Lumia Subjugation Operation (2)
Humanity's age-old pastime of argument swordplay. Some might say debating hypotheticals with words is pointless, but in Another World, it was a damn useful strategy guide. Auras had counters, after all—and auras were ultimately powers born from imagination.
Sisilia loved this kind of argument swordplay. More precisely, she loved sneaking peeks at newbies debating her with those shady grins. No way was she passing up this prime entertainment, so she couldn't resist crashing the meeting.
"How much time did you give it, Betty?"
"All my savings. I made 500 gold off this bet."
"...Betty. My adjutant gambling? I'm so sad. Quit your job and reflect by returning the illicit gains—nicely now."
"It's self-confession, not quit-and-unemployed. And even if you take my money, it's meaningless since I manage your funds anyway, Sisilia-nyang."
Sisilia's cheeks flushed a bit. Classical Chinese idioms were her weak spot.
Edward's face, meanwhile, had turned to dirt. He'd lost big.
"Is this the time? Damn it, we're discussing the noble Lumia subjugation, and I'm the only serious one."
"That's why chicks don't like you."
"...More than an alcoholic gambling addict like you."
"Duel me, Hyter. Throw down your gauntlet now."
"You don't even have gauntlets? How does a knight pawn his own gear at the gambling table—and lose it?"
Jerryway and Hyter are always getting along great.
As Sisilia felt that familiar Windsor Knights warmth, Edward sighed.
"Sisilia. So, what's our odds?"
All eyes turned to Sisilia at Edward's words. She put on the most serious face in the world.
Yeah, no way she'd joke around in a spot this important.
Time to show she’s got brains.
Sisilia-ma'am, no more allowance.
Various hopes piled on, making her sweat, but she got the gist. Time for honesty.
"Binding Lumia with Wind Shear has a fatal flaw."
"What's that?"
Sisilia dramatically clasped her hands and propped her chin. The Windsors tensed at her bittersweet, backstory-heroine vibe.
Sisilia making that face before battle...?
Is Lumia beyond imagination?
Their future plans hinged on her answer. In the tense moment, Sisilia spoke.
"Wind Shear isn't an Extreme Art."
"......"
"My Extreme Art is way cooler and flashier, actually."
Silence blanketed the room.
"Son of a bitch."
Hyter rolled up his papers and chucked them at her. A barrage of random objects flew from all sides.
Sisilia clutched her head and crouched.
"Stop...!"
"I'm the idiot for expecting anything. Let's grab food. What a load of crap argument swordplay."
"Yeah, without knowing Lumia's Authority, it's like stabbing water."
"Captain, you're buying."
"Sorry, lost all my cash betting."
The Windsors ebbed away like the tide.
Sisilia sniffled, peeked up, and timidly clutched Beatrice's cloak hem.
"Betty... you'll believe me, right...?"
"Sure, sure. Heard there's a great bakery—wanna go?"
Sisilia beamed.
"Yeah!"
She grabbed Beatrice's hand and skipped off happily. Only Serephina remained in the conference room.
Ignored by all, the sad ex-saint tilted her head.
"...Why's everyone reacting like that?"
Serephina couldn't understand. Not a single word Sisilia said today was a lie.
Wind Shear was just a basic attack spell stacked multiple times. The only magic a knight like Sisilia could use. She brute-forced a massive dome with sheer mana.
Which meant a top-tier mage could see through—and dispel—it. Like when Cain pierced it in their first clash.
Of course, most foes died before realizing. But...
Lumia would see right through Wind Shear.
Strongest of the Four Heavenly Kings. Especially a mage like Lumia—Wind Shear would mean squat.
"Got it. Lumia's a master mage, so Wind Shear might not work. ...You could've explained that better in the meeting."
That didn't weaken Sisilia's forces. Wind Shear was just a smokescreen to hide her Sword God status. Not very effective anyway.
...No point hiding this time.
Unleashing Sword God power would ping the Darkness, forcing her into the Great Demon War prep. This Lumia hunt had to be pure Sword Princess power.
Even worse.
"Lately, you haven't mentioned fighting with the hero party. ...Very mature of you, but you're not hiding some weird plan, right?"
Not just Lumia—her duplicate too. Fighting herself was tough, even for Sisilia. So she split from the hero party temporarily.
If positions flipped, she'd target them first. They were her only wildcard now.
"I'm serious this time. Lumia's a real pain."
This subjugation would be rough all around. No usual demon-slaying tricks. Worst matchup: herself.
"Never seen you this unconfident..."
"Huh?"
Sisilia tilted her head.
"When did I say I wasn't confident?"
Her lips curved up. The Windsors froze mid-bite, forks hovering.
"Eat up, then war."
Vice-captain's job: execute the captain's orders. Edward commanded Lumia subjugation—Sisilia carried it out. Legit authority.
