The Saintess and the Demons
"I am Silvia Sunshine."
The raid on the meeting room by Silvia and Veronica wrapped up as little more than a farce. Sure, one table got wrecked and two chairs splintered, but those were trivial matters. Kids grow up smashing stuff like that anyway. What mattered was that they'd come rushing back to save me. How plucky of them.
~Puffing out her chest~ Gazing at the table she'd demolished herself, Silvia stood tall with unabashed pride. When you've got nothing to cringe about, that's the kind of confidence you exude.
"My name is Silvia Sunshine."
So brazenly repeating her own name twice. Her regal poise reminded me of a fledgling bird proudly spreading its wings.
Silvia's boldness made the demons' eyes bulge.
"Silvia Sunshine?"
Truth be told, it wasn't her moxie that stunned them—it was the name. Silvia Sunshine. That name carried serious weight. So infamous across the continent that even these backwater demons knew it. Or maybe demons knew it all too well.
"Sunshine—isn't that a surname granted only to saintesses?"
Even the icy Yev looked floored.
"That's right. As I just explained, it's one of the original two Chosen Surnames, alongside Versilver. She really a Sunshine?"
A faintly dazed tone. Seress, who'd been steadily laying out the facts, posed the question with wide eyes.
It wasn't so much doubting her identity as seeking confirmation. After all, they'd heard the rundown straight from her—no denying the saintess's existence now. But for a saintess, the utter antithesis of demons, to just pop up right in front of them? Small wonder they were gobsmacked.
"This girl here is Silvia Sunshine. The one they call the Saintess. I kidnapped her."
Kidnapped the Saintess.
The meeting room plunged into stunned silence, like a shockwave had swept through. I'd have reacted the same in their shoes.
I figured I'd give them all the time they needed to collect themselves.
—Until the clapping started.
The applause shattered the frozen tension in the room.
"Kuuh~! Kidnapping a Saintess the moment you step into the world—truly our Demon King!"
Striding in alongside the claps was a silver-haired man. He sauntered through the door Silvia and Veronica had left ajar. Towering height, sharp features. Familiar somehow...
"Don't get cocky. Shut the door and get out. This isn't your place. Gerza."
Yev's frigid voice rang out. Gerza shot her a glare in return.
Ah. No wonder he looked familiar—he strongly resembled Yev.
"Hey, Yev. Why the ice queen act with your big bro after all this time?"
"Big bro? I've never claimed a deadbeat like you."
Siblings, then. The pair locked glares, the air thick with impending brawl. No mistaking it now. With Yev at rank 4 in the pro-Demon King faction, Gerza had to be high up too, right?
Gerza's Demonic Mana was about half of Yev's. Yet he could hold his own in this stare-down? Meant he had insane real-world experience. Recalling Lai's constant nagging—"You're short on experience"—I zeroed in on their spat. Watching high demons clash would teach me plenty.
"Little sis can't even recognize her own brother. Just rolled out of bed, brain on snooze?"
"Looks like words won't cut it."
Yev's hand drifted to the sword at her hip as Gerza's feet edged toward the door.
What? No fighting indoors?
How monstrously strong did you have to be to hold back like that? My excitement swelled with the escalating stakes.
"Wha—the door was open, y'know? Yeah, came to close it from the start."
Slam.
The door shut, and so did my hopes. If you're gonna chicken out like that, don't start trouble in the first place. Now what about my show?
"Ahem."
Gerza plopped into a chair well away from Yev. Too stubborn to leave, too spooked by her. Watching Yev let out a tiny sigh, I sighed inwardly too.
"Hesitant to bring up, but kidnapping the Saintess means turning the entire continent against us."
"I know. Humans dominate the continent, and the Saintess is their goddess's envoy."
"Knowing that and still bringing her here... Demon King must have some grand design?"
The words dripped worry, but Zephyr's eyes burned with bloodlust. Zephyr Ripent, rank 1 in the pro-Demon King faction (me excluded, power-based). The mightiest high demon wouldn't flinch at making the continent an enemy. Hell, he'd probably relish it.
"Planning to use the Saintess as a hostage for talks with the humans?"
"As if. I kidnapped her, sure, but I won't mistreat Silvia that badly."
"Makes sense. Rough up the hostage, and fists fly before anyone's at the table."
"No, I'm telling you—not for negotiations or as a hostage. Didn't bring her for any of that."
Then why kidnap her?
