A Changed World (1)
Saint Michael Calendar. Year 504, December 11th. Liannen Empire, Imperial Palace.
"Has three years already passed since that day?"
In the gently swaying garden, two figures were sharing tea time. Empress Lydia and Chiron, headmaster of the Imperial Academy, were the protagonists.
"Time flies, doesn't it."
"As someone who's lived for centuries, I'd know that best."
Lydia sipped her coffee with an awkward expression. She opened her mouth a few times before cautiously broaching the subject.
"...Sisilia's recovery. Has there been no progress?"
"Are you still holding onto that?"
Chiron gave a wry smile.
"Don't worry about it. Even now, I don't think my daughter's choice was wrong."
"..."
Lydia bowed her head with a sorrowful face.
Three years had passed since that incident. But the wounds from then hadn't healed even a little.
Three years ago. The battle in the Eisenberg Duchy. It was a remarkable feat blocking the Demon King's army's massive assault and slaying Lumia, the strongest of the Four Heavenly Kings.
Yet because of that battle, Sisilia Windsor had been sealed away.
The Sisilia they found at the time was in terrible shape. The knight who never lost her radiant silver glow had collapsed in rags in a village, her mana converging endlessly toward zero.
Even after somewhat recovering her body, the mana in her dantian wouldn't return. At least the mana circuits in her body hadn't died, so she could use a little mana.
But currently, Sisilia couldn't use any mana except for her physical abilities. Not even her Extreme Arts, every single technique she possessed had been sealed.
"You're blaming yourself. I shouldn't have allowed Sisilia's hero expedition that day."
Lydia couldn't lift her bowed head. She knew it wasn't yet time for a hero expedition.
Sisilia was a genius of innate talent. Ten years—no, even just the three years that had passed would have dramatically increased the success rate of the hero expedition.
"...I didn't know back then. In my centuries of life, the intuition that never betrayed me would fail me."
"Your Majesty."
Chiron spoke firmly.
"That day's choice was my daughter's will."
"..."
"No one should blame themselves, or be blamed. Three years ago, Sisilia truly believed she could subjugate the Demon King—and acted on it. And above all."
Chiron smiled.
"I don't think that day was a total failure."
The all-out war with the Demon King's army, now in full swing, continued to this day. But Sisilia had subdued all the Four Heavenly Kings, and collapsed the Eisenberg front lines that had been the biggest headache.
Thanks to that, the north had caught its breath—and with the Eldrashion Empire back on track, it was now providing substantial reinforcements.
The Liannen Empire currently held a highly advantageous position in the war. Some even said it was more stable than during the armistice.
"She's a daughter to be proud of. No matter what anyone says."
"..."
But Lydia couldn't bring herself to speak.
'That's because you don't know yet.'
She just swallowed her words.
'If only the Demon King had been the end of it.'
Lydia knew. The current war situation was hopeful, yes. But the most essential problem remained unsolved.
'...At this rate, capturing the Demon God is impossible. No matter how much time passes.'
Lydia had searched for alternatives over the three years. Found substitutes, pondered endlessly. And the one fact that kept surfacing was that replacing Sisilia was impossible.
'No matter the cost, we must restore Sisilia. Even if that cost is the entire empire.'
Saint Michael Calendar
Year 504, December 11th
Liannen Empire, Imperial Palace
"Hey, are you listening?"
Sisilia stared seriously into the mirror. Freya, the demon who'd sacrificed 3,000 years of her lifespan beside her, said in disbelief.
"The order to 'send me to the future three years from now' was just completed. Your mana being empty right now is the aftermath of my Authority, not the seal. I borrowed the Demon God's power, but realizing it took Sisilia's mana."
Freya kept chattering on, but Sisilia wasn't really listening.
Because...
"...Three years passed, and they haven't grown at all?"
Her chest hadn't grown a bit. The growth restriction paused due to the seal's aftermath should have lifted, so why...?
"Is that what's important right now...?"
Come to think of it, maybe not. Sisilia stood awkwardly and surveyed her surroundings.
The scenery hadn't changed much.
"The north hasn't been pushed back since then, has it?"
"Well, you did take down Lumia."
Freya smirked cynically.
"But new legion commanders will keep appearing. Just like how after I left, someone else took my place."
Someone else.
Sisilia recalled her childhood self.
'...I should have taken her before getting sealed somehow.'
It had been an unavoidable choice, but she still regretted it. If she'd been a little less careless, would the result have been better?
No point dwelling on it. Sisilia tied her hair.
"By the way."
"?"
As she prepared to head out and assess the situation, Freya spoke up. Freya wore a strange expression.
"About moving your memories to three years in the future."
"Yeah."
"Why did you choose that?"
