Long Business Trip (4): "Surprisingly Peaceful...?"
The two arrived safely at Gartan Earldom and passed through the main gate without issue. What was unexpected was how livable it seemed. Beatrice had mentioned heading to a battlefield, so Sisilia had imagined a grim, ashen wasteland, but the city still felt warm and inviting.
"This is a border count's territory, after all. Demon threats are always close at hand—if they fled in panic every time, they couldn't live here."
Border Count. A noble who governs lands prone to high risks of foreign invasion or frequent turmoil. Their title might be earl, but in practice, they hold the power of a marquis—or perhaps more. They have the authority to organize their own armies and operate defensive fortresses independently.
Sisilia stood on her tiptoes, straining to peer into the distance.
"Even accounting for that, it's too peaceful."
Sisilia tilted her head. No matter how she looked, she sensed no real threats.
"There should be around two thousand monsters here."
"We might not need them..."
Beatrice really is kind.
But why was she crying? It seemed she was more worried about the people those monsters might harm than her own growth.
As they walked on for a while, Sisilia yawned and suddenly halted, sensing something odd.
"Lady Sisilia, there's a guardsman over there."
By the time Beatrice pointed out the distant guardsman, Sisilia was already heading off somewhere.
"Lady Sisilia?"
Shing.
Sisilia abruptly drew her sword. It was aimed at a terrified apple vendor.
"Drop your sword!"
The guardsman bellowed, but Sisilia ignored him entirely, staring down the shopkeeper.
"You're scared of me."
"......"
"But you're not a demon. Weird. I could've sworn one was here."
Sisilia's voice was flat and emotionless. The apple vendor backed away, knocking apples off the stall in a cascade.
As Sisilia's gaze naturally followed the falling fruit, she spotted a child huddled silently beneath the stall.
Sisilia's eyes turned icy cold.
"It's you."
"Don't move!"
The guardsman lunged at Sisilia. She deliberately offered no resistance, letting herself be taken down. Starting a fight here would only complicate the mission.
With her hands bound behind her back, Sisilia lay submissively pinned. Beatrice stammered in confusion.
"Th-this is Lady Sisilia of the Windsor Knights. She's not suspicious."
But the guardsman ignored Beatrice and addressed Sisilia.
"What were you trying to do?"
"I killed it."
Fwosh—!
Late to the scene, the child collapsed, blood pouring from a wound. The shopkeeper slumped in disbelief.
"Nedan? No, no. Wake up. Baby, please...!"
The guardsman's eyes widened beneath his helmet.
"I killed the demon."
Anger flashed in the guardsman's eyes as he drew his sword.
"Where do you see a demon in that?! Damn you—!"
"Stand down."
"M-Milord. But—"
"That's not a foe you can handle."
Lying on the ground, Sisilia looked up. A man stood there with his hands clasped behind his back. He wasn't particularly strong, but he exuded the intimidating aura unique to high officials.
"I let you restrain me since you're guardsmen, but cross the line, and I'll respond. Isn't that right, nameless knight of Windsor?"
"An honor to meet you. Border Count Gartan. Sisilia of the Windsor Knights."
"L-Look...! The body's turning black!"
Another guardsman shouted, pointing at the dead child's corpse. The body Sisilia had struck rotted rapidly, crumbling into black ash—the classic sign of a slain demon.
The knight pinning Sisilia recoiled in shock, releasing her. Dusting off her rear, Sisilia stood.
"Forgive my rudeness, Knight Sisilia. This is a remote border; we're not well-acquainted with Windsor."
"No forgiveness needed. Guardsmen have a duty to maintain public order beyond mere protection. It was the proper response."
No forgiveness. Gonna steal a ton of his finishing blows later.
Sisilia could be surprisingly petty.
"......For now, come to the castle. I'll guide you."
**
The count's castle was utterly spartan. Even Chiron's famously austere mansion wasn't this bare. For a noble to have not a single painting felt downright alien.
He led them to his office—which was less an office and more a war room for a general preparing for battle. The walls bore maps of the front lines, and his desk held a strategic map scattered with chess pieces.
Border Count Aldred Gartan lit a cigarette and spoke.
"Are all Windsor knights like that?"
Sisilia tilted her head.
"I mean you're a stickler for principles."
He seemed to be saying that upon spotting a demon, you should report it rather than startling people by killing it on the spot.
Sisilia considered making excuses but first raised her curiosity.
Why did he speak as if he'd expected a Windsor knight to show up?
"Have you met other Windsor knights before?"
"Yes."
Aldred exhaled a long plume of smoke and set his cigarette aside.
"Edward Windsor."
