Vacation (2)
After that, Sisilia continued dragging Beatrice around, poking into every nook and cranny.
"Real lessons start tomorrow. I've got a bunch of prep to do myself."
"Yes, got it."
Beatrice couldn't help but wonder if wooden swords weren't enough for swordsmanship training, but she brushed it off. She didn't have the energy to sweat the small stuff.
"Lady Sisilia! That's a slave auction house! Minors aren't allowed in!"
"No such thing as an all-purpose stone! Mister, why are you trying to scam a kid?"
"No dragon tails either! Dragons went extinct ages ago!"
"Nisak for 10 gold? That's ridiculous!"
By the time night fell, Beatrice was utterly exhausted.
"Had fun today. Time for curfew—gotta head back."
Sisilia, of course, had a blast.
* * *
Around the time Sisilia and Beatrice parted ways, the light in the vice-captain's office still burned.
CLASSIFIED: Level 1 Secret
Threat to the kingdom due to the Demon King's death.
Edward, deep into drafting his report, glanced at the clock and set down his quill.
"Already that time?"
He rose silently, opening the window. Cold wind filled the room, but he paid it no mind. Today was the day the stray cat he'd accidentally let slip in would return.
"You're here."
"Yes."
A voice spoke the moment he sat. The chill draft ceased. The window shut, and a black shadow slipped from the darkness, kneeling in obeisance.
Without looking, Edward asked, "How was she today?"
"She seemed in high spirits. Three strawberry parfaits, plus lemonade."
Edward frowned. "Does that tiny stomach even hold all that?"
"No. She just picked off the strawberries on top."
"...Luxurious."
"It's trending fast among the young ladies lately. Lady Sisilia's the capital's top trendsetter, after all. Sales are bound to spike thanks to her."
The shadow lifted her head. Moonlight shifted oddly, revealing her face. She was a waitress from Sisilia's favorite dessert shop, Golden Honeycomb.
And a major player in Terezia's underworld.
"Keep watching her."
"Yes. Though she only sipped half the lemonade. The recipe might need a bit more syrup..."
Edward looked up, staring. "Are you joking?"
For the record, he'd founded Golden Honeycomb to gather intel on Sisilia. So waitress Reina was simply reporting to her boss as expected.
Reina swallowed her petty gripe and continued. "...My apologies. She seemed quite taken with Beatrice Schwartzfeder, the new knight appointee."
"So it seemed. Unusually attached, even. What next?"
Reina recited Sisilia's itinerary for the day. The back alleys had eyes everywhere—even around the capital's brightest flames.
"She stopped by a lingerie shop, got all downcast when her size hadn't budged..."
But the report was rather trivial. Because that's all Sisilia had done.
Edward clutched his head. "Skip the minutiae. No anomalies, then."
"Correct."
Strange.
Sisilia wasn't one to take things lying down. He'd expected some countermove. Still biding her time? Should I show more vulnerability? No—any more, and others might notice.
Yet she'd stayed docile. Today, just wandering the capital as usual.
Sisilia, whose side are you really on?
The question loomed larger. For anyone else, "eliminate" would suffice. But Sisilia was worth the risk. If she joined him, his "wish" would surely come true.
"One oddity today, though."
"Oddity?"
"Yes. Invited her to the estate for sword lessons. Odd choice for a training ground—the knight commander's manor."
Edward replied instantly. "Hardly. Swordsmanship is a knight's lifeblood. Can't teach that in public view."
If anything, his esteem for her rose. Guiding swordplay even on vacation? ...Impressively capable.
Of course, it could be a ploy—but Beatrice's background checked out clean. No prior ties to Sisilia, no blemishes in her origins.
"Report complete."
"...You missed one. The slave trader who dared eye Sisilia?"
"Handled."
"A slave trader brazenly strolling the capital? Disgusting. Clean house—everyone."
"..."
Reina eyed him curiously. "One thing I've always wondered."
"What?"
"How does the Dark Lord truly regard Lady Sisilia?"
Edward's brow twitched. "A genius."
No... that's not what I meant.
Reina stewed inwardly but bowed deeply. "I'll take my leave."
"Same time tomorrow."
"Yes."
Once Reina vanished, Edward dove back into work. How much time passed? When perfect darkness cloaked the capital, he stood.
Stepping onto the balcony, he gazed skyward. Their exchange replayed.
"Dark Lord, huh... Lame title. If I become king, does that make me the Shadow Emperor?"
Edward smirked at the moon. "Not wrong."
* * *
"Heehee."
Clutching her bunny doll, Sisilia rolled gleefully on the bed. What a perfect outing!
The strawberry parfaits were extra delicious—three of 'em, nom nom.
Beatrice loved Golden Honeycomb too. Truly a gem of a shop. The design, the vibe, the flavors—no contest...
Perfect strike for Sisilia's tastes!
I'll repay you, boss. Skyrocketing sales incoming.
She'd bring future newbies too. But today's biggest win was, hands down...
"Come to my place starting tomorrow. I'll teach you swordsmanship."
"Thank you! Thank you, Lady Sisilia!"
Sword date at home with a newbie! From day one here, it was bucket list #1.
"Such a good newbie. Knew it from the start."
Sisilia beamed, rolling happily—until she tumbled off the bed, bonking her head.
"Ow."
Still great! She rolled on the floor with her bunny, then crawled back up.
Sprawled out, she stared at the ceiling. Checking off a bucket list item? Or finally acting on her plans?
It hit her anew. "Not much time left now..."
Ten years already here.
Sisilia was human too. Living medieval life as a modern soul was tough.
Leveling meant risking death. She hunted brutal spots for max XP—near-death countless times.
She was a vet, sure. But only in this another world.
Similarities abounded, but differences too. Above all, this was reality, not a game.
VR had gore filters; here, nothing. Her first kill? Five days without food or water, endless dry-heaving.
She endured through grit. To guide newbies from her world.
To do that, she had to lead—pave the paths first.
Newbies croak at the drop of a hat...
Summon average folks, hand 'em a sword, say "fight"—what reaction? Koreans might charge patriotically—Sisilia was nationalistic like that—but zeal alone doesn't cut it.
I have to help. Or nine in ten die.
So pre-official launch, prep two things: stable growth platforms, fitting systems.
And most crucially...
"I'll be their motivation. 'Cause I'm this cute."
Sisilia reached for the moonlight streaming in. That... that had to be protected, no matter what.
Zzz.
Drifting off, anticipating tomorrow and the future. She dreamed sweetly.
Newbies uniting to slay the Demon King. Epic speeches, bonding, even taking down the Demon God.
Post-victory cheers as she outs herself: "I'm not an NPC." Adoration swells; they build a new nation on demon lands.
The Great Sisilia Empire. World conquest, Sisilia merch in every home! Solve global warming!
-Bzzz.
A vibration jolted her awake. Half-lidded, Sisilia fumbled under her pillow. The small crystal orb glowed.
"Ruining my good mood..."
"S-s-sorry! Now that I look presentable..."
Sisilia, still groggy, mumbled, "Demons making moves...?"
Fern rushed, "C-contact from Walpurgis! The radicals won!"
Urgency crackled through. Was her butt on fire?
Sisilia shrugged it off. Main episode flow—full invasion next year.
"Everyone's gathered, so invasion in one hour!"
"...Radicals for real."
Sisilia snapped awake. Pre-launch field-clearing?
Invasion now > emergency > vacation canceled > no cozy sword date with Betty...?
Decision swift. "On my way. Clean your neck and wait."
"What's 'clean your neck' mean?"
Sisilia would defend this vacation with her life.