Ruins Expedition (Part 2)
A small commotion erupted in the capital.
"I'm going too!"
"No, you're not!"
Sisilia clung to Chiron's arm, being dragged along like a ragdoll. Even half-squatting, she couldn't halt his stride.
"You're not as young as you used to be!"
"I'm still active duty!"
Chiron had donned plate mail he hadn't worn in nearly a decade.
The trigger? Chiron, fuming over Edward's schemes, had racked his brain for ways to stop Sisilia. But with the queen's orders accepted, vetoing was off the table. If he couldn't block her, he'd join her.
Sisilia, of course, wouldn't stand for it.
'The captain's a demon-shredder...!'
Dungeons had artistry. You needed wits for puzzles, careful solves for demon-crafted traps.
...Chiron had none of that.
Sisilia still remembered her training at age six.
-Rules? Laws? Just smash 'em with brute force.
"If I wreck that dungeon, you won't need to go."
"Dungeons aren't for smashing!"
"Can't exactly smash Edward's skull either!"
'Argh. No choice. Time for the ultimate move.'
Sisilia deployed her secret weapon. She filled her lungs and bellowed.
"D-Daddy!"
"...!"
The effect was explosive! Chiron finally calmed and sat in his office chair.
"Listen well, Sisilia. If the dungeon deviates even slightly from expectations, retreat cleanly."
"Yes, sir."
"Report anything you learn there to me first, not Edward."
"Yes, sir."
"...Don't overdo the newbie training."
"Yes, sir."
"It's a brutal dungeon—casualties are inevitable—but protect them as best you can."
"Yes, sir."
"And wear proper armor."
"No thanks."
"......"
Pinocchio Sisilia defended herself stoutly.
"I'm wind-blessed. Heavy full plate would hinder me."
'It's the design, isn't it.'
Chiron eyed her worriedly, then nodded in resignation. As always, trusting Sisilia was his only option. She'd never fallen short of expectations. This time wouldn't be different.
He handed over the strategy guide.
"Never cleared, so intel's scarce. But one thing's clear."
Sisilia tucked it away.
"First discoverer was Edward. Suspicious enough. And Jerryway once failed to conquer it."
Sisilia nodded. She'd sought Jerryway for dungeon info, but he was out of the capital. Who knew what he was up to...
"Don't trust that guide blindly. Edward's the type to forge it."
Chiron's words dripped hostility. Months ago, Sisilia might've brushed it off as "Why would the vice-captain bother?" But now she knew it rang true.
[Ancient King's Ruins]
Grade: Extremely Difficult
: Single-player dungeon. Sword Emperor or higher must solo.
※ Note: Leading groups multiplies difficulty exponentially.
She recalled the docs from her vice-captain office infiltration perfectly. Chiron's guide matched.
But the infiltrated one contradicted entirely.
: Minimum 20 participants. Massive scale demands time.
'Lying through his teeth.'
This screamed treason. No way without intent to bleed the Windsor Knights dry. Recommending crowds for a scaling-multiplier gimmick?
'...What're you hiding, Vice-Captain?'
-Everyone has secrets they wanna keep.
Acts helpful, then backstabs. Seems to toe the line, then leaps over it.
Truly enigmatic.
But one thing was certain.
'This'll be fun!'
Twice as tough? She'd bring every newbie—Sisilia plus 20, total 21. 21x dungeon flavor incoming!
Sisilia brimmed with anticipation.
**
With two days' leave granted, Sisilia rounded up the newbies. They were tense.
"Take one each before we head out."
She opened a wooden box. Intricately carved rings gleamed.
"What's this?"
"Blessing of Safe Escape."
"Wait... this gets us out of the dungeon?"
"Yup."
Eyes widened. They'd never heard of such an artifact.
Custom newbie escape rings! Fatal flaw: manual activation. It pinged Sisilia's location, forcing her to fetch and eject each one personally.
'Kinda annoying, thinking about it.'
'Better than nothing, right...?'
"Channel mana into it. Out in three seconds."
"Thank you!"
Newbies clutched them like extra lives—which they were.
"And, and."
