Nibelheim Landing Operation (1)
“You... tied your hair up.”
“Yeah.”
Sisilia, her hair in a ponytail, yawned and rubbed her eyes. For some reason, she always had trouble waking up whenever they were dispatched. Feeling utterly groggy, she stretched lazily.
Like a cat.
Beatrice fought the urge to keep staring and awkwardly opened her mouth.
“Um... Sisilia.”
The truth was, Beatrice hadn't slept well the night before. The effects of that “Murasama” kept replaying her rude behavior in her mind.
Sisilia did that for my sake, and yet I...
Even though she'd gained an enormous boost in skill, at first she hadn't understood the intent and just whined weakly.
She might hate me now.
Beatrice clenched her fists. She wasn't an apprentice knight anymore. The days of being protected and taught were over.
From now on, I need to tell her I'll do better. Apologize for yesterday.
Gathering her courage, Beatrice tried to speak to Sisilia. But the woman who'd been right beside her moments ago was gone.
Panicking, Beatrice searched and found her in an open clearing.
Thud, thud.
She's suddenly shadowboxing!
Sisilia was utterly unpredictable.
Just then, a knight named Royder—who seemed to have been chopping wood since morning—spotted her and stopped. He had an impressive physique, long hair, and scars all over his body.
The problem was...
Chopping wood in this cold...?
With a stern, serious face and arms crossed, he offered advice.
“Hm, your footwork's a bit off.”
“There, you need to twist your shoulder more...”
Sisilia paused her punches, twitched an eyebrow, and said,
“Spar?”
“Oh, warming up, are we?”
“Sure.”
Why does it always end up like this?!
And just like that, a boxing match was on.
The Windsor Knights, who'd been lazing around, gathered in an instant.
“Royder! Win this!”
“It's a matter of pride!”
“Losing an unarmed brawl to a girl? No way!”
“You've got vodka fever!”
“Seize the captain's assets!”
As the crowd swelled, Sisilia proposed a simple bet: Chiron's prized champagne collection, which he'd blow open spectacularly upon returning to the capital.
In return, if she won, a year-long alcohol ban.
A duel wagering their lives!
The knights accepted eagerly, cheering Royder on fervently.
Beatrice shouted timidly too.
“S-Sisilia, you have to win...!”
Sisilia flashed a cool thumbs-up.
She took her stance and stepped lightly. Royder, boasting his muscular build, closed in slowly.
“Using auras?”
“Nah. Just mana.”
“Heh, fine.”
Sisilia charged right away. A left jab feint, then a right to the gut.
Thud!
Royder blocked low with his guard. Upper body exposed—Sisilia unleashed an uppercut.
He leaned back to dodge. Her fist sliced empty air.
Royder's turn. Sisilia backstepped away.
“See? Sloppy footwork makes your attacks predictable.”
Sisilia trembled with rage and lunged before he finished speaking.
Royder casually measured distance, evading her punches.
She was furious.
“Raaah!”
“No match for him!”
“Isn't Sisilia at a disadvantage?”
Beatrice couldn't hold back and asked. A nearby knight explained.
“Reach difference is too much. She's tiny. Her punches won't land.”
“...”
“Plus, Royder's the best at fisticuffs in the Windsors. No high knight beats him except Leo Ric. Oh, captain's excluded—he's not human.”
The knight who'd clearly bet gold on Royder grinned smugly.
“Sisilia's defeat, for sure.”
Bam!
Sisilia's fist connected squarely.
But Royder slipped it off his shoulder—no real damage.
Sisilia, meanwhile, looked exhausted. Anger had led to wasteful combos.
With a sword, she was always calm and composed. Boxing was different.
She mainly used kicks even in unarmed fights.
“Heh, looking tired?”
Having drained her stamina on purpose, Royder finally dropped his guard and assumed position.
Now offense and defense would switch.
Sisilia narrowed her eyes at the bad spot.
“Here I go!”
“Finish her, Royder!”
“Don't lose!”
Few cheered for Sisilia. Beatrice gripped her fists tighter.
“Y-You can't lose...!”
Royder charged at Sisilia as she backed away slyly. His massive frame kicked up snow. Like a bear.
But Sisilia's eyes gleamed sharply as she stepped in place.
Royder smirked.
Aiming for a counter.
He had no intention of giving her range. At arm's reach, he threw a full-power punch.
Then—
Crack!
Sisilia's unbelievable roundhouse kick spun Royder's jaw!
He hadn't expected the kick and crumpled.
Thud!
“R-Rules were boxing, right?”
Beatrice panicked, but the other Windsors took it in stride.
“Sneaky as ever.”
“Classic.”
Not unfamiliar at all.
But—the Windsors had bet on winning even here.
The referee knight grabbed the foaming Royder's hand and raised it.
“Foul! Royder wins! Sisilia loses!”
Sisilia shrugged.
Sorry, Chiron.
...But it wasn't hers anyway, so whatever.
