Direct Train to the Demon King's Castle (3)
Sisilia headed toward the engine room at a steady pace, neither fast nor slow. Trailing behind her like kids playing train were thirteen people in a single-file line.
"Lady Sisilia, if we just smash the dungeon core like this, it'll really be over?"
"Hm... probably not."
Blood from the demon race dripped steadily from the sword dangling at Sisilia's side. Along the way, she'd severed every arm and leg from the Dullahans. Just in case, the passengers each carried one of the severed Dullahan limbs.
"It seems the dungeon is linked overall. If we destroy the core, this train vanishes with it."
"Th-that's a big problem!"
"Yeah. So we make sure that doesn't happen."
"How?"
"Perfectly."
"......"
Wasn't that funny...? It had been her killer gag, but it looked like a flop.
"We kill the Dullahans simultaneously. That eliminates the inconsistency."
"Ah! So it's designed to explode the Dullahans the moment the core vanishes! And conveniently, there's one per car!"
Good girl. Sisilia felt a mother's warm pride. It was the level of感動 you'd get from a newborn taking its first steps.
"But Lady Sisilia. If that's the case, shouldn't we have dragged the Dullahans along too? The cars are too far apart to kill them all at once..."
"Impossible. The structure respawns a new Dullahan whenever one in a car disappears."
The simplest solution was to leave the twelve 'ticketless' people—one per car—and have them kill the neutralized Dullahans on her signal. But that was a trap.
The risk of what 'mind-contaminated' people might do.
So the most orthodox way to clear this dungeon was to 'kill everyone with tickets.'
This dungeon's probably meant to force a choice: save the train or save the people.
She could've crammed everyone into the front car and abandoned the rest. But Sisilia hated both options.
If she didn't like it, she just wouldn't do it. Simple truth.
"Don't worry about that part. I've got a plan."
Sisilia stopped walking.
"This the engine room?"
She used a Dullahan arm to pry open the door. A grotesque purple monster clutched the engineer in its embrace.
Sisilia prodded the purple monster's tip with her sword. Ting, ting.
Tough. She blinked. This required an aura blade. Problem was, she'd need her right arm for the Dullahan.
"Lady Sisilia. He's still breathing. Just unconscious."
Beatrice reported after checking the engineer's vitals. Sisilia stared at her blankly for a moment, then flashed a strange smile.
To Beatrice, it was an ominous one.
"You can do it, right?"
"......Pardon?"
"Betty can do it."
"N-no way."
Beatrice turned dumbly. The creepy purple monster gurgled.
"Me... Betty has to?"
"I've got the Dullahan."
"......!"
Beatrice swallowed hard. She cautiously infused her sword with aura and nicked the dungeon core.
Tougher than my sword. Realizing even the tip was beyond her swordsmanship, she looked to Sisilia in panic.
"You've trained hard all this time, Betty."
"......"
"Now show me."
Not planned, but great practice.
"I believe in you, Betty."
"I..."
Beatrice's eyes widened once, then softened.
She believes in me this much.
What was all that training for? To help Sisilia.
And the moment came sooner than expected.
"Yes. I'll surely cleave the dungeon core."
"Perfect."
The newbie had resolved herself. Adorably, proudly.
Time to teach her to fly.
"Draw the clearest line you can imagine. A straight line that pierces anything unhindered."
Beatrice focused entirely on her sword and the core, no room for reply. Excellent concentration.
"Raise your aura. The purest light aura you've manifested so far. Pure light pierces all. And slash. With your skill, Betty, you can sever just the core."
No more explanation needed.
Sisilia leaned on Betty's back, faced the tail car, and raised her sword.
"The moment you slash, I'll pierce the Dullahan's heart. Say when you're ready."
"......Lady Sisilia. One question?"
Ah, it was perfect up to here. Such a cool line. Action would've been ideal, but Sisilia answered with regret.
"Yeah."
"How do you plan to slash the Dullahan? What are you envisioning, Lady Sisilia?"
"Does that matter to cleaving the core, Betty?"
"Yes. I need certainty. Proof of who taught me the sword."
Sisilia's lips curved up.
"I'm deploying a domain."
Wanted to try this.
"All-or-nothing 0.1-Second Wind Shear."
Meanwhile, at Terezia's northern station.
Lude held a photo up to the sunlight, beaming. It was Sisilia, caught mid-V-sign but upside down.
"Huh? What's that?"
"A typhoon?"
"Looks like a drawing..."
Lude sensed ominous mana and looked up. Not far off, a storm raged in the sky.
The storm writhed, forming a bizarre shape.
> _ < !!
"......Looks desperately urgent."
