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Since the Western Expedition mission spread from the Count’s House, I have been actively overseeing the Knights’ Order management alongside Diolia for some time. From preparations for departure to evaluating their strategic capabilities, I’d make sure to repeatedly remind them that I am their Deputy Commander by grabbing various people for forced training sessions throughout the day.

At the same time, I sought to improve myself as well.

‘I’ve definitely been getting better with all this training.’

Not just the knights who charge in with their swords, but also the Battle Priests swinging their flails and the agile, cunning Rangers. And by sparring with the Wizards, who were relatively lacking in fighting opportunities, I could feel my dormant combat skills awakening even further. It was a positive change.

‘Now that I’m no longer burdened by managing spirits like before, it would be good to condition my body to move like I used to.’

My strength lay in the quick mobility and devastating power derived from Spirit Magic. Especially characterized by relentless movement and aggressive attacks, it was now time to shift from firing big attacks from a distance to infiltrating enemy lines and exploring variables on my own.

With Elvis becoming more functionally operational, I was now equiped with a way to swiftly escape danger. It had become necessary to reacquaint myself with the methods I used in the past.

‘And if possible—’

It would also be beneficial to work hard on enhancing my abilities compared to when I was a Hunter.

Up until now, I’ve been trapped in this damn body and unable to display my past skills, but after achieving a degree of recovery, I thought striving for enlightenment towards raising my level could be one method.

That tricky demon that uses illusions is a real pain, but the demon that could take my head off with pure brute strength is even worse. It would surely be sensible to grow even more so that when facing that demon in the future, I could even have the leisure to escape with Shione if needed.

‘Busy, busy.’

But now, as it is a sweet moment of relaxation, I shoved away complex thoughts. I donned the now-familiar armor of the Knights’ Order and sought out Shione.

“I’m coming in.”

I opened the familiar door. After the sun had begun to set, Shione usually sat by the window reading a book in the warm sunlight, only to succumb to sleep, her head resting on the table later on.

Last time, she had drooled in her sleep, and I had some fun teasing her about the marks left on her face for a while. I entered the room, curious about what amusing spectacle awaited today… but oddly, I couldn’t find Shione in her usual spot.

“Princess Shione?”

I hadn’t heard any plans for her today. As I called her name and glanced around, I finally noticed her at the farthest corner in front of the full-length mirror.

“…Over here, Ray.”

“What are you doing there?”

Creeeak…

Carefully closing the door, I turned to Shione and saw her standing stiff as a wooden doll. What was striking was that she was wearing an outfit I had never seen before from her wardrobe.

“How do I look? Does this outfit suit me?”

With a face as red as a tomato, Shione dramatically spun around. Her grey checkered skirt softly swayed along with the white shirt and tie above it. Soon, she even started covering herself with a navy charcoal jacket, seemingly embarrassed about something.

Her actions were not natural in the slightest, reminding me of a kindergarten teacher forcing a child to perform. While it was cute, I wondered suddenly what had gotten into her and shrugged off my thoughts.

“Where did you get that outfit? I’ve never seen it before.”

“…You said you wanted to see me in this.”

“Did I mean that outfit?”

“Oh, it’s really the academy’s uniform…!”

I had said it as a joke, but she actually went and got it?

As I was thinking that, it seemed that Shione decided to translate her embarrassment into aggression since she suddenly rushed over, throwing a furious punch at me.

As I felt her helplessly pummeling me without restraint, I looked down at Shione, who now seemed ready to burst into tears.

“What’s up with that reaction…? Do you know how hard I worked to ask my sister for this uniform…?!”

“Oh, speaking of which, the name tag—”

Certainly, as Shione pointed out, there it was, a name tag pinned to the chest of her charcoal jacket. The name inscribed on it was not Shione’s but that of her sister, Siabel Shianella.

So, that reaction it seemed Shione showed unexpectedly by suddenly visiting Siabel, and asking, “Sister, can I borrow the uniform!” wasn’t all that different, was it?

‘If I were to swap places…’

It would be like having my grown-up younger brother come to me asking to borrow my school uniform from back in the day. Even if I were to question the reason, it was likely he’d blush just like Shione now. I couldn’t help but think how entertaining it would be for Siabel to hear such a ridiculous request, and I regretted not witnessing that scene directly.

