Subjugating the Demon King's Army (3)

"???"

Sisilia stood blankly at the forefront of the Northern Expeditionary Force, staring at the demon ranks.

The demons who had abandoned even their own dungeons and come out numbered far more than she could have imagined. Seeing how well they'd gathered into a mob, she thought a few full-party wipes would yield sweet experience points...

'No, that's not it!'

How had things come to this?

Sisilia reflected on everything that had happened so far.

Like the perfect wife and beauty Sword Princess she was, she'd prepared warm meals for them. She'd even handed spoons to the hungry old monsters. The problem was that they weren't satisfied with just a spoonful each—they'd grabbed their spoons and invaded the wheat fields, slaughtering poor farmers left and right.

In the end, they'd gotten more wheat right away, but next year's harvest was ruined.

"We respect you, Lady Sisilia. Your tactical prowess can only be described as that of a legendary general whose name will echo through history."

"I've heard tales of a single great knight changing the tide of battle, but I never imagined it would be to this extent."

"No, I just did what needed doing."

'Ehehe.'

But Sisilia was always pleased to hear praise, no matter when.

The Northern Command's officers, who had turned toward her, gazed at Sisilia with sparkling eyes. Duke Faust was among them.

"Humble to a fault! But no need for that. I'll clearly record how your capabilities have single-handedly upended the balance of this century-long war and report it straight to Her Majesty the Queen!"

Whoosh—!

Sisilia's body hair stood straight on end.

'This is bad. Our queen's gonna do something weird(?) again.'

Queen Lydia was already a repeat offender. Sisilia was gripped by the terror that her title might finally get swapped out this time.

"N-no, it's fine. Take the credit."

"What? You trying to paint me as some incompetent commander? Can't have that! Then who would risk their life to defend this nation?!"

'I said we don't need it...!'

Sisilia had always believed her life would be smooth sailing. After all, she was so pretty and strong.

But for the first time, she realized life didn't always go as planned.

'Faust is more incompetent than I thought. He's clearly been muddling through on his own power all this time.'

Who knew humans had radicals among them too.

Of course, it was true that the Windsor Knights had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠driven out ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the demon squads in this area.

But those were just trash mobs. In game terms, it was like an NPC knight in full gear clearing out goblin villages on the way to slay a dragon.

And from that, they'd concluded, "The Demon King's army is weaker than expected?" It was the polar opposite of the "This bitch is just farming kills while managing her kill death ratio?" that Sisilia wanted.

'He's not a bad guy, though... If I tell him my honest thoughts, he'll understand.'

"Commander."

"Hm?"

Faust, who had been discussing the timing of the invasion with his adjutant, looked down at the soft, clear voice.

Sisilia stood there with a troubled expression, oddly avoiding his gaze.

"Please halt the advance."

"Pardon? What do you mean?"

"...At this rate, a lot of people will die."

"Hah, what nonsense. That's not like you. Look over there?"

Faust nodded toward the knights holding Winterhold. They burned with resolve and fighting spirit.

"Do they look like they're afraid of death?"

They were knights he'd raised himself. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Having rolled through battlefields together, it was good they took pride in it.

But if it went too far, it became arrogance.

"Five Sword Demons and two Sword Emperors. Not far off from the Windsor Knights."

'That's the problem. This isn't a wuxia novel.'

In wuxia, realms had clear dividing lines.

But not here. That led to issues like this.

Each knight order had different standards for "Sword Demon."

By Sisilia's measure, not a single one matched a Windsor "Sword Demon."

"...At their level, they'll be wiped out."

"..."

Faust's cheerful smile froze for the first time.

"...What did you say?"

"I'm sorry, but that's reality."

Sisilia's words felt like outright insults.

"Are you saying what you can do easily, we cannot?"

'This is why commanders should come from Windsor.'

Once you'd served in Windsor even briefly, your standards rose inevitably.

Of course, that didn't mean Faust was unfit as Northern Commander material.

He was undeniably strong. By Windsor standards, on par with Edward or higher.

Far below Chiron, but still more than enough.

But low eyesight was a fatal flaw in a commander. It meant poor judgment.

"Yes."

"What did you just say?!"

Faust erupted in fury. Eyes turned their way.

Sisilia said calmly,

"Please reconsider. I'm against the advance."

"Now's the perfect moment!"

"It's impossible."

"Any further defiance will be treated as mutiny! Sisilia of the Windsor Knights, return and prepare to advance!"

'Ah— makes me wanna pull a Retreat from the Wei River.'

Sisilia briefly entertained dark thoughts and calculated.

'...Normally, clashing with a superior is bad, but not this time. The outcome won't hurt.'

Getting on bad terms meant her achievements would be downplayed.

The report to the queen would be full of nasty remarks, and her biggest worry—"excessive merit"—might get buried.

Hehe. No law said she had to die.

"This advance is idiotic. Reconsider now!"

"Calling the Northern Commander-in-Chief an idiot? You really want to die?!"

"Is all a commander knows how to do is crush dissent with authority? Windsor Knights have the right to refuse orders!"

With her judgment made, Sisilia pushed back.

The surrounding knights paled. The Windsor Knights glared murderously at the local commander daring(?) to bully their vice-captain's little sister.

"What a cowardly bitch! I was being nice earlier, but I take it all back!"

