Hidden NPC (1)
Morning light filtered in, and Sisilia threw open her wardrobe first thing.
"What should I wear to look like a sudden hidden NPC?"
Stroking her chin, Sisilia pondered for hours before pulling out a robe. It was red, cute like a matchstick girl. She tied her hair into side tails.
"What is this about?"
Chiron looked up from his study. His daughter's unusual outfit from her usual self put him on high alert.
Sisilia strode confidently to the desk and plunked down some papers with a thud.
"I'm requesting leave."
"...Sisilia. Your superior isn't me."
"But you still have some pull left for me, right?"
"This is the most brazen request I've ever heard—it's almost admirable."
Chiron sighed but didn't refuse. She rarely asked for favors beyond pocket money.
"Leave, huh. Come to think of it, you haven't taken much time off. How long do you want?"
"I don't want to set a fixed period."
"......A knight?"
He nearly furrowed his brow at such unacceptable knightly behavior, but considering she was his daughter, he gave it a pass. Still, even for his precious girl, this was too much. Sisilia had pulled back from the front lines, but her duties remained critical. Her aura was restricted, but her sharp judgment and insight were intact.
"I know you and Edward swapped roles. He's handling fieldwork now, but isn't overall Windsor Knights personnel allocation your domain?"
"Betty's learned plenty. She can cover for me."
"Betty goes beyond mere escorting—"
Demon offensives had intensified lately. Beatrice, a high knight, was a key asset. Liannen had no room for slack.
But if Sisilia heard that, she'd insist on the front lines.
'It's the queen and Edward's feud. Pulling Sisilia in now would just stir more chaos.'
Chiron swallowed his words.
"No, nothing. Anyway, dumping work on others isn't right."
Either way, he had to block this leave. Chiron tried to persuade her.
"I see it's a no."
Sisilia said calmly then, her voice trembling just a touch at the end for effect.
"......I've been feeling down lately and wanted a change of pace..."
"......"
Chiron's face paled to dirt.
Moments later, he squeezed out, "......Five days. No more. That's the max I can carve out."
"Why, Dad?"
"Can't have Beatrice away too. I'll protect you myself."
Sisilia openly grimaced.
"That's not leave then. And five days is too short."
Chiron felt deeply wounded.
"But Sisilia. Your safety unresolved leaves me no choice."
Sisilia smiled slyly. Chiron sensed the trap, but it was too late. Her fingertip already pointed skyward.
There appeared Freya, the time demon.
'Since when?'
Perfect stealth even Chiron hadn't noticed.
"Freya'll escort me, so it's fine."
"......"
Demon contracts persisted despite seals. Chiron, knowing this well, couldn't protest with "demons are dangerous."
Instead, he eyed Freya steadily.
"Your manifestation now must be pure demonic power. You can't borrow Sisilia's mana. So, in your current state, what's your limit?"
"Once."
Freya stated clearly.
"Kill a Seven Deadly Sins-level demon and escape in three seconds."
Chiron sighed. No lie there. But now...
'Can't refuse.'
"......Why the sudden leave? Be honest, and I'll allow it."
"Depressed......"
Chiron's gaze sharpened.
"Sisilia. How old were you when I started raising you? Think I'd fall for that?"
Sisilia averted her eyes and muttered softly.
"Feels like I've been duty-bound too long. Want to indulge pure selfishness. Can't do it any other time."
"Selfishness?"
"Licking newbies."
So bold, he was speechless. But max-level Sisilia lingo? Chiron got it.
'Empire noble ladies are in for headaches.'
Sisilia had genuinely licked Duchess Bianca's daughter multiple times. The absurdity convinced him.
"Fine. But no far trips. Stay within the capital."
"Yes."
"And."
As he geared for nagging, Sisilia had already bolted.
Chiron chuckled, then frowned worriedly. He shook his head.
"......Within the capital, demons won't touch her easily."
**
"Wha, leave?"
Beatrice panicked at the out-of-nowhere news.
"Captain approved? Really?"
"Yeah."
"No way."
Dazed, Beatrice spotted Sisilia's travel bag—long unseen.
"But why's that...?"
Sisilia crossed into Beatrice's dorm, plopping on the bed uninvited. Moonlight filtered softly through the window. Lifting her robe slightly, silver hair cascaded down.
