Newbie Gacha (4)
Sisilia was taken aback by the reduced numbers, but she pressed on with what needed to be done.
"From this moment forward, you will live under the name of the Windsor Knights. But."
Sisilia paused, eyeing the rookies standing ramrod straight in high anticipation.
...What was the line for the induction ceremony again?
Right. This was it.
"Not everyone who picks up a sword becomes a knight. Not everyone who dons a white cape becomes a Windsor."
"A true knight must first understand what the hand that grips the sword exists for, before fighting with it."
"The sword of the Windsors is not merely a weapon. It is the kingdom's shield, the people's hope, and a vow to protect your comrades."
Sisilia's tone was utterly flat. Yet precisely because of that, her words sank deep into their hearts.
"The place where you stand now is an honor, but also a seat of responsibility."
From here, Sisilia dropped the honorifics. It was her way of acknowledging them as true Windsor knights.
"If you seek honor, first learn responsibility. If you seek strength, first realize what you must become strong for. Are you prepared to bear the name of the Windsors?"
The rookie knights responded with vigorous shouts.
""Yes!""
Sisilia nodded contentedly and perched on the edge of the podium. She pulled out the membership badges from her bosom—super passes that granted VIP treatment anywhere in the kingdom.
"Come here. I'll hand these out."
But those badges? There were thirty of them.
"……"
Sisilia's expression turned pathetic. Where the hell did everyone go?
In the end, she handed them out one by one, tracking down the missing ones. It was extremely frustrating.
But the knights who heard these rumors showed an unexpected reaction.
"Isn't that just obvious?"
"How do you think I got into this order?"
"If they can't cut it, they should leave, right?"
"If they don't qualify, they fail. That's fair."
"Took me fifteen tries to get in."
The Windsor Knights. The kingdom's top knight order, where even mentioning it tired your mouth. Always saddled with descriptors like "best" and "strongest," their pride in the title was immense.
Rumor had it that joining the Windsor Knights was harder than plucking stars from the sky.
And now they were lowering standards to recruit? Even if manpower was needed, everyone inwardly grumbled.
One mudfish can muddy the whole pond, after all.
In that context, Sisilia's blunt "Then get lost" garnered plenty of support(?) within the order.
"As expected of Sisilia!"
"The final bastion guarding the Windsor Knights!"
"The Queen should officially designate Sisilia as the Windsor Knights mascot!"
"Queen, awaken!"
"You lunatic!"
A few odd demands mixed in, but the order already doted on Sisilia, and this only amplified it. Endless praise ensued.
The problem? Sisilia, with her world-leading narcissism, grew subtly arrogant amid it all. And Edward...
"Hm. Mascot designation is a good idea, no? Sisilia would make a fine 'symbol.'"
He was stirring things up to keep from granting her more power.
In the ensuing chaos, Chiron ordered a knight who'd shouted for the Queen to awaken dragged in, then clutched his aching head.
"This is maddening."
Hee hee.
Sisilia rested a hand on her hip, flaunting her authority. Her head was already half a flower garden, and this incident turned it into a full bloom.
Chiron could only sigh.
"Sisilia. As next vice-captain, have you no reflections on this mess?"
Hee hee.
Sisilia beamed smugly, nibbling her tongue. Chiron couldn't take it anymore and slammed the table as he stood.
"That's not praise!"
Boom.
At Chiron's roar, Sisilia's happy bubble burst. She blinked, returning to her senses after 72 hours.
"...Back to reality?"
"Yes."
"Then speak. The impacts of this incident."
Sisilia answered without hesitation.
"Negative sentiment is forming within the order against lowering the bar."
"...And?"
"If it solidifies, the kingdom's major decision could fizzle out. Forcing it might tank morale."
"Solution."
"Give me five minutes to think."
Sisilia's big eyes whirred. Watching her ponder, Chiron softened slightly. Now she's the Sisilia I know.
Exactly five minutes later, Sisilia clasped her hands behind her back.
"We need to introduce internal ranks."
"Ranks, eh."
Chiron steepled his fingers. Sisilia pressed on.
"Currently, the Windsor Knights divide into high knights and regular knights."
"True. But splitting ranks now would spark backlash."
"Limit it to rookies. I propose naming this batch 'beginners.'"
"Beginner... What's the practical difference?"
There were many ways. Sisilia had modern knowledge. Like making residents for doctors—fill years of service, auto-promote.
But that didn't fit the Windsors. Skill mattered more than tenure.
So, she thought of "non-regulars."
'Harsh system, but nothing beats it.'
