Trial for Newbies (2)
“Ahahaha!”
Lydia clutched her stomach, laughing at the crystal orb. “So that’s why you were standing there all spaced out—you were analyzing the barrier’s structure? You’re truly out of your mind.”
Lydia wiped away tears of laughter. Noticing the nobles staring in surprise, Erterion broke into a cold sweat and said, “Your Majesty, please mind your dignity…!”
“Sorry, sorry.” But Lydia still couldn’t hold back her laughter.
The barrier consisted of countless invisible lines. These lines were interconnected yet existed independently. Their roles were distributed—some handled the barrier’s strength, others its intricate structure.
What Sisilia had done was sever the line linked to her own memories. It was a replica based on the subject’s recollections. Without the mana line tied to those memories, the replica couldn’t persist.
“It’s theoretically possible, but I never imagined it would actually work.”
“It’s invisible, and so faint you can barely sense it—how did she even notice?”
“She must have reverse-engineered it. First grasping the replica’s principles and structure, then tracing back the line connected to her own memories and cutting it.”
“I’d heard Windsor Knights have mana detection far beyond what’s needed to hunt demons, but this level is insane.”
The mages dissected Sisilia’s actions step by step. Even the nobles who didn’t fully grasp it yet chimed in, sensing something extraordinary.
“Truly impressive!”
“A fitting demeanor for humanity’s proxy!”
Just as Sisilia had reverse-engineered the lines, the nobles now reverse-engineered Queen Lydia’s attitude to praise Sisilia.
“See? There’s a reason we chose Sisilia as humanity’s proxy.”
“I agree. Showing this kind of resolve proves she’s a once-in-a-millennium genius.”
“So, Sisilia it is, then?”
Lydia seized the moment to stir them on. But not everyone was convinced.
“However, this is a trial. They must give their all within the given mission—we can’t award high marks just for clever tricks.”
“We need to see more. This proves nothing. To begin with, everyone agrees Edward’s raw ability is superior.”
Erterion nodded. “Your Majesty, it’s too early to decide. Edward’s trial hasn’t even begun.”
Lydia clicked her tongue in frustration. She turned her gaze to another crystal orb nearby.
Sisilia’s trial had ended, and Edward’s was now underway.
“Let’s see what choice he makes.”
Those leading the Liannen Kingdom watched Edward with cold detachment. This was a crucial test for humanity’s future—one they were judging. They couldn’t miss a single step, choice, or word.
Lolicon.
“……”
“……”
The sight of a loli Sisilia left them speechless, their faces blank in the face of her confident expression.
“Kyaa! Sisilia’s so cute!”
Lydia gazed at the orb with a face already smitten, wondering how she could be so adorable.
A few nobles snapped out of it at the queen’s bright voice and muttered.
“No way…”
“The prince’s tastes run… big.”
“Did he pick that up from Her Majesty?”
The nobles glanced at Lydia a bit irreverently. Lydia tilted her head, not understanding.
For reference, the 300-year-old queen’s growth had stopped at age 15. She was quite petite.
**
Edward couldn’t accept reality.
‘Why is it Sisilia?’
Offer up your most precious possession.
Sisilia’s appearance meant she was Edward’s most precious thing. He couldn’t accept that either, but her childlike form from years ago was utterly baffling.
The young Sisilia looked up at the flustered Edward with innocent curiosity, then let out a soft sigh. “Why you again…”
With a matter-of-fact air, she drew her sword.
“I’ll take my own life.”
“…!”
Without hesitation, she turned the blade on herself.
Edward panicked and grabbed the sword’s edge barehanded. Wind aura enveloped the blade, and blood poured from his palm.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“…That’s what I’d like to ask you.”
The child Sisilia eyed him quizzically.
“I’m just a fake. This is a test.”
‘Why am I…?’
Edward couldn’t comprehend his own actions. As Sisilia said, it was merely a well-crafted fake. Sure, the childlike form was off-putting, but this was a trial. He’d steeled himself to cut it down.
Yet…
“Let go, Vice Captain. Killing a child is a knight’s shame. So my suicide is the smoothest way to pass.”
But Edward wouldn’t release the sword. Even as blood dripped from his hand.
Why?
“This is illogical. Vice Captain, don’t you want to be humanity’s proxy?”
Amid his turmoil, Edward muttered, “…Shut up.”
He wrenched the shortsword away by force.
“Hey, give it back.”
Sisilia stood on tiptoes, reaching futilely as the sword was taken.
“Without your sword, you’re no threat. Consider the first trial passed.”
Sisilia said something, but Edward ignored her and walked on.
Thud. Thud.
His footsteps echoed in the narrow passage.
