When Are the Newbies Coming?
"It's just about wrapped up."
Edward gazed up at the guild building, with only the interior decorating left to finish.
—It's too ordinary. Do we really have to build it on the ground?
—...How do you expect to build a structure in mid-air?
—That's not for us to figure out.
—Architects aren't mages, you know.
—Why not?
—......
Every now and then, Sisilia had thrown out utterly absurd demands. But since Edward was the only one in the Windsor Knights who wouldn't bend to her whims, they managed to navigate the obstacles without too much trouble.
In the end, the completed guild stood proudly in the heart of the capital, Terezia—a spot anyone could easily reach.
"Still, I never thought you'd actually subdue Fenrir. Sisilia."
Edward chuckled at Sisilia, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Wang!"
At her side, a cute Welsh Corgi wagged its tail.
'It looked so ferocious before. What kind of trick did she pull?'
Even Edward was curious about Sisilia's secret. She was the type whose thoughts you could never quite pin down.
"It's a Welsh Corgi."
"......Right. That was the name. Does it mean something?"
Sisilia kept her poker face as she replied.
"It's a secret."
'With Welsh around, newbie mortality rates should drop by at least fifty percent.'
She'd given Welsh one command: only let those who reeked of 'blood' pet it! Otherwise, bite without mercy.
And that 'blood scent' meant the smell of demons. If newbies hunted diligently, they wouldn't have it on them.
For the chance to pet Welsh, they'd surely push themselves harder.
"There were some ridiculous moments, but overall, it turned out pretty good. You did well."
"Thank you, sir."
The Adventurer Guild was finally complete. Sisilia couldn't help but feel satisfied.
She owned a solid thirty percent stake!
'I'm rich now!'
To shower newbies with great items, she needed a steady supply line.
"Oh, right—we'll need a guild master. I'll handle finding one. You're not exactly cut out for this sort of thing, Sisilia."
"I'm confident, but sure."
Sisilia nodded. The guild's creation was the real win; the rest didn't matter much.
"But I'll pick one person."
"One person?"
"Yes. The receptionist who takes requests."
Edward blinked, wondering if she was planting her own people in high positions like he might.
"......A receptionist? Really?"
"It's the most important role."
What drove cafe sales? Delicious food? Foodies were rare.
Pretty interior? Even a construction site cafe had its crowd.
Low prices? People bought expensive stuff anyway.
None of that.
The key was...
"The receptionist has to be pretty and cute like me. No exceptions."
A cute part-timer!
As Sisilia puffed up with determination, Edward gave an awkward smile.
"Fine. Do what you want."
Sisilia smirked smugly, and Edward patted her head.
'Not bad, surprisingly. This dynamic works.'
His old antagonism toward Sisilia had faded quite a bit during this guild project.
"As long as you're not gunning for my spot, I'll back whatever you do. Promise."
"Even I wouldn't think I could match the vice-captain. I'm an adult now, you know."
"No, I wasn't talking about height...... Never mind."
It was honestly astonishing. Edward had figured he and Sisilia could never mesh.
For that to happen, one would have to yield. They were polar opposites.
At least, that's how he'd seen it.
But Sisilia was showing him another way—personally demonstrating it.
'Maybe being gray myself doesn't mean I have to drag everything else into gray. Fair enough. If you can't see colors, someone else can describe them for you.'
Just fill in each other's gaps by being different.
He never dreamed he'd be the one spouting such idealistic, childish nonsense.
"Welcome back."
"No issues?"
"You seem in a good mood lately."
"These things happen."
Edward nodded curtly at Reina.
"Speak."
"......I'm sorry to bring it up when you're in high spirits."
"Doesn't matter."
Reina averted her gaze briefly before sighing and continuing.
"......This was submitted to the confidential royal council."
"Appoint Sisilia Windsor as Humanity's Proxy. As the Hero."
"The queen's conclusion: grant her exclusive access to all goddess blessings."
"......You were on the shortlist too."
Reina bowed and withdrew.
Edward stared at the document for a long while before muttering.
"Why must you always..."
It was a cool breeze. The weather lately had been pleasant enough.
But one person wasn't thrilled with it.
"How cruel."
"Sir Chiron, how does it feel to have such a cute yet strong daughter?"
Sisilia struck a cool pose, short sword—sheath and all, after Edward's training session—tucked away.
Chiron reviewed his paperwork with a blank expression.
"So proud I'm thinking of raising her allowance. Heh."
Sisilia lowered her voice to a groveling whine, like a caterpillar.