"Beginners get restricted Windsor privileges. Say, no investigative authority or killing rights."
"Reasonable."
"Cut pay too. No incentives."
"Won't that breed rookie discontent?"
"Keep it fair. Once they hit true Windsor level, promote to regular knight."
This would satisfy veterans and convince rookies, even if grudgingly. Any passing Windsor could spar and show the gap.
"It creates growth incentives, boosts motivation, and respects veterans' rights. Optimal solution."
Sisilia beamed smugly again. This time, Chiron didn't scold her.
"Well done. Vice-captain material in practice."
Hee hee.
Sisilia grinned wide. Before her head became a full flowerbed, Chiron intervened.
"But why did this happen?"
"……."
Sisilia deflated, staring diagonally at the floor.
"The test itself was fine. 'Normally,' that is."
As Chiron said. For Windsor standards, Sisilia hadn't overdone it. Even their weakest knight could handle that trial.
"But circumstances changed. We need to accept and train talent however we can. Remember the last meeting's conclusion?"
"......Yes."
"Yet those 25 who fled lost all will to fight."
Chiron said calmly.
"It's fine. People learn from mistakes. What did you learn? Where do you think you went wrong?"
I dunno?
Sisilia's mind fogged. She genuinely had no clue—hence the flower garden.
'Still can't guess.'
Too hard a test? No, passing it should've prevented flight.
Seeing Sisilia clueless, Chiron sighed as expected.
"Watching you, you always miss the obvious."
"……."
"Consider their age."
"I'm 16."
"Yes. At just 16, you shattered the pride of men who've stared at swords their whole lives."
"Ah."
"Moderation could've spurred growth, but you overdid it. Like toying with kids, you felled 60 applicants with a wooden sword—no aura, untouched hems."
Not a scratch on them, either. Chiron felt odd pride swell as he spoke but suppressed it.
"Bring at least 20. Five is too few."
That was the verdict.
Sisilia donned her fedora confidently—four gold for the cosmetic.
"...What's that?"
"Bounty hunter Sisilia, deploying."
Chiron's face twisted in bewilderment.
She said that, but had no intent to chase runaways. Once-tailed cowards flee again.
Besides, the Windsors weren't some corner shop to manhandle.
Hmph, like I need you lot anyway?
Sisilia huffed, drawing a firm line.
"...But now what? Nowhere to find 15 more."
Strolling the capital, Sisilia pondered slowly. Even digging wells takes time.
No quick source for combat-ready knights.
Some from afar might still come via posters, but most would fail post-incident.
Lowering bar, not scraping bottom.
"Hmm. Fish in the sea, wood in the forest."
Battlefields came to mind. Not demon wars, but territory skirmishes. Easy to scout mercenaries there.
But long trips from the capital? Too bothersome lately.
Sisilia tapped the dirt.
"...Ah."
Good ideas hit on walks.
Sisilia bolted. Destination: Royal Knights!
'Unless freelance, they need resignation to test.'
No dual service. Quitting current order to apply was standard.
Few with gripes would gamble so wildly.
Hence, few from other orders in tests.
'Frostbite time!'
Sisilia's plan: poach rookies!
Prime fields tempt even tycoons: "One watermelon won't be missed...?"
Royal Knights, second to Windsors, brimmed with ripe picks!
'Genius, me.'
"Alright, ranking matches after ages. Pick one you think is easy and duel."
Perfect timing—ranking season. Windsors skipped it (better slaying demons), but others upheld the tradition.
Sisilia peeked through the fence like a tail-wagging retriever.
"……."
Of course, her white self stood out from ten meters.
The Royals picking foes fixated on the white kitten.
"Captain, can we pick outsiders for duels?"
"...What?"
"That damn Windsor rat's here."
A hot-blooded young knight strode toward Sisilia.
Captain Draven hesitated but missed the window to stop him.
"Hey, brat."
Sisilia looked up at the provoking knight.
'Pretty strong. Sword Demon level?'
"I hate punks like you most."
The knight sneered. Sisilia fired back.
"I hate ugly people too."
"……."
Dick's face flushed crimson; he gnashed his teeth.
"Famous just 'cause Windsor, no real effort. Sword Princess? Just a pretty face title, right?"
Ultimate insult to a female knight.
But it bounced off Sisilia. Being called pretty was top praise.
"Mad? Then draw your sword. If you got the guts."
Dick bared his teeth in a grin. Provocative setup.
But Sisilia's lips curled faintly.
'PK's always welcome.'
It was her favorite content, after all.