Pat pat.
Small footsteps followed.
“Don’t follow me.”
“Sword-stealing lolicon.”
“…”
Edward fell silent but didn’t stop. Thus began the bizarre duo of replica and human.
‘Should I bite my tongue? Nah, that’d hurt.’
As the child Sisilia frowned delicately—
Face your past regrets and lingering attachments.
Realizing she wouldn’t have to die painfully, Sisilia beamed innocently—while Edward lowered his gaze in silence.
The temple crumbled. The ruins reshaped into something new. In that instant, Edward realized he’d entered another world.
“This place…”
The scene was all too familiar to him: Gartan Territory. Ten years ago, the event that upended his world.
‘Is this what you wanted to show me?’
Edward bit his lip.
“I’ll ask once more. Edward, do you have no regrets at all about what happened then?”
Edward hadn’t answered the queen’s question back then. Now, she sought that answer.
“This must be the moment the Vice Captain regrets. Look, there’s a signpost.”
“…”
“Gartan Territory. The western front?”
Sisilia tilted her head. Edward clamped his mouth shut.
“…Why hasn’t she vanished yet?”
Even with the new trial begun, Sisilia remained.
“Maybe because the Vice Captain hoped she wouldn’t.”
Sisilia smiled brightly and toddled ahead with her tiny steps, pointing somewhere.
“There’s young Vice Captain. Shall we go? Old Vice Captain.”
“…I’m still young.”
Edward moved forward. Beyond Gartan Territory’s massive gates, his past self and the Windsor Knights were being welcomed.
—Welcome! It’s an honor for Windsor to grace us here.
Aldred Gartan, the count, spread his arms wide. Edward smiled neatly and replied,
—The honor is mine. I hardly know where to stand with such a warm welcome from a border lord.
A smile he could only muster with a mask now. Back then, it had been genuine.
Edward quietly drew his sword. Whoosh—eternal flames enveloped the blade. Without hesitation, he swung at Aldred.
Boom—!
A massive explosion rocked the territory. But Aldred still smiled.
“Can’t interfere, huh.”
“Not yet.”
Edward’s face remained impassive as he walked on. The scene shifted again: a rundown inn. Confirming no eavesdroppers, Edward closed the window and addressed his gathered Windsor Knights.
—We must exterminate Sally the Misfortune right here. You know, but it’s critical, so precautions:
Sally the Misfortune. A high-rank demon terrorizing Gartan Territory. The Windsor Knights had blacklisted her. Those on the list had to be slain on sight, even at some cost.
Edward’s dispatch was less about aiding Gartan than executing Sally. Not because she was overwhelmingly strong—but due to her vile authority.
—Misfortune is a demon blessed with absurd luck, as if the world revolves around her. She steals ‘luck’ from humans. The victims don’t even know why as calamity befalls them. Using that stolen luck, she imposes laws favorable to herself—endlessly. Known as Sally’s Law.
—The moment you go to behead her, your sword shatters; at the crucial second, you trip on a nonexistent stone. Absurd things happen. The real problem is the luck-stripped humans. Devoid of the goddess’s blessing, they suffer unbearable misfortunes—sometimes death is mercy. Victims were countless and growing.
—She must die here.
“The Vice Captain succeeds in killing Sally. And it doesn’t take long, from what I recall.”
“…”
Sisilia looked up at Edward quizzically.
“So why the regret?”
“You’ll see soon enough.”
The scene shifted once more. Now, Edward blocked a Windsor knight’s sword.
—Hold it, Murphy! He’s just lost his luck to her!
—No, that’s his true nature. No human in disguise could do that!
The apple vendor cowered in terror. Beside him stood a boy with dead eyes, wrist bruised purple, face battered beyond recognition.
—He abused his own son. And was caught shaking his hips under the market stall! Even demons wouldn’t stoop that low! Step aside, Vice Captain—I’ll cut the bastard down!
Edward’s eyes grew colder. Sisilia felt his emotions flood in: profound sorrow. And longing.
‘Longing? Why?’
Sisilia blinked and took Edward’s finger in her hand. He seemed unsteady.
—Even so, they’re people we must protect! Punishing sinful humans isn’t Windsor’s role! Murphy Windsor, sheath your sword!
“You think that idiot’s right?”
“Correct judgment. Long-term missions hinge on reputation. Even if he’s guilty, killing him here risks the villagers’ cooperation. Above all, Windsor exists to protect people.”
Edward placed a hand on Sisilia’s head. Her earnest reply in her childish lisp was oddly endearing. He chuckled briefly—but it twisted into a sneer.
“Then watch. See what kind of scum the people you must protect really are.”