever to take the Demon King's head."
"Oh, forgot your date rating."
"Quit babbling and move."
Ignoring his rage, Sisilia pointed at him with one finger.
"Zero."
"......"
"Can't even date right? No hero creds for you."
She brushed past.
"I'm mad now, heading back."
Before she vanished, Edward said stiffly,
"...You really plan to take down the Demon King with that hero party?"
"Only heroes can."
Counterarguments flooded Edward's mind. He hated users—weak, demanding. Without Sisilia, they'd die daily; kicked out for messes, they badmouthed her. Her coddling them seemed pathetic, foolish.
But he said nothing. Something else bugged him.
'Come to think.'
Edward smiled bitterly.
'Snapped all day today.'
* * *
"What're you doing."
Pouting Sisilia squatted on a hill overlooking the territory. Spotting Edward, she whipped her head away.
"Mind your own, Captain Edward."
'She's really pissed.'
Cold sweat beading, Edward pulled a baguette from his pouch and tossed it. She caught it instinctively, eyes rounding.
"...What's this?"
"Wheat country's famous—bread should be good."
Hmph. Sisilia turned away in feigned huff but munched anyway.
Edward crept closer to pat her head—greeted by murderous glare.
'No headpats, got it.'
He sat beside. No reaction—baguette bought side-sitting rights.
'Now butter her up...'
......Easy fix for pouts: endless praise. But words stuck in his throat. Odd—he was silver-tongued in any pinch. Not his first rodeo; kid Sisilia pouted often.
'Age? Or her growing up? Tough.'
......Time passed, no words.
Edward glanced her way.
-Aigoo, milord! Enough, go rest!
-No can do. Your field's a mess. Least I can do.
Leopold and Beatrice helped in the fields. Then Sisilia spoke.
"To you, are Betty's parents useless too?"
"...No way."
Had they been, no amount of tears would've dragged them here.
"I don't dismiss those giving their best."
Sisilia smiled.
"Tsundere."
"...Tsundere?"
Her smile meant mood lifting. Headpat accepted meekly.
"Rating up?"
"Yeah. Two points."
"...Full score?"
"One hundred million."
Edward was speechless. Barely above zero?
"...Anyone hit top?"
"Nah. You were my first date ever, Edppi."
Unfathomable satisfaction hit Edward.
"Date was fun, Captain."
Sisilia stood, dusting her butt. She toddled off, then turned.
"Forgiven today, but quit eyeing my skirt length."
Beaming innocently.
"Skirts are worn to be seen, after all."
"......"
Flabbergasted, Edward felt it futile and flopped back.
'Worried for nothing.'
Staring blankly at the sky—
*Coo-coo.*
A sparrow landed on his chest, making weird noises.
"......"
It dropped a letter on his face and flew off. Edward opened it with a sour look.
Imperial seal, one line:
— Head to Carmot. Ensure the peace treaty desired by the 7th Legion Commander Lujerna proceeds smoothly. —
"...Has she lost it?"
Edward rubbed his eyes repeatedly, but the words stayed the same.