After her morning workout, Sisilia looked refreshed.
That weird mage from yesterday was a hiccup, but no issue.
There'd been bumps, but things went as she wanted. Proper rest, no full battles. No casualties.
Now, just head to the “rendezvous point.”
“Today, we complete the mission.”
Sisilia addressed the knights. They sharpened their auras at the word.
“Mission means we're finally going?”
“Yeah.”
She smiled faintly.
“We've farmed hard. Time to harvest.”
“Um, Sisilia. Care to explain?”
Red-axe Herald raised his hand, blinking.
“All we've done is snowman contests, wrestling, boxing, first-love stories, campfires, and minion-slaying. What mission?”
“Sigh.”
Sisilia sighed coldly. The Windsors glared murderously at Herald.
Do you have to advertise your stupidity?!
We don't know either! But don't ruin the vibe!
We knew when he stuck snow on himself for the snowman!
Half-blaming glances.
But all were curious. Beatrice's eyes sparkled especially.
There must be some grand reason!
Sisilia spoke flatly.
“It's...”
What excuse to make?
Truth was, Sisilia was stumped too! Her week's orders were just stalling.
Lie poorly, and these non-idiots—well, mostly non-idiots—would notice.
“It's precisely...”
Her voice wilted.
“For the next phase.”
“...”
“...”
Three seconds later, backlash erupted.
“Awaken, Sisilia!”
“Joking on the battlefield?!”
“Get serious!”
“Ack, ow, eek.”
Snowballs flew endlessly! Sisilia clutched her head, crouching under the barrage.
“To block info from Loki Mountains by suppressing A, B, C, D points, right?”
A gray-robed mage emerged amid the pelting Windsors.
A knight prepping another snowball blinked.
“Who're you?”
“Northern Command, 1st Mage Division Commander Nemesis.”
“...!”
An unexpected bigshot...!
The Windsors lobbed one last snowball at Sisilia and saluted.
“Now scram.”
“...Not the words for a polite salute, sir.”
Tears welling, Sisilia eyed the shady mage hopefully.
She wouldn't die after all...!
“But what's this Loki Mountains talk?”
“You've had ample info and still don't get it. Quite dim.”
Nemesis shrugged.
Annoying.
Punch him?
Yeah?
If he dies?
Oh well.
The Windsors conversed with glances.
Yeah. Kill if vibe sours.
Sisilia beamed.
“Impressive deduction.”
“Heavens. Such high praise from the greatest strategist in human history, Sir Sisilia! Family honor!”
“...Can you explain? Wonder if it matches my intent.”
Nemesis bowed exaggeratedly and approached her podium.
“Of course. But first, may I issue today's orders?”
Can't hide this anyway.
Sisilia hoped he'd interpret well and spoke.
“Today, the Windsor Knights head to Nibelheim.”
“...!”
Eyes widened at the name. No one here was ignorant of it. Too infamous.
The demon city Nibelheim. Legend said no living human had reached it.
“Knew it! That's what it was!”
Nemesis exclaimed admiringly.
What 'it'?!
Sisilia felt like she'd eaten five hundred sweet potatoes.
“What 'it'?”
Good job, Herald! Sisilia felt relieved.
“Our destination, naturally...”
Fearing plan derailment, Sisilia cut in.
“Via Loki Mountains.”
“Haha! Of course we knew. Anyone clueless after this lacks goblin-level intellect.”
The 25 goblin-brained Windsors glared sourly at Nemesis—including Sisilia.
“A, B, C, D points share one trait: they're passes to Loki Mountains. Sisilia planned this from stepping on northern soil.”
Nemesis smirked.
“Codename: Nibelheim Landing Operation.”
“!”
“...!”
“!!”
Last one was Sisilia. Cool name.
“Loki Mountains are called a natural fortress. No one expects passage there.”
“Demons' history is invasion. They've never been invaded. Especially not humans to Nibelheim now.”
Nemesis paced. Beatrice finally got it, mouth agape.
Thought she only cared about desserts—such depth!
“Via Loki to land in Nibelheim: the one way to catch the Demon King's army off-guard.”
“Suppressed A to D to cut info lines, secured hostages for Nibelheim intel. Perfectly calculated from start to finish!”
Someone interrupted.
“Wait. Can we breach Loki alone? Not easy even if vulnerable.”
“Sir Sisilia devised this in half a day on arrival. Of course there's a counter. Right?”
All eyes on Sisilia. She nodded slightly.
“Ooh!”
“How'd that little head cook up such genius?”
“Landing op...! Heart's pounding already!”
“Sisilia always has a plan!”
Sisilia blinked.
They're praising me...?
She gripped her sword excitedly and shouted.
“Northern Expedition Leader Sisilia Windsor commands.”
The Windsor Knights snapped to attention in unison. Each a honed blade. Liannen Kingdom's finest: the Windsor Knight Order.
Chest swelling with pride...!
“Windsor Knights, complete mission: Nibelheim Landing Operation!”