As I smiled at the thought of the name tag and the image of the two sisters, Shione shot back at me.

“…What are you laughing at right now? Ugh, really!”

But perhaps that was my mistake.

Shione cozied herself, wrapping her jacket tightly around her chest and starting to pout. Given how her reaction was intensifying, I feared her blue eyes might soon well up with tears, so I was left with no choice but to soothe her gently, like calming a sad puppy.

“I prepared this because you’ve looked tired lately… and you show me this sort of reaction. Do you have any idea how humiliating it was for me to borrow this uniform from my sister?”

“Humiliating, you say.”

“From her looking at me with a dumbfounded expression of ‘Why do you suddenly need the uniform?’ to her finally saying, ‘You wanted to go to the academy, right……?’ as she huffed with pity. How could that not be embarrassing?”

“Well, the reality is I wore it just to show you.”

Unable to hold back my laughter anymore, Shione pinched my calf in retaliation.

“Come on, not the pinching—”

“……!”

“No, hold on, my thigh kinda hurts now…!”

After a bit of that playful tussling.

Shione swept her hair back behind her ear and feigned innocence as if she were a pure maiden.

“So, do I look good, Ray?”

“The academy uniform suits you well, but there’s no need to be that stiff.”

“Hehe.”

With a foolishly bright smile, Shione suddenly lifted me up. I found myself floating for a moment in the air before being dropped onto the bed.

What the heck? As I looked up at her with confused eyes, Shione stood over me, displaying an unhidden chic smile that was impossible to conceal even in the shadow.

“…What’s going on?”

“I told you I prepared this because you looked tired lately. Today, I’m here to help you relax.”

Like a squirrel, Shione dove into the bed beside me.

“Pillow.”

She asked for it, claiming my arm like it was a lifeline to her.

“Right now, don’t think about work, just rest deeply.”

As she cuddled up to me like a comfort object, she purred like a cat, relishing the moment.

At her urging, I ultimately relaxed, embracing the long-overdue joy of doing nothing. Yet, as Shione cosied against me, she started shifting around slowly, her presence growing ever more intimate. When I opened my eyes to find her cheek rubbing against mine.

“……”

“This won’t do, Ray.”

At some point, Shione, who had been staring intensely at me, suddenly grabbed my chin and drew me close.

“Lips together.”

“…Didn’t you say you prepped this to relieve my fatigue?”

“Deputy Commander, are you defying my words now?”

As if from the beginning, that was her aim.

Only when my lips were about to burst from the pressure was I finally released.

*

After a little more time passed, the first mission of the Special Mission Team was finally upon us.

Thanks to the Count’s generous support, we were about to set out on superior mounts. Siabel and Ainel had come to see us off.

“Shione, although the number of monsters has significantly decreased in the Beltlin Mountain Range and the western border due to the last war… be cautious, as demons may still pop up like I experienced last time. So we mustn’t neglect our scouting around. Understood?”

“I will heed my sister’s advice and proceed with utmost caution.”

“Siabel is right. We’ve carried out several eradication operations already, but the area beyond is filled with uncertainties; we must never stray too far from our main force.”

Alongside the love and worry shared by Ainel and Siabel for Shione, they wished us luck as well.

Without further delay, we passed through the massive castle walls that enclosed the domain and headed west.

Nature untouched by man always possesses an awe-inspiring beauty. As expected, the west holds many places untouched by human hands due to its dangers, and tempted by the breathtaking views among the quick rivers and rugged terrains, we wondered how far we had traveled.

We reached the boundary separating the demonic realm and the human world.

“All troops, halt!”

With Diolia’s shout, the knights stood still.

“Princess Shione, ahead lies the demonic realm.”

Before us lay a narrow river.

Along this river, the regions designated for humans and the demonic realm were divided. Beyond that land, instead of feeling the harmony and wonders of nature, only dread and silence lurked; as I gazed towards the other side, I caught Shione’s expression filled with displeasure, foreseeing what was to come.

“…Increase the perimeter’s vigilance and prepare to advance.”

If things don’t go smoothly, it might lead to some pretty annoying troubles.

 

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