"The knight who ascended to sainthood for his deeds in this city."
The vice-captain came and went too. But—
Deeds? It didn't sound like praise for his merits.
Come to think of it, the knights we passed on the way were subtly hostile toward me.
Did Edward cause some incident here? Unlikely. He had a good image—seven out of ten in the order supported him. If it had been Jerryway, it'd make instant sense...
"May I ask what happened?"
"No. Now it's my turn to ask."
Aldred nodded toward Beatrice, who was trembling beside them.
"What's with this knight? Her uniform's different for a fellow Windsor. Last time, even high knights and regulars dressed alike. Has that changed?"
"I am a high knight, but she's an apprentice."
"......An apprentice."
That clearly irked the count. Beatrice's face drained of color; her sharp instincts screamed danger. Watching her desperately avert her eyes, Aldred spoke in a displeased tone.
"Does this place look like a training ground to you?"
"No. We just happened to meet on the way."
"She should turn back now. She's out of her depth."
"She can handle mid-tier among your knights."
"......"
Beatrice teetered on the edge of fainting. Provoking him here? Even as a high knight, Sisilia's status was far below a border count's.
Sh-she'll be executed!
But Aldred's reaction was unexpected.
"Then she's useful. You're permitted to stay."
"Thank you."
"......"
Beatrice was the flustered one now.
Am I the weird one...?
He could've raged, and it wouldn't have been odd. Yet there was no anger, not even displeasure.
"So, when do the rest of your knights arrive?"
Sisilia stepped back and stared pointedly at Beatrice—you explain.
That's not fair...!
But she couldn't defy Sisilia and shuffled forward hesitantly.
"Um... Lady Sisilia is the one who received the mission."
"I know. Urgent report, so a swift knight came first. So, what's the troop size?"
Aldred looked expectant. Clutching the desperation of knights facing seppuku, Beatrice squeezed her eyes shut.
"We're... the entire force...!"
Sisilia nearly applauded from behind. She'd sensed it on the train too—Beatrice quietly said whatever needed saying.
Passed.
Sisilia was growing fond of her.
Aldred, meanwhile, was losing fondness fast.
"Wh-what? The entire force?"
The composed count shot to his feet in disbelief.
"Wait. Ah, yes. Astonishing. At your age, you've already reached Sword King?"
She shook her head.
"No."
"......Haha, my mind's playing tricks. Of course not—at that young age. Then upper Sword Emperor? A bit disappointing, but valuable all the same."
Sisilia spoke gravely.
"My title is Sword Princess."
"Sword Princess...! A splendid epithet. I'd love to see you wield your blade. Surely it ranks at Sword Emperor level?"
Sisilia gazed at distant mountains.
"Entry-level."
"......?"
"Got it about a year ago."
"Hahaha!"
Aldred laughed until tears formed. Beatrice grew ever more terrified of him.
"What a hilarious joke. But don't underestimate me. To become a high knight in Windsor, you need at least upper Sword Demon, right?"
Not wrong. Windsor regulars approached Sword Demon level. Half had titles. High knights were selected for comprehensive judgment and various factors beyond raw power. Sword Emperors got in on strength alone sometimes.
But Sisilia wasn't high knight because of Sword Princess. She'd earned it through proven judgment—no dissent in the order.
"Urgent aid request. Yet a peaceful city. Demons hiding by erasing their 'human presence'."
Sisilia stated calmly.
"Gartan Territory doesn't seem to need physical aid right now."
Aldred's pupils flickered. Sisilia seized it, infusing certainty into her claim.
"The real issue is too many demons have already infiltrated this territory."
The victim's parents knew their child was a demon.
She'd pieced it together then. No normal human fears Windsor. Fear meant one of two things: they were demons, or hiding them.
The vendor was the latter—and for a while.
The clincher was the border count's attitude. No panic or urgency despite a demon in his lands.
Only one possibility.
"You know it, but have no way to handle it."
Sisilia recalled the scene quietly.
"To those who believe they're truly human, it'd just look like murder."
"......How."
Aldred was deeply rattled.
"How did you know? Only a handful in this territory, including me, are aware."
"That's why I was sent. I can grasp what 'a handful' know in three minutes."
Sisilia beamed proudly. Proof and acknowledgment—key for these missions. Faster cooperation meant more options, and more options meant clocking out early.
"Allow me to reintroduce: Sword Princess Sisilia. I am the Windsor Knights' entire relief force."
Now she understood why the queen sent her. Sword Princess skills could clear this easily.
...Shame about the lack of monsters.
"I'll end this war in three days."
Good thing she could wrap it up on schedule.