Sisilia bounced to stacked supply crates. Recovery potions, antidotes, holy water—ruins raid essentials.
"Hm."
She eyed them coldly, then shut the box.
"Alright, let's roll!"
"Hold up!"
"We saw those potions!"
"Aren't those our supplies?!"
Protests flew. Sisilia pouted.
Beatrice stepped forward.
"E-Everyone, calm down. Sisilia must have a plan."
'She'll snatch 'em too!'
Beatrice, burned once(?), knew Sisilia's "mercy" well. This was saintly! Escape artifacts untouched (manual, sure)—a miracle!
Reihaton and Desen nodded sagely. Newbies grumbled but yielded; they'd seen her cruelty's depths.
'Threading the needle...?'
Beatrice sighed in relief at Sisilia's gaze—
Whoa—Sisilia beamed感动 at her.
Betty's the best! So cute! Pretty girls get extra treats, right?
Sisilia smiled faintly, hand out.
"Here."
"......"
"Here."
Beatrice lost her three artifacts.
**
"Unbelievable—"
"The scale..."
Newbies gaped at the ruins. Half-crumbled castle, undimmed majesty.
'Ancient king's ruins, huh...'
'Fit for royalty.'
As veterans marveled, Sisilia and Beatrice dismounted.
"Good work, Unicorn."
Neigh!
The white steed nuzzled her pat. Sisilia's mount: Unicorn. (No flying, but someday...)
"S-Sisilia..."
Beatrice smoothed her skirt hem, whispering.
"Shouldn't you wear riding gear...? This dress feels... exposed."
"No undergarments?"
"I-I am, but still visible."
"Goddess's grace."
"?"
'Saintess.'
'Saintess.'
Newbies prayed to Sisilia. Beatrice's glare scattered them.
Anyway, Sisilia scanned the ruins.
'Upper demon tier, maybe higher.'
Her silver eyes glowed serene. Ominous aura. Seven Deadly Sins-level demons likely.
'Good. Solid intel incoming.'
Sisilia saw this as newbie field training—but not solely. She sought truth: demon happenings.
Breaks for that. Priority: elsewise.
"Hands up if you've raided ruins before."
Half raised.
"......"
Sisilia blinked, shook her head.
"Welp, no takers."
"?"
"Ruins dungeons: three rules."
-First: Move unpredictably.
-Second: Split teams minimum five per group.
-Third: No boss room 'til rules known.
Hands shot up.
"Know two and three—what's one mean?"
"I'll explain step-by-step."
'Spoil it all at once? No fun.'
Indeed.
"Ready to head in?"
Hearts pounded as the ruins raid began. Knights, dazed by zero actual tips, filed in anyway.
**
True to form: undead-heavy dungeon. Entryway barren save weak skeleton soldiers.
Then: 'first chest room.'
"Treasure chest!"
"Betty."
Sisilia pointed.
"Open it."
Beatrice eyed her suspiciously.
"Mimic, right?"
"Nah. Jackpot inside."
'Heard entry chests are mimics... Newbie Guidebook says so.'
Dubious, but Sisilia's word. Beatrice approached cautiously, opened—
Chomp.
-Waaah!
It's a mimic! Pull me out! Scary! Dark!
Beatrice, mimic-munched, kicked pitifully.
Sisilia giggled, yanked her free. Spit-soaked Beatrice sat dazed.
"Hahaha!"
Newbies howled.
Sisilia, envious, mused:
'Me next...'
"Treasure chest!"
"Real one!"
Multiple rooms. Soon, Sisilia found hers, dove in eagerly.
Mimic gaped.
She thrust her head—
Thud!
Mimic slammed shut. Sisilia nursed a bump, eyes shaking.
"......"
Awkward silence. Knights pondered condolences.
'N-No way.'
Sisilia pried the jaws. Unyielding mimic yielded to her strength.
-Gurgle...
It opened pitifully. Sisilia shoved her head in!
But—
-Urk!
Clatter!
Gold poured. Mimic quivered desperately.
"......"
-Ting. Roll.
In the stunned room, only coins rolled sadly.