Prolonged Deployment (6): Shattering the Illusion
“Killed him right away at first.”
Aldred Gartan, the border count who had led her here saying he had something to show, launched straight into his tale.
“A knight who’d returned after five long years.”
Sisilia listened in silence.
“My son.”
“……”
“He acted just like he’d truly come back to life. And of all places, he showed up at the central staircase. At first, I thought I was seeing things.”
……A demon just spawning out of nowhere?
That didn’t make sense under normal circumstances. It wasn’t even in Sisilia’s Newbie Guidebook 17: Demon Encyclopedia.
She resolved to write a supplement the moment she got back.
“But not everyone can make the choice I did. At first, I tried to root them out and kill them by any means necessary.”
Aldred halted his steps.
“Wasn’t easy. And above all, I soon realized it was pointless.”
But Sisilia already knew they’d arrived, even without him stopping. She also understood why he’d brought her all the way here in the dead of night.
“No matter how many you kill, they come back to life. That demon you slew? He’ll be back at the fruit stand by tomorrow.”
A single prisoner occupied the underground dungeon.
A young man who bore some resemblance to Aldred. Dressed in ragged clothes, he clung desperately to the bars the instant Aldred appeared.
“Father—!”
“……Doing alright?”
“How could you do this to me?!”
Yeah, even knowing the truth, this would be tough to take.
Demons rarely showed emotion. Yet this one in the cell reeked of injustice, right down to his voice.
A son who kept resurrecting no matter how many times you killed him. Even if you knew he was a demon, the mental toll of slaying him over and over wasn’t something a human could endure.
“I’ve decided to accept your proposal.”
“Really? Truly? Thank you! If only Father—you’d meet Priscilla just once, you’d change your mind!”
At this point, it was hard to say if he was mimicking a human or if a human had turned into a demon and returned.
“We don’t need to fight the demons at all! They’re beings we can reason with. If we make a peace treaty, no one has to die!”
“Lies.”
But a demon was still a demon. Desperate to hide his tells.
Sisilia closed the distance to the bars in an instant and seized the demon by the collar. Looking down at him with undisguised loathing, she said, “Your kind doesn’t know what peace is. You’ve never felt it. Never even wished for it.”
The demon rolled his eyes toward Aldred.
“Who’s this?”
“Don’t worry about her. She’s a newly assigned knight with some preconceptions, it seems.”
Priscilla of Deception, was it? Whoever named her had nailed it.
Sisilia released his collar and stepped back.
“Do I need to see more of this?”
“……No need.”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
“No, hear this much first.”
Aldred unlocked the cell door. The demon, who had been frozen in terror, stepped out beaming.
“Tomorrow, 2 p.m. Tell him right away. I accept all proposals. Let’s talk.”
“Yes! Of course!”
The demon bounded off with a bright smile. Aldred stood there a moment, then his legs gave out. Sisilia caught him.
“Are you alright?”
“……Fine. Sorry you saw that ugliness. Even after all this time, I can’t get used to it.”
“How many times have you killed him?”
“Seventeen. Past ten, it got hard. Thought I’d get numb to it.”
Once I’m back in the capital, I’ll select a few priests to send here.
Even after the mission ended, the mental anguish of Gartan Territory’s people wouldn’t.
**
Morning broke over Gartan Territory. They lived in false hope, but for this moment, their faces shone with genuine joy.
Yet amid it all, a few didn’t. Beatrice was one.
Sisilia, munching morning bread, responded simply to the apology she’d heard at least fifty times.
“It’s fine.”
“B-but…… to question Sisilia’s judgment……”
“It’s insubordination, sure. But you’re still an apprentice.”
Beatrice’s lips turned pale.
That probably made me look like a forgiving superior.
Satisfied with her own magnanimity, Sisilia glanced around.
“The count has words for the territory’s people! Gather at the square immediately!”
Knights rushed about summoning the residents. The people flocked to the square without delay. As a border territory, their response was swift. In the capital, it would’ve taken half a day just to assemble.
“Beatrice.”
“Y-yes!”
Beatrice, oddly disciplined since dawn. Sisilia perched on a low wall, swinging her legs casually.
“My Wind Shear can drop targets wherever I want when released. Lasts two minutes.”
To beat a high-rank demon solo, you need Sword Emperor level.
Plausibility mattered. Sisilia had a duty(?) to defend her Sword Princess title.
“So when I release Wind Shear, focus all your power on one point. Max output. Tell everyone the moment it deploys.”
Of course, Sisilia would kill the demon. But she needed the title of “barely victorious.”
Sisilia glanced back to check if Beatrice understood. Beatrice’s face was stricken.
“Why…… tell me this?”
“High-rank demon. Master mage who’s infiltrated this far. High chance I go down.”
“B-but you could still win, right?”
