Hidden NPC (2)
“Protecting world peace is a really cool goal, but… c-can I really do that?”
“Kidding.”
A joke, huh.
Uni swallowed dryly as she gazed at Sisilia. Those wall-like silver-blue eyes, shimmering softly as if they'd captured the moonlight whole, were burdensome just to meet.
She looks way younger than me.
But as she'd just witnessed, the girl possessed overwhelming power. Probably not a user level. Uni felt certain of it.
...She's gotta be nobility, right?
Uni hadn't been summoned long, but she knew how immense the power nobles wielded in this world.
“Um… c-could I ask what kind of person you are?”
“No.”
“Ah, y-yes, got it.”
Uni made an awkward face at the curt refusal. Sisilia paid it no mind, slowly patrolling the surroundings. She poked through the grass for a moment, scanned every direction with those blue eyes on high alert. And then… sniffed Uni's scent.
Why my smell…?
Before the question could fade, Sisilia spoke.
“Terezia's protective barrier isn't perfect. Especially in outlying areas like this, it weakens. If you're coming this far out, self-defense measures are essential. Of course, the outer barrier suddenly shattering is a major variable.”
“I-is that so? First I've heard of it.”
“But.”
Sisilia stopped walking. Uni tensed up instinctively.
“You're not planning to protect world peace, right?”
It wasn't a joke after all!
Uni couldn't say why, but she felt like a criminal. Like she'd become some grand villain, said something unforgivable—her heart squeezed tight. Sisilia's shocked expression only made it worse.
“Uh… I-it's not that I hate it, it's more about possibility versus impossibility…”
Uni stammered in panic. Sisilia stroked her chin thoughtfully a few times, then stood.
“Hesitating at that point disqualifies you as a hero.”
“Y-yes?”
Her tone suddenly feels colder… Did I do something rude?
Uni racked her brain, wondering if she'd offended. Sisilia had simply lost interest, though.
“Head that way, and you'll hit the city. Entrust yourself to the guards, and you'll be safe. Nothing around here stronger than low-grade monsters.”
Sisilia pointed once at the distant city gates, then turned away without a backward glance. Uni blanked out for a second at how she appeared and vanished like the wind.
“W-wait, come with me!”
Snapping to, she hurried after Sisilia. She didn't want to be alone in a monster-filled forest, and more than that, some powerful instinct urged her on.
I have to follow her. No idea why, but…
Even looking back later, Uni—who hated troubling others—could never explain why she'd tagged along.
* * *
Sisilia believed regrets were meaningless no matter when they came. Her choices had wasted three precious years, but she never rushed. No hitches in the plan. Raise newbies, kill the Demon King, slaughter the demigods, save the world. All on track.
Except.
If the ending plays out like this, what was it all for…?
Sisilia imagined it. Suppose everything went perfectly to plan, and she slew the demigods. The squishy newbies would cheer, hugging and going wild. And Sisilia would…
Be hugging Betty…!
Already ruined Betty to lick clean. That taste would surely be bitter and astringent.
Yes. Sisilia lacked the “narrative” to celebrate saving the world with the newbies. Trying to build it now was too late—the hero party was plenty strong. In her panic before sealing, dumping near-dead Lumia had backfired.
This won't do.
A world-saving hero deserved rewards. Pretty girlfriends, mountains of gold. Sisilia, being a girl, had no use for girlfriends, and could raid the Windsor Knights' vault anytime for gold.
What she craved: a newbie cheering beside her at that final moment. Even just one would satisfy her fully.
In short: Sisilia was scouting newbies on vacation, purely for personal satisfaction!
Call her selfish. Point fingers. She didn't care—her tail was on fire with urgency. She needed to scoop up a stray kitty ASAP! A purebred, at that.
And yet…
“Um…”
Instead of a purebred, some scrappy kitten had latched on.
Sisilia side-eyed Uni. Height around 166 cm, weight 48 kg. A lifestyle user wasting time skipping main quests. Society's scourge.
No time to fix up a reject newbie.
The old Sisilia would've strained to salvage even a trash newbie. But not now. Her mental timetable ticked by the minute. To stand by Sisilia at the end, she'd need max level at least—no time to raise one.
Even adopting a pedigreed purebred felt daunting.
Sorry, but time to abandon her.
“Following me won't do you any good.”
Sisilia halted. Uni stopped too.
“I won't give you anything. Won't even protect you.”
Uni gulped.
“I-I don't expect anything. I know demanding that much would be a huge bother. You look super busy at a glance…”
“Then why follow?”
One exception, though.
“Give me a good reason, and you can tag along.”
If she quit slacking and resolved to fight now, Sisilia would help with all she had. Talented newbies best due to time, but even talentless ones could handle the Demon King easy.
Fat chance, though.
Sisilia half-knew the answer already. People's natures didn't change easy. Grass-grabbers didn't turn brave overnight.
“…”
Uni hesitated. Disqualified. Sisilia turned away coldly and walked on.
“B-because you're too pretty!”
“…”
Thud. Sisilia stopped, blinking.
Uni flushed beet red.