Her casual tone, like suggesting a stroll, was the issue. But not one knight objected.
They all knew battlefield Sisilia was different.
Ashen wasteland met verdant plains at a sharp border. On a hill in the grassland, a man with cold eyes scanned the gray lands.
The man ruled the north: Duke Eisenberg.
"Windsors are coming."
"Yes, Your Grace. Full available forces."
"Nothing I hate seeing more than wolves gathered."
Eisen stared stone-faced at the packed werewolf ranks, muttering. Wolves meaning Windsors or demons? Either way, he looked sour as the overcast sky.
"Gotta admit their skill pisses me off."
Eisen raised his staff sky-high.
Rumble—
Thick clouds parted in the pale sky, opening a path. Job done, he turned and strode back.
Invincible legions awaited.
"Don't want to embarrass myself in front of my daughter's friend. Clear out the small fry first."
His words unleashed thousands roaring as one, charging.
By the time Windsors arrived, the north was far more pacified.
"If you're here to help, scram. Eisenberg doesn't hold hands."
Eisen spat coldly at Edward. Bandages wrapped his body.
"...You need proper rest, Your Grace."
"Never heard of a wolf going blind. Won't say it twice. Get out of my territory and sunbathe. I'll send word after conquering to Lumia's castle."
Liannen's sole grand duke rivaled the empress in power. Edward—still crown prince, mere knight captain—couldn't challenge him.
"Hi, uncle."
But the duke's precious daughter's bestie could.
Sisilia bowed politely. Unlike his trash-talk to Edward, Eisen's lips split in a hearty grin.
"Haha, raising Fenrir well? That was hard to get."
"Of course."
Sisilia flashed a proud V-sign. Beatrice's eyes went ice-cold.
Liar...
Fenrir—the Welsh Corgi Eisenberg slaved for? Sisilia visited maybe twice a year.
"My girl's in your debt. Slaughtered those traitors without a burial—good girl."
Eisen patted her head. Sisilia, thrilled, snitched instantly.
"Though I couldn't dodge discipline for defying the captain."
"Hm? Discipline?"
"Windsors don't meddle in other territories, he said. Ignore the poor magic stone merchants dying."
Eisen eyed Edward murderously.
"Touch one hair on my daughter's friend's head, prince or not, and I'll dump you in the trash."
"...Humbly accepted."
Edward's lips twitched.
"Sisilia. To business."
"Oh."
Sisilia turned to Serephina.
"Serephina. Heal him."
"Noble intent, but impossible. Magic demands price. Used skin this time. At least three months..."
But Serephina had already cast holy magic.
Eisen paused mid-sentence, unwrapping bandages. The skin eaten by great magic was pristine.
"Guh."
Overuse of holy power knocked her out cold.
"...Impressive."
The effect was real; Eisen looked stunned. Then a warm smile spread—rare for the Iron-Blood Duke.
"What do you want?"
"A spot with a great view of Lumia Castle for sightseeing."
"Heh, pack a good lunch."
With Eisenberg's blessing, Windsors headed to a nearby valley. Deeper than pacified zones, crawling with demons and beasts—but four high knights made it smooth.
Arriving, Beatrice panted.
"Sisilia-ma'am, why come all the way here?"
Lumia's castle loomed faintly from the valley.
Sisilia smiled slyly at it.
"Gonna scout Lumia's ace spell."
"Possible? She's holed up 100 years, they say."
"Ways exist."
She pulled a bow from thin air: Arcus Aurorae, New Year's Festival bow.
Edward gaped.
"That bow's in the imperial vault! Why's it in your hands, Sisilia?! ...What're you doing with it?"
Curiosity won over shock.
Sisilia inhaled deeply, dead serious.
"I'm terrible with bows."
"...?"
"Knight and all. But."
She hated showing this side. But no choice.
A Sword Princess shooting arrows? Not New Year's cutie time, and sniping demons with a bow? Hard pass.
However.
"I'm decent at sword-throwing."
Hanging a sword on the bowstring instead of an arrow—knight territory, right?
Time for a new Extreme Art show.
"Extreme Art."
Thud—the ground dipped from mana overload. Sisilia's eyes blazed blue, S-grade sword nocked.
"Noble Sword Throw."
Pfweeng!
An unbelievable whistle pierced the air.
"......"
Windsors speechless at the sight.
Rooooar—
A mushroom cloud bloomed far off.
Incomprehensible carnage.
Sisilia reached into air, drew another sword.
"...No way."
"This lunatic."
"You're gonna keep this up till Lumia comes out?"
Sisilia drew the string with her sword, yelling like a maniac.
"Let's see who wins—it's on!"
Lumia was tough hunkered in her castle spamming great magic. Solution: carpet-bomb till she crawled out.
Also—Sisilia's "expensive swords" stockpile? Massive.