“Even if I kill it, I’ll be on the brink.”
“I’ll go with you.”
Beatrice blurted desperately.
“If it’s a firepower shortage, my buffs can cover. Put me in your domain……”
Sisilia pressed a finger to Beatrice’s lips.
“Only the living and the dead can exist in Wind Shear. Outcome’s set the moment it ends.”
……That was the lore, anyway.
……Cute girl Sword Princess fits perfect with an ExX Calibur ultimate.
The sole blemish on Sisilia’s life. Her “real” ultimate couldn’t be controlled. So she’d planned a fake one to show off at the right time.
Once, she’d encountered a demon beast too much for Windsor forces. Unable to let go of her Sword Princess title even in death, she’d improvised a “veil” and wiped it out.
That veil got mistaken for an Extreme Art, becoming a tragic legend passed down to this day……
“I’ll kill the demons.”
“……?”
“That’s why the deception’s so strong, right? Fewer minions, and you win.”
Beatrice’s eyes welled with tears, radiating thick killing intent. Far beyond mere resentment.
Huh.
Sisilia blinked. What had gotten into her?
“Leave that to the count. You focus on the fight, Beatrice.”
—Father!
Starting soon, huh.
Sisilia shoved the last of her bread in her mouth and chewed while eyeing the square.
Aldred had gathered the people and mounted the platform. A man raced toward him—Aldred’s son. He earnestly explained something to Aldred.
Sisilia could hear, but tuned him out on purpose. She preferred demons silent. Personally.
Aldred nodded once, then began his address.
“You’ve suffered much. Thanks to your foolish lord, you endured trials you shouldn’t have.”
He paused, eyes closing. Then opened them again.
“Were those dreams happy?”
“To some, child. Parent. Sibling. They were heroes sacrificed for better lives than yours. But……”
Aldred’s voice grew hoarse.
“Now, we wake from the dream.”
Slash—!
Aldred drew his sword and cleaved the son beside him. The son’s face, to the end, refused belief.
Aldred stared piercingly, unflinching.
“Leave past bonds there. We must advance. I…… will end this long nightmare today.”
The residents wept quietly. Guards approached with ropes, faces pitying. Some awkwardly smiled at watching children. Others took ropes and bound themselves, moved by their lord’s heartfelt speech.
“It’s okay, Mom.”
Surprisingly, no demons resisted.
Sisilia wondered suddenly. What distinguished human from demon? If it shared memories, looked identical—was it demon or human?
Sisilia would say demon without hesitation. But to them, perhaps it had been real.
What would I have chosen?
She despised demons. Sisilia would’ve slain every one she saw. Until the residents grew numb to the slaughter.
But…… she somewhat understood Aldred Gartan now.
Maybe he’d just been endlessly sorry. For shattering their sweet dream. One he himself had never dreamed.
**
Before ordering the sortie, Aldred Gartan sought Sisilia.
“Knight Sisilia.”
“Yes.”
“All preparations complete.”
“Same here.”
“Want command? It’s yours if you wish.”
Sisilia shook her head.
“They’d rather hear your orders, my lord.”
“……Not shying away, eh. Understood.”
Aldred eyed Sisilia with firm conviction.
“I’ll create the opening. Even if my body and soul shatter.”
By common sense, trusting her was hard. He knew her as Sword Princess. A Sword Demon-rank knight couldn’t face a high-rank demon, no matter what. A domain skill offered slim odds—from 0% to 10%.
Yet he believed in that sliver fully.
So Sisilia would trust him too.
“I’ll handle Priscilla of Deception. That’s my mission.”
“Windsor Knights fear demons less than missions.”
Gartan chuckled wryly. But the smile vanished as he turned.
Weaving through soldiers, he took point, drew his sword, and raised it skyward.
“All hear me.”
“Today, we end this vile nightmare.”
“Yes!”
“Our forces are few. Foe: high-rank demon plus thousands of demon beasts. Thus—”
Creeeak—.
The gates opened. Beasts visible in the gap hardened the soldiers’ resolve.
“Lay down your lives!”
Roooar—!
With countless cheers, Gartan’s army charged as one. Knights, led by mounted Aldred, advanced in perfect order. As if they’d awaited this moment, unhesitating.
Sisilia watched from the ramparts.
“Sisilia.”
“Yes.”
“If I cut down every last beast…… would it help you even a little?”
Beatrice teetered on the wall’s edge. A cool breeze tousled her golden hair.
Sisilia replied awkwardly.
“Yeah…… it would.”
“Then I’ll do my best. So please……”
Beatrice leaned forward.
“Praise me after it’s over.”
Sisilia blinked at the departing Beatrice. Admirable, but why so resolute……?
Anyway.
……Praise. What should I say?
Sisilia pondered gravely.