What the hell did I just say? No way flattery works. Might even offend her.
Worst possible answer, probably. Regret hit instantly, but words couldn't be unsaid. Uni resigned herself—
“Pass.”
“…?”
Surprisingly, Sisilia loved the response.
* * *
“I can't wait any longer.”
Demon King Castle. Demon King Cain Baltarion. And before him, the silver-haired girl—Cecilia.
“How long do you intend to stall, Cecilia?”
“A bit longer.”
“A bit? I asked when. Waiting until Sisilia Windsor recovers?”
Cain was dissatisfied. Three years ago: lost strongest Four Heavenly King Lumia, sealed biggest headache Sisilia Windsor. Perfect timing, yet the sealer Cecilia opposed full invasion. Cain couldn't deny the hero of that feat.
Three years later. Cain hated the delay.
“The seal won't break. Even if it does, not in three years. You know that best.”
“…Legion's Spear seals even gods, they say. I don't expect the curse to lift easily. But.”
Tap tap. Cain drummed his throne. His red eyes narrowed.
“Wasting time like this makes no sense.”
“Forgot? Humans have more than just Sisilia. Protecting the capital is none other than Erterion.”
“I told you—he's no match.”
Cain's face unchanging.
“I've been to the capital. If the Sacred Flame had fully died then, Lydia would've died by my hand.”
“But the Sacred Flame still burns there.”
“You think that pathetic fake can stop me?”
“Not you. But other demons can't even approach. Drop the bravado. Facing all Windsor Knights, Sword Sovereign Chiron, hero party, and Sword Saint Erterion at once? Even Demon King Grandpa couldn't.”
“…”
Cain stared piercingly, displeased. Cecilia's pupils didn't waver.
Cain closed and opened his eyes. Calmer now.
“…Certain?”
“Of the plan? Yes.”
Cecilia smiled faintly for the first time.
“The Sacred Flame will go out soon. By the hand of the newbie her main body loves most.”
Cain peered into her pupils, probing truth. Then sighed softly.
“Fine. I trust you. Leave.”
“Okay.”
Cecilia left the audience chamber with an innocent smile. Her face iced over instantly.
Back in her castle, she scanned silently. Empty. Then murmured.
“Freya.”
“Yes.”
“Has my main body regained her power?”
The time demon Freya emerged from shadows. Casually.
“Yep. Perfectly.”
“Hmm. So no more shell. Three years already, huh.”
Cecilia sat on the bed, grabbed a nearby book, skimmed it. Sisilia's old acquisition: Dragon's Book.
“Bet she's hunting newbies.”
“…Spot on. My contractor took vacation to play with some worthless human.”
Freya shook her head in disbelief, sitting beside her.
“Can I ask something now?”
“Sure.”
“Why deceive the Demon King for three years?”
Yes. Cecilia had fooled him. Sisilia's “seal” was three years—by Lumia's authority, not Legion's Spear. The real god-sealing spear slept in Sisilia's vault. High-level players eliminated threats first. Untouchable item anyway.
Simple reason for the lie.
“Needed time.”
Double meaning. Literal time—and “time” as Freya. She took the latter.
Three years, Cecilia was an empty shell. Without it, no recruiting Freya.
“But your words have a fatal flaw.”
Impressive feat, swaying a primordial demon. Huge war asset maybe.
“Sisilia regained power. Demigod—no, perhaps god itself. Any counter?”
Core issue unsolved.
“Foolish. At sealing success, or when Sisilia wasted three years complacent—you should've stormed the capital with the Demon King. Especially since…”
Freya coldly.
“I'm not on your side. Just believed your promise of something more fun.”
“Yeah. That's it.”
“…What?”
“This is more fun.”
Freya froze mid-expression, mouth agape.
“…You're insane.”
“Joking. And I've always thought you demons underrate that one in the capital.”
“Erterion? Cain wasn't lying. Even as demon duke, he was stronger. Now as king…”
“No. The one behind him.”
Freya pondered. Stronger than Erterion in the empire? None.
“Empress Lydia.”
“…!”
“Underestimating a 500-year mage? Demon King power alone wasn't enough.”
Cecilia closed the book, yawned lazily.
“Guess my main body playing dumb makes her look actually dumb.”
“…But when she wakes—”
—because she trusted people.
Sisilia's words weren't about someone specific. If Lydia, she'd say Lydia. Sisilia wasn't vague.
“That nuance wasn't there.”
“Trusted people?”
“…How'd you know?”
“I'd say the same.”
Cecilia shut the window. Kids mature fast.
“Just, the people she trusts differ a bit from yours—and there are more. You can go now. Figured out your curiosities.”
She slipped under the covers for real.
Freya sweated coldly.
“…So, your plan?”
“Promise not to tell main body, and I'll spill.”
“Demon promises absolute. Deal.”
Cecilia drawled leisurely.
“13.”
“…Huh?”
“Age main body reached Sword God.”
Her blue eyes gleamed vividly in the dark, fixing Freya.
“Coincidentally.”
Cecilia smiled faintly.
“Same age now.”