Sisilia tilted her head, confused for a moment, and Freya added an explanation.
"I just moved the memories, that's all. The fact that the Sword Princess, a nightmare to demons, was sealed for three years hasn't changed."
Sisilia had no memories of the past three years. But time had faithfully marched on.
That was Freya's point.
"What if the situation was more desperate than this? What if, while you were gone, the Demon King's army launched a total offensive? This place could be ashes right now."
Sisilia finally understood and nodded deeply. She glanced out the window.
She could tell this was the capital easily enough. It hadn't changed much in three years, but it hadn't worsened either.
People's faces looked reasonably bright.
Seeing others smile always lifted her mood. Sisilia smiled faintly.
"I trusted the people."
Freya watched her and suddenly thought: That's so un-Sisilia-like.
"Captain. I think we should wrap up Raygas Forest like this."
At Ian's words, Edward turned his head slightly.
"Casualties?"
"About one platoon's worth of soldiers lost. Zero casualties for the Windsor Knights."
Edward sheathed his sword and gazed beyond the hill. Countless demon corpses. But among them lay human bodies too.
'Sisilia. I can't do it like you.'
Three years had already passed. Since Edward, as captain, had taken on the vice-captain Sisilia's role.
In that time, he'd felt it bone-deep. How difficult Sisilia's no-casualty approach was. How much effort and anguish lay behind it.
That young girl had accomplished her missions without showing it to anyone.
Edward couldn't. No matter the method, some casualties were inevitable.
"...We're heading back."
But Edward's performance wasn't bad. He wasn't lacking in ability, and despite some casualties, there'd been no failed operations in three years.
On the contrary, he handled things faster than Sisilia, the Liannen Empire's notorious slacker. Some even said this was more like the Windsor Knights now.
Before Chiron aged, the tradition had been the captain handling fieldwork while the vice-captain managed operations.
"How far has the hero party progressed?"
"They've all reached regular knight level. Honestly, their growth is unbelievable."
"You're no different, Ian. A total outsider who knew nothing is now my adjutant."
Edward chuckled. Nothing had pleased him in the three years, but his one consolation was gaining a competent adjutant.
"Eh, I still prefer three years ago. I'm not the type to charge in."
"For someone like that, you're a damn good healer. A shame to waste you on paperwork."
Upon arriving in the capital, crowds lined the streets cheering. Edward didn't hear them. His gaze fixed on one person.
"Sisilia."
Three years ago, that day. Edward couldn't forget his complicated feelings.
He'd always checked Sisilia's position to protect his own power. But he'd never wished for this method.
'...It's my fault. Because I was weak.'
Edward blamed himself for that day's accident. Because of his incompetence. Pure incompetence as captain had caused it.
"Good work."
So whenever he saw Sisilia, Edward couldn't hide his guilt. The stabbing remorse dominated him every time.
All he could do was atone for past mistakes by treating her as best he could. Edward forced a smile.
"It's cold out. What brings you here? Get some rest."
"..."
'Why's she looking at me like that?'
But treating Sisilia well wasn't easy. Because he still couldn't read her thoughts.
"...D-did you finish what I told you to do?"
Tilt.
Sisilia cocked her head.
"You didn't."
"You didn't give any orders."
"...I said before the expedition that it was essential."
"No memory of it."
Edward was genuinely impressed. Sisilia looked like she truly had no idea.
But getting angry was out of the question. Edward just sighed and explained calmly.
"Writing the dungeon攻略 report. It needs verification, so unlike usual dumping it all on Beatrice, you have to do it yourself this time, Sisilia."
"Me?"
"...Yes. You're the vice-captain."
"That's the captain's job."
Flinch.
Edward's expression stiffened briefly before softening again.
"...You're right. It's my job. Got it."
For the record, Edward had just returned from expedition and hadn't slept in a week.
Sisilia was experiencing something new, different from usual.
"...Allowance?"
"Yes."
"Sure."
Asking Chiron for allowance got her a pouch the size of her head.
"...You serious?"
"Yes."
"Well... it's not hard. Fine."
Even asking the queen if she could lick her once got instant approval.
And.
"Lady Sisinyang. It's work hours..."
"No?"
"Ugh. Okay. Let's go for cake."
Even Beatrice, who frothed at the mouth in protest, allowed snack time.
'Socrates was a liar. It doesn't take ten years for mountains to change.'
Just three years, and the world had become so beautiful. But Sisilia wasn't a fool.
"Escort?"
"Yes. Lady Beatrice's orders: no going anywhere without at least five escorts."
"Heh."
The seal's aftermath had made everyone so compliant toward her. Like waking up one morning as a frail beauty.
Sisilia thought.
"...Not bad?"
For now, she'd resolved never to mention the seal lifting, even on pain of death.