"Gonna crash here awhile."
"Eek?!"
Beatrice flapped in front of her frantically.
"Th-this place isn't fit for you, Sisilia...!"
"It's humble."
"Yes, humble..."
Beatrice beamed, pointing at the door.
"Mind leaving this humble spot?"
Shake shake. Sisilia innocently shook her head, hugging a nearby doll.
......Boss, but too cute to kick out.
"Any reason for the suddenness?"
"Curfew."
"Ah. Your family's strict, yeah."
Even as a high knight, 10 PM curfew? Sisilia was unique. Beatrice got the gist: Sisilia dodging curfew picked her place.
But—
"I won't let you wander late either."
"You, Betty?"
"......"
True, no rebuttal. Defying Sisilia was unthinkable for Beatrice.
'But I know why Captain allowed it.'
Sisilia didn't know, but Windsor Knights were chaotic now. Demons rampant outside. Internally, Edward vs. Lydia feud—with Sisilia at center.
Lydia pushing deployment; Edward resisting. Outcome unknown, but this might be Sisilia's last easy rest. Edward considered that.
'Just keep lips sealed. Exposure, and Sisilia sides queen.'
Beatrice's job: act natural.
"Grabbing essentials. Be good?"
"Yeah."
Before leaving, Beatrice glanced back. Sisilia already burrowed in blankets like home.
A thought struck.
'What're you planning on leave?'
Sisilia'd mellowed lately, but Beatrice knew: her whims birthed absurd events.
'Nah, probably not.'
Shaking unease, Beatrice headed out.
**
Terezia outskirts. A user gathered herbs in the Forest of Beginnings.
"Deeper? Hmm... too risky?"
Her name: Uni. Week two summon, a newbie.
Unfamiliar world, but Uni chose her path: life skills.
Terezia let herb-picking sustain you decently.
"Disaster. Too little today."
Uni dusted her school uniform skirt, standing. Summon-clothes, comfier than medieval garb, plus dirt-repel magic.
"......Seriously, no way."
'Hate risky stuff.'
But empty-handed meant starving days. She'd dodged job quests, straying from story—but now unavoidable. Life-skiller boom cramped safe spots.
'Maybe do the job quest...?'
Uni sat on a stump, mumbling timidly.
"Status window."
The Strongest Irregular is watching you.
Congratulations! You are a blessed player.
To proceed with the hidden job quest, move to Terezia Square - Sacred Flame.
Warning! Hidden job quests cannot be canceled once started.
Basic specs. Uni eyed the quest tab.
Seemed easy. But that last line nagged.
'......Just wanna herb and chill.'
No grand ambitions. "Hidden" loomed too big. Wasting a key job on herbs? Selfish burden.
Plus, empire folk seemed ruthless—no mercy. She'd seen talents dragged to war.
......Wanted no part.
"Nope...... Find another way. Soap? Sell that? Medieval era vibes."
Uni ditched the job quest. Heading home to brainstorm earnings—
Snap.
Twig crack. Uni whipped around, eyes wide.
"M-monster? Why? This is safe zone."
Black-aura hound, two heads. Ominous at a glance; Uni backed away.
"P-please."
Legs shook, heart clenched. Panic spun her head.
But before coping, the beast lunged—fangs bared inches away.
"Kyaaah!"
Screaming instinctively, eyes squeezed shut.
No pain came.
She peeked.
"Y-you...?"
Whoosh. The black hound burned to ash, traceless.
Above, a girl sheathed her sword. Porcelain skin, petite frame. Signature silver hair, silver-blue eyes. Beauty overwhelming past terror. Without prior info—no elves here—she'd guess elf. Unreal.
'No swing sound.'
No footsteps, no blade whoosh, not even the cut.
Layman, but obvious: unimaginable expert.
"Th-thank you for saving me."
"......"
The girl just stared silently.
Awkward quiet. Uni figured more thanks.
"How to repay this grace... you saved my life, truly gra—"
"One favor then? Nothing grand."
"Y-yes! Of course."
'Voice pretty too. But scary.'
Uni gripped her pounding heart. Talking doll? Sisilia spoke.
"Work for world peace."
Uni blurted in shock, forgetting rescue.
"......Th-that much?!"