Ruin Exploration (1)
Edward's guess was a perfectly reasonable hypothesis. Sisilia figured that if four Demon Dukes were on the move, it had to be that. Some reason had led to the Demon King's death, and they'd called a grand assembly to fill the vacancy. But there was one nagging question...
How the hell did they know?
Edward had hinted at intelligence from the Empire, but that didn't add up. They might know the location of the Demon Dukes' castles, but planting "eyes" around them was impossible. No one in human history had ever successfully pushed a campaign that far. Not even the Empire, several times larger than the kingdom, could pull it off. Medieval folk seemed to think "Empire" meant they could do anything. But Sisilia was dead certain that no overwhelming powerhouse in the Empire made it feasible.
After all...
The strongest is right here.
In other words, if even she didn't know, no one else could. A rational suspicion would be that Edward had an informant among the demons—but why lie about it?
Sisilia halted mid-step and blinked.
[Golden Honeycomb]
Ding-a-ling.
"Welcome!"
Come to think of it, that was pretty damn plausible. A shady royal like Edward? Totally his style. Sneaking feels onto the cheeks of a beauty like the Sword Princess, or dragging her off by the wrist like last time—100% golden sun pervert vibes. And his hair was blond, too? Holy crap.
"Lady?"
"Yeah."
"This is a gift from that gentleman over there. Freshly made strawberry parfait."
Sisilia turned at the friendly waitress's smile. Edward was waving, eyes crinkled in a grin.
"!"
How was the guy who'd been in the vice-captain's office just now here? —Sisilia had already looped the capital three times—
Dangerous! He was definitely tailing her!
If Edward's the real black幕...? Nah, if civil war breaks out and crowns a new Demon King right away, that'll trigger a massive invasion. Gotta deal with that first...
Her brain spinning, Sisilia stared at the parfait. It practically screamed "eat me," and that sealed her decision.
Screw it.
The main episode wouldn't kick off for another year anyway. Edward-related stuff was precious main quest fodder for the newbies. Until then? Not her problem.
Nom nom.
Liannen Kingdom desserts were delicious. This world wasn't based on medieval England, that was for sure.
* * *
She's suspicious of me, no doubt.
Edward wore a cryptic smile as he stared Sisilia down. Whatever that little head of hers had concluded, odds were high it was suspicion. He'd leaked the info precisely to make her think that.
But she won't be certain.
The source might be dubious, but the intel's value was solid. The easiest way to quell internal chaos? Focus on an external enemy. Humans and demons alike. Fixate on the source, and Edward was humanity's foe. Focus on the info, and he was an ally. The conclusion hinged on which she weighed heavier—worlds apart.
Am I humanity's enemy? An ally? Either way, you're not on my side—that much is sure.
What verdict would Sisilia reach? Watching that unfold was entertainment in itself.
"Nobles of the capital look different from the start..."
"She knows she's pretty—such a haughty vibe."
"Wonder what her bedroom face is like."
"High status, maybe?"
"Nah, look—no attendants. Not that exalted."
"...Wanna jump her? Somewhere dark."
Edward's face soured instantly.
Sword Princess Sisilia. In the capital—especially near the Sacred Flame—few didn't know her face. Unforgettable looks, and as the Windsor Knights' sole female knight, her uniform alone screamed "rumored Sword Princess." But to outsiders? Different story. They wouldn't recognize her, and right now she was in casual clothes. Their reactions were plenty to irk Edward.
That's why I told her to wear the uniform when wandering the capital.
Sisilia was a political rival. The biggest obstacle—Chiron's adoptive daughter, forever doubting him. But this had nothing to do with internal politics.
Wasn't loathing worthless bugs natural?
"You two. Mind looking my way a moment? Got something private to discuss."
After that, no trace of the two barons turned up anywhere in the capital.
* * *
Back at the training grounds, Sisilia ramped up newbie drills. Shady prince drops Demon King bait? Obvious he'd dispatch her soon. Until then, max out these rookies' skills.
Because—
I'm hogging them all.
Sending the most mobile Sisilia on recon? Old news. And with her gone, they couldn't stall newbie training—someone else would step in. Crisis: her fun newbie dungeon dates snatched away!
No way!
Newbies' firsts belonged to Sisilia. She wouldn't let anyone steal that glorious debut glory.
So, time to lay her own bait. Train 'em to a decent level, then kidnap for missions.