'Too perfect!'

"The Windsor Knights will follow none of the Northern Commander's orders. Go die pointlessly on your advance for all we care!"

"P-pointless death? Is this really...!"

Faust, red-faced and fuming, pointed and shouted,

"We don't need backup from cowardly knights like you! We'll conquer the Demon King's army ourselves—get the hell out!"

Sisilia spun around, feigning outrage.

"The Windsor Knights are withdrawing. Stay if you want."

Naturally, not a single Windsor knight remained with the expedition.

**

"Argh, I'm pissed off to the max."

"We're not babysitters, damn it."

Back at the Windsor Knights' camp, they were ripping into Faust.

"I saw it from the start. That incompetent commander who froze at one word from Sisilia!"

"What? 'We could do what the Windsor Knights did'? Then do it yourselves, you bastards."

The hyped-up Windsor Knights.

Among them, Beatrice watched Sisilia anxiously.

'I've never seen her that angry.'

Sisilia rarely showed emotions.

The few times she did, it was joy or liking something.

This kind of negative outburst was a first.

"Lady Sisilia. Let me go spar them. They'll feel the gap then."

"No, I'll go! I'll grab a tree branch and smash that half-assed knight order!"

By the crackling campfire, Sisilia cast timid glances at the knights and said softly,

"...That'd be too pitiful. Hold back."

"Why do you let them walk all over you?!"

"It's infuriating. You don't need to be nice to trash like that, Sisilia!"

'She's not that nice... Oh, no, can't think that. There must be some deep meaning.'

Soon, Beatrice grasped Sisilia's profound intent.

"Could it be... you're worried?"

"..."

"About people getting hurt..."

At Beatrice's quiet words, the knights' eyes widened.

Honestly, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠since Sisilia opposed it, they'd united as one—but they hadn't grasped the full meaning. They even had some doubts.

Sisilia had perfectly maneuvered her unit to exploit the enemy's weaknesses. The demons were probably still scrambling to recover.

Perfect conditions for all-out war.

But Beatrice's words made it click. Why Sisilia halted the advance.

"...Now that I think about it, Lady Sisilia has always."

"Been sensitive to others' deaths."

"Last time, she even visited that thug Jerryway in the infirmary when he got hurt."

"This time too, worried about casualties in a full assault?"

One knight clutched his head in frustration.

"Damn it, Sisilia. People die in war. Can't be helped."

"Her heart's still too soft... No wonder the captain hesitated to send her to the front."

'...?'

Sisilia wondered why the mood turned somber but, caught up in the pitiable Sword Princess concept, murmured softly,

"Still, there must be a better way."

"..."

'Ah, staring at the fire too long—eyes hurt.'

Sisilia rubbed her eyes and stood abruptly.

"Where are the captured prisoners?"

"...In the tent at the far right."

"I'll be right back. Don't follow."

Sisilia trudged to the tent with drooping steps.

The knights' mood sank.

"No wonder it felt like half-hearted kills."

"Sh-She sent us after trash mobs so we wouldn't get hurt."

"Even now, heading to the prisoner to somehow stop the advance."

"Ha... With that tender heart, she won't even interrogate properly."

Beatrice felt sad too, but her thoughts differed slightly.

'She's not tender...'

She recalled the magic engineering train terrorist capture.

**

"You're here? Things got noisy outside."

To the yawning knight, Sisilia said,

"Step out for a bit. I'll handle the interrogation."

"Won't be easy. He hasn't budged. First demon this loyal."

The knight left, and Sisilia sat in the chair, crossing her legs.

She smirked.

'I'm a genius.'

How had she come up with such a brilliant move?

Sisilia was proud of herself.

'Now, just stall like this, kill the Demon King, mission complete. Then back to the capital for desserts and chilling while greeting newbies.'

"H-human... Don't play games—just kill me. I won't betray His Majesty the Demon King."

Then, the demon crawling on the floor, bound in all sorts of restraints, spoke.

He looked horribly tortured. You could guess what they'd done.

Windsor Knights generally showed demons no mercy.

"Kekeke, how pitiful. Drunk on victory from killing a few scouts."

Sisilia, of course, ignored him, her happy circuit running full speed.

'What to eat first when I get back? I worked so hard this time—wanna treat myself.'

"Tremble in fear! Cower in terror! We'll devour your fat lands whole..."

"Shut up."

"...!"

"Can't focus with you yapping."

Unintended killing intent slipped out, raw and honest.

The demon flinched, trembling, eyes wide.

Through blurry vision, he glimpsed a silver-haired girl.

And a memory surfaced.

About five years ago—a single knight who terrorized the northern snowfields.

"Th-the White Reaper..."

"...?"

"I-I'll tell you everything. P-please, just spare my soul...! My soul alone!"

Sisilia rested her chin, glancing away.

"But talking's a problem."

"...!"

"I'd look too competent."

Sisilia slowly drew her sword.

The mid-rank demon drowned in fear.

"Keep quiet, or 'vanish'?"

The demon bit his own tongue.

It wouldn't kill him, but it sealed his mouth.

An excellent choice.

Sisilia sat back, lost in thought again.

'Gotta get Shine Muscat.'

For reference, Liannen Kingdom's Shine Muscat was the strongest in the universe.

Sisilia smiled happily, recalling that day.