Windsor Knights' rep little sister Sisilia. She pulled absurd stunts that left them baffled, but she wouldn't prank with something like this.
Emergency.
Lude moved at once. Toward the supply route.
"That's far enough, you worm."
"Ho? How'd you know to come?"
"Worthless scum dares invade human lands."
Lude eyed the demon with disgust, hand in pocket.
"End yourself."
"Kuhaha! What a fool. Dreaming of chasing a dragon? As if I'd—Huh?"
The demon ruptured its own throat. A pathetic end for the Sin of Pride among the Seven Deadly Sins.
Magus Lude. The price for not recognizing the Windsor Knights' third-in-command.
"Good work, Lude."
"No biggie. Sisilia figured it out beforehand. She's the impressive one."
"......True. I wondered why she suddenly wanted to inspect the train. She anticipated this."
With northern forces concentrated, supplies were critical. A severed supply line was disastrous. Recovery took three months. An invasion in the interim? Unthinkable horrors.
She proves herself endlessly.
Chiron closed his eyes, conflicted. He didn't want to send her there. If he had to, he'd go too.
But Sisilia showed through actions, not words.
I'm plenty grown. No need to worry.
"Blocking it in advance. Impressive. Why not praise her when she arrives?"
Edward spoke beside him. Chiron stayed silent, just watching the empty tracks for the train.
And after a long wait.
Ku-gu-gu-gung—.
The train pulled in. Chiiik. Steam hissed as it stopped, doors opening.
"Good. Looks like Lia succeeded. Train's intact."
Edward's face hardened at the pristine train.
Sisilia emerged, supporting Beatrice. Beatrice was unconscious. Sisilia's white shirt was bloodstained. Her pupils were coldly dead.
"......!!"
"Sisilia!"
Chiron rushed over, grabbing her shoulder.
"I'm fine."
"That blood...!"
Sisilia's pupils sank low.
"Not mine."
"Then..."
"Betty first. She overused her mana."
"Lude. Take her."
"Yes!"
Lude scooped Betty and flew off. Chiron eyed Sisilia.
"......Sisilia. The other passengers?"
"Sorry."
Sisilia bit her lip. Chiron's eyes widened.
Then Edward approached with an insufferable grin, patting her shoulder.
"You chose the train over the passengers."
"......"
"Excellent choice. Don't be down. You saved the supply line—more lives than you lost."
"......?"
Sisilia tilted her head. She straightened her slumped back and blinked.
"They passed out from mental contamination, but no one's dead."
"......What?"
Edward's smile faded.
"Then why..."
"What if they sue for damages? I'm broke."
"......Go sleep it off."
"Carry me."
Chiron silently hoisted Sisilia over his shoulder and walked. Limp Sisilia thought:
Bump on my forehead. Ow.
She'd succeeded in cleaving the Dullahan with all-or-nothing 0.1-second Wind Shear......
But manual control failed; she couldn't match the speed and crashed at the end.
This one needed eternal sealing.
I'm just a mortal.
Hing. Sisilia felt very sad.
"Heh. Now to snag a light northern mission and travel with Betty."
But Sisilia hadn't anticipated one thing.
The ripple effect of her feat was massive.
Thwarting the demons' supply sabotage. Flawlessly, without a single casualty or lost hardtack.
Windsor Knights proved themselves through 'missions.'
Sisilia was verified. No longer just the mascot or promising Sword Princess.
She'd reached the level for 'major responsibility.'
"Sisilia. Top-secret mission. Deploy to northern front. Scout demon movements alongside northern expedition. Her Majesty appoints you expedition commander."
Entrusting such to a 16-year-old Sword Princess for two reasons.
First, prime candidate 'Magus Lude' needed recovery after mana drain.
-Lude's fuel efficiency sucks.-
Second, strong contender Edward Windsor strongly recommended: 'Regrettably, Sisilia excels in stability. For minimal casualties scouting, she's ideal.'
Above all, the Queen welcomed with open arms. Even Chiron was convinced by this incident—
Sisilia couldn't utter a 'no' before being kidnapped.
"??"
Northward.
"????"
On the 'real' direct train to the Demon King's Castle, Sisilia glanced aside.
Beatrice smiled awkwardly, then hurriedly scooped pudding onto a spoon and fed her.
"Here."
Sisilia ate, then scanned around like a pigeon.
No passengers—just grim-faced Windsor Knights. Most injured.
Not the blissful solo adventure with Betty—
A stinky uncle mountain-climbing club.
Sisilia couldn't believe reality. Until arrival.
"??"
In the blizzard, Sisilia stared blankly at the 24 knights standing rigidly, unflinching.