Beatrice felt a chill.
'You just want to up the allowance.'
Then Sisilia thrust the short sword at Beatrice.
"Beatrice reporter, how does it feel to have such an excellent superior like Lady Sisilia?"
'Wrong answer means death!'
Beatrice broke into a cold sweat. This had to be the 'playing with Sisilia' the Windsor seniors always warned about.
Fail to play along properly, and you'd face Captain Chiron's wrath.
"Oh, I-I'm thrilled. Honored. Lady Sisilia is just so...... excellent."
Sisilia's eyes lit up.
"Details?"
"D-details...... Well......"
Beatrice swallowed hard.
Chiron seemed focused on his papers, but sharp Beatrice knew: his ears were perked!
"Her work skills are outstanding......"
—Keep this up till dinner. You got this, Betty. Fighting!
That was just yesterday; she'd only seen Sisilia today.
"Training is so kind too......"
—This is a reverse shot. It hurt so much.
"Sh-she buys great desserts......"
—Sorry, Betty. I'll pay back next month.
Still unpaid, by the way.
"Sniff."
Beatrice finally teared up.
"......"
Sisilia blinked innocently and pressed on.
"Wow, shedding tears of joy? How amazing must I be? And that's a wrap on the interview."
"Those don't look like joy tears."
Sisilia bailed when cornered. She sheathed the sword and got serious.
Truth was, she had a real question for Chiron today.
"Captain, anything big at the palace? That's why I came."
So, when are the newbies coming? Gimme newbies. Quick. Now.
Chiron replied flatly.
"Nothing."
"Such firm denial."
It was already November. Sisilia would've bet Chiron's yearly salary that fierce debates were raging at the palace.
'Goddess blessings last two months max. Come next year, no new aura bearers in Liannen Kingdom—or the whole world.'
The kingdom's magic tower had to know. They couldn't have no plan.
"Captain, you getting the cold shoulder from the court lately?"
Sisilia tossed out a plausible theory.
Chiron shrugged.
"Nobles have been visiting less, yeah."
"!"
Sisilia's eyes widened.
"If you're demoted, I'm not following!"
Chiron took it as a joke but felt a twinge of hurt anyway.
"Rumors say there's a strange vibe at the palace lately, though."
"Tell me more!"
Sisilia's tension spiked at the fresh newbie intel.
Beatrice watched, finding her adorable.
'In front of Daddy, even Lady Sisilia's just a daughter. I miss my dad.'
As Beatrice grew nostalgic, Chiron looked up from his papers.
"Happens often. Usually means Her Majesty is plotting something outrageous."
Sisilia nodded vigorously.
'Isekai summons are pretty outrageous.'
She was convinced the 'outrage' was newbie summoning.
Confirmed the talks were underway, Sisilia beamed.
"You'll know when it's fully prepped—impossible not to. Though it's odd they'd hide it from me too."
"Pissed someone off lately?"
'A bit.'
Chiron dodged the question.
Half a year ago, when he'd vetoed sending Sisilia to the front lines.
—Sir Chiron. Got a daughter and chose fatherhood over knighthood? Your sword's dulled. Pity... and envy.
......He figured Sisilia didn't need to know.
But even he was truly in the dark this time.
'Something's brewing.'
Chiron didn't dwell. He was a knight. Knights followed orders—no need to question what they were.
"Chiron Windsor. And Sisilia Windsor. By royal command."
Coincidence or not, royal knights arrived to summon them.
Sisilia lit up; Chiron stayed stoic.
"Present yourselves at the palace immediately."
"Chiron Windsor, enter first. Sisilia Windsor, wait."
"Yes, sir."
Sisilia bowed impassively and waited.
As Chiron headed into the audience chamber, her face brightened.
'Newbies are coming! Finally, finally...!'
How long she'd waited for this.
Imagining her dream moment becoming reality, Sisilia couldn't stand still.
Heart pounding. My last ten years were all for today.
As Sisilia grinned in bliss—
BOOM———!
A massive shock rocked the entire palace.
Sisilia whipped around in alarm, sensing the ominous air, and bolted for the audience chamber.
"Halt!"
"Sorry."
She knocked out the four guarding knights in one go and burst inside.
The sight hit her like a thunderbolt.
"Chiron Windsor."
Thick killing intent. Overwhelming presence.
Chiron unleashing his full power—for the first time she'd seen.
"Rein in your aura."
And before him, Sword Saint Erterion—sword drawn, shielding the queen.
"This is the royal presence."
Sisilia had no idea what was going on.