"Arctic adaptation looks solid enough."
To that end, Sisilia skipped ahead in training.
Training's essence isn't clocking hours—it's maxing real skills short-term.
A week in, newbies handled the brutal cold. Aura-generated heat kept body temps steady; they even rotated night watches against potential Sisilia ambushes. Food management lagged, but core "aura in extremes" was passable—barely.
Direction set; time to pivot.
"Cold weather training ends here."
Newbies sighed in relief. Then paled at her next words.
"Next: stamina building."
The infamous ranger course, in other words.
* * *
Stamina drill basics: summit the mountain. But the peaks encircling Windsor 72 training grounds were sheer cliffs. Rock climbing required.
"Essential training, no doubt."
Even Lude, Sisilia's eternal defender, thought this is harsh. But necessity undeniable.
"Builds stamina and judgment."
Cliffs loomed high and slick. Only way: manifest aura masses, embed as footholds, climb. Too strong? Cliff crumbles. Too weak? Aura shatters.
Worse: post-prior drills, mana was depleted. Summiting needed reserves. Fill slow? Too late. Rush? Empty midway.
Key: aura efficiency plus mana pacing.
"Impressive. Might steal this."
Safety crew from Lude's squad blanched.
"What? You lot can't even handle this?"
Lude's glare made his knights shake heads furiously.
"Piece of cake!"
"Totally!"
"Obviously."
Lude nodded smugly, leaning on Sisilia. Chiron, hands on hips, twitched a brow.
"Back off."
"Pardon?"
"Before I toss you down."
"Yessir..."
Lude snapped straight. Sisilia stomped, eyeing newbies below.
Please look noobish. Pretty please.
Worried sick. Didn't expect Chiron so soon.
—Demons vanishing from dungeons one by one; subjugation war for intel. Sisilia's Edward fixation was a blunder!
Hearing training advanced, Chiron came to cherry-pick promising newbies for the subjugation.
Not one! They're mine!
No yielding. Problem...
"Good work, Sisilia. Plenty of usable talent here."
Chiron eyed her like a shopper. Newbies proved training worthwhile, methodically climbing—cooperating to cover mana gaps.
Solo Sisilia panicked.
Didn't see that coming.
"Minimal mana for solid aura forms. Impressive—even I'm surprised. Zero waste."
Two hours later, first summits reached. Sisilia glanced—gale force!
Whoooosh—!
"Gaaaaah!"
Falling knights' screams echoed.
"..."
All eyes on Sisilia's tiny nape. She whipped away desperately.
"W-Windy today."
"Sisilia."
She flinched at Chiron's icy tone.
Mad... gonna get scolded.
Sulky now. Lude covered awkwardly.
"Th-This is training too, Captain. Don't overdo it."
"..."
"Too easy, and stamina doesn't build."
Chiron sighed, nodding reluctantly. Sisilia's eyes sparkled; gales continued.
But—
"Now, Betty!"
Betty, Rihaeton, Dosen. Apprentice trio conquered the gale. Rihaeton blocked Sisilia's wind, Dosen boosted Beatrice up, who lassoed light ropes to haul them.
N-No, Betty!
Her fave attachment newbie Beatrice succeeded—Sisilia's heart sank.
"That level? Won't die in real combat."
Chiron coldly slotted the trio for subjugation.
"M-Me too!"
"Denied. Focus on nurturing awhile."
"Wanna go...!"
"Tch."
Sisilia's eyes widened, head drooping. Sniffling, blinking back tears—pitiful. Lude floundered; even Chiron stayed firm.
Must pry her from the Queen's notice somehow.
Sisilia never half-assed missions. She'd unearth giants from specks. Her leading subjugation? Queen expectations skyrocket. Still a kid. Delay the spotlight as long as possible.
"Captain. She wants to go—overprotecting much?"
Chiron turned stone-faced. Edward strolled up, hands pocketed, smirking slyly.
"So, Sisilia joins the subjugation force."
"What?"
"Her Majesty's command. Sword Princess Sisilia leads—retake the Eternal Tomb we failed last time."
All planned.
Pretend to help, loosen guards. Maneuver covertly to execute. Edward's design from the start.
"With Captain away, I approved. No issue, right?"
Fell for it.
Chiron closed his eyes.
Meanwhile.
Vice-captain's a god!
Sisilia beamed brightly.