Their stares screamed the question. Demon King kidnaps Saintess—you've gotta do something with her. No talks, no leverage. So what the hell was the point?
"No way!"
Gerza, who'd been quietly observing, bellowed like enlightenment had struck. Silent, his sharp features gave off an intellectual vibe. The Ripent swordmaster house, yet mid-demon Demonic Mana levels—had me wondering. Yev's strategist sidekick?
Bumped his rating up from pathetic to mildly useful.
"Demon King planning to raise the Saintess as his bride?"
"Raise?"
"Grow her up and... ahem. Wait till she's grown and take her as your mate?"
The room erupted in murmurs.
-Not out of the question.
-Isn't she a bit too young, though?
-Waiting till maturity isn't weird. Humans grow way faster than demons.
-What if he just likes 'em young...
Zephyr and Seress especially. Bold, quiet since Daimos fainted, now yapping loudest. Yev muttered with dead eyes; Gerza smugly scanned the room.
Useless punk.
"Disappointing, Cluster-sama."
"Silvia grows up to be Cluster-sama's bride?"
***
"That's why I brought Silvia here. Not to make her my bride—don't get the wrong idea."
Only after a lengthy rundown did the misunderstanding clear. But the demons' bewildered expressions lingered. Who could've pictured protecting the Saintess to avert continental doom? Especially since she couldn't wield Divine Power—they'd even have to train her to defend herself.
Their confusion was downright inevitable.
"We'll announce the Silvia situation once Rozania's dealt with. Keep it under wraps till then."
"""Understood!""
"You three lurking outside heard that too, right?"
Creeeak. In came Mas Franet, Daimos Setarite, and Aria.
"We weren't trying to eavesdrop, okay?"
"Ah, milady!"
"Well, if the Demon King asks so nicely, this Mas shall comply. Ohohot."
She covered her mouth with one hand, laughing her ojou-sama laugh.
"Yev?"
"Yes!"
"Any festivals around here?"
"Yes. Started last year, sir. About two months out."
"Two months—gonna be sweltering."
"Indeed."
"They sell fans?"
"Fans meaning those human tools for stirring air? I'll add them to the vendor list."
Gotta buy Mas a fan at the festival and shove it in her hands.
"Holding a fan would make her look just like a brainless noble's daughter."
"Silvia, don't say that kinda thing right to her face."
Guess I wasn't the only one who thought so.
"Any more questions or words? No? Meeting adjourned."
They dispersed with crisp efficiency at "adjourned."
With Rozania Versilver (fake) squatting in the Demon King's castle, our group would bunk at the Ripent ducal estate for the time being. I'd planned to crash lazy-like at the Setarite mansion we were already at, but...
-House Franet excels in magic. Takes ages. How about swordplay first, for self-defense?
-Says sword's quicker.
-No way. Just means sword levels up easier than magic to a baseline.
-Isn't that the same?!
-You only hear it that way 'cause Duke Ripent's illiterate from sword obsession.
-Always cooped up like some creepy old bat.
The dukes' squabble had leveled half the mansion—no choice but to bail.
"Cluster-sama, sword lessons start tomorrow?"
"Yeah. I'll train under Zephyr; you'll go with Yev."
Veronica could've taught Silvia swordplay, but hers relied on spirits at its core. I'd hacked around it with Demonic Mana when learning from her, but Silvia couldn't. Divine Power was an option, sure—but learning sword instead of using Divine Power, only to rely on it for swordplay? Total contradiction.
Hence, Yev—superior in foundational swordsmanship—drew Silvia duty.
"Yev-unnie? Okay to call you unnie? Looking forward to tomorrow, please!"
"Merely obeying the Demon King's command. No need for your thanks."
"I'm thanking you 'cause I'm grateful. Hehe."
"Saintess, my ass—what an irritating human." Her tone was frosty, but her lips twitched watching Silvia bow at the waist. Yev took to her, clearly.
Silvia buzzing with excitement too—good call prioritizing Ripent. Franet might've worn her out with that Mas Franet villainess type.
"Hahat! Sharing a roof with the Demon King—this Gerza is honored beyond words!"
"Hahat! Demon King! Our training grounds are top-notch! You won't regret our house!"
"Hahat! Elf, shove off! Closest seat to the Demon King is this Gerza's!"
"Hahat... Demon King..."
Should've picked the villainess side to foist off on Silvia instead of these hot-blooded idiots...