[EX] Siesta's Problem (1)

-- LATE LATE LATE?!

"The ritual is to be conducted today, correct?!" Princess Siesta raised the helm of her dress with her hand, and with her short legs, she walked as if rushing across the hallway.

"I believe so."

"Mu.. I wished they would have called me earlier, Miss El, can you accompany me to the site?," rubbing her still tired eyes, she said.

"Your Highness, it would be unruly of me to partake in the ceremony wouldn't it?" Miss El, Siesta's personal maid and secret bodyguard followed behind her.

"I'll ask the adjustants for a pardon, so please?" Siesta took the flight of stairs spiraling downwards.

"If you will it Your Highness."

"Thank you!"

-- Damn those people, disregarding my existence and forsaking my participation. I'm a saint, isn't my presence needed to motivate the new heroes?!

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When Siesta arrived together with El, the ritual was already undergoing its final rites. Siesta heaved a sigh of relief, she wasn't late. A dozen mages, together with Master Sage Granzioze stood around the summoning circle, sweat poured down their forehead as they concentrated on the chant.

Runes traced from the centre and spiraled outwards. From there, it ascended up the 5 pillars, glowing in a dazzling blue light.

Blue painted the sky, some clouds shading the sun. Autumn trees decorated their surroundings in orange and red. A light breeze blew.

Close by were more than a dozen knights including the two other princesses.

One of them was Her Highness Leillia Erudite, the first princess of Erudite Kingdom. Her soft light purple hair and dark blue irises, she wore a nice light yellow dress with shiny embroidery and jewels.

This prompted Siesta to look at herself, a shabby easy to move-in blue dress that she had to quickly put on.

The second princess was Siesta's elder sister, Alytia Erudite, the second princess of Erudite kingdom. She was seen talking to Commander Peter. Today, she wore the ceremonial army uniform with a magic sword hanging from her belt. Light armour buckled to her joints while greaves covered her feet, her identity was known to most people as: the Princess knight

-- don't tell me Anee-sama forgot to remind me?! Even making merry with the commander?!

"Anee-sama~"

"Hm? Siesta?" her elder sister Alytia who noticed Siesta's arrival turned to her with a smile.

"Anee-sama, why didn't you wake me up," all reason broke and Siesta showed a cute puffy pout.

"Forgive me, I thought your sleeping face looked rather cute. I couldn't bear to wake you up as you were sleeping so peacefully," she pinched Siesta cheeks, commander Peter who saw that showed them a soft smile.

"Today is however a very important day, it is necessary that I be present too!" Siesta huffed.

"You slept very late at night yesterday didn't you? Sleep is a must for nurturing a growing body like yours."

"But still.."

After the morning breakfast, Siesta decided to take a quick nap to make up for the sleep she lost last night. She had indulged in various stories in preparation for today. With no one to wake her up and the ritual conducted early afternoon, Siesta panicked when woke up late.

"Your Highness," El interrupted.

On cue, bright blue light shot to the sky as runes descended upon them like snowflakes.

""OOOoooo""

Such was the sound of awe the knights surrounded the parameter expressed. Siesta wanted to see the new heroes but she was too short. Too short as in-- her height. For a 14 year old girl, this was all she could manage. No matter how she tried to tip tow, all she could see was the nape of the knights. It was frustrating.

She almost wanted to stomp on the ground when something lifted her up carefully from the waist.

"You've grown heavy," Alytia said.

"Anee-sama is the same isn't it?" Siesta retorted.

-- Surely I'm not growing fat?

"O' heroes you have been summoned to this world, I am the Grand Sage Granzioze, I welcome your presence," the sage said in a powerful and humble voice.

Siesta was amazed by the sight.

There were more than a dozen summoned this time, unprecedented. The previous record for this was 5 individuals. Not to mention, all of them wore similar clothes that could be treated as the rare 'school clothes'.

Normally, the summoned people would be the one to feel amazement, though rarely said, this feeling of awe was also reflected to the receiving party. Siesta couldn't contain her excitement as she observed each male reincarnates one by one.

All of them had black hair and black eyes.

"A-amazing.."

"It seems we have summoned a number this time," Princess Leillia said as if to grab their attention.

"Where are we?"

And as the record goes, one of them would take charge and ask this cliche question. Siesta gripped her fist in excitement, awaiting the time she would see the entire exchange play out in front of her eye..

-- No.. that Princess is getting the first catch! No!! I must grab their attention else they would all be held captive by her sole beauty!

"Anee-sama, please let me down," Siesta wiggled.

"I apologize for the sudden turn of events, the current location is the summoning circle of Erudite Kingdom, the capital of this world called Imagi. A pleasure to meet you all, my name is Princess Leillia Erudite, the first princess of this kingdom."

"No way.."

"I thought we died?"

"Shit! This is amazing!"

"No, calm down, we have to analyze the situation here.."

"Mom and dad, forgive me, I have come to another world,"

"Wait, it's this the time to complain how I still haven't deleted the stash of porn I downloaded in my computer."

"Buahaha! Ridiculous."

"We're reincarnated?"

"Doesn't this mean we are forced to fight.."

"So there's a demon lord we have to kill?"

"Demon lord? What demon lord? I'm not familiar with this genre of stories.."

Siesta, who was let down to the ground, tried to push the knights away to get a clearer view amidst their chattering..

"Excuse me!" Siesta said in almost a yell.

"My apologies, Your Highness," said a knight. He stood aside for her to pass.

"HA.. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

"Huh?"

The entire place fell silent at one person's hysterical laughter.

"Sensei?" a female student called out in a voice mix in with confusion and fear.

Siesta observed how everyone had sat up, except for that lone man in the center. He wore clothing different from the rest, a suit of sorts.

Black hair with black glasses.

"No wonder.. what bull is this.." his arm shivered as he pointed at the sky. His status window?

"Sensei?" another student called out.

"Sir Hero, are you alright?" Princess Leillia took a bold step forward.

"Yeah, never better," with his arms pressed to the ground, he pushed himself up. With a delirious smile on his face, she scanned the crowd.

"O hero?" Leillia had already come down in front of him yet..

He wasn't staring at her. He was staring straight at Siesta.

"It's you," he said.

"Me?" Siesta pointed at herself.

"Yes, you."

At the intensity of his glare, she tumbled backwards.

Vision flashed past her eyes, visions of war, vision of death, vision of betrayal, vision of an empire no more. This person in front of her, despite meeting for the first time.. she knew somehow, his name--

Park Jiwon.

These visions were the effect of the unique skill she held, [Oracle], which was the only reason why she ended up a saint.

"No.. I.."

Jiwon got up to his feet.

"O hero?" Leillia called out to him confused.

"I didn't think we'd meet again."

"Guards standby!!" Commander Peter yelled.

"Hey sensei! What's wrong?!"

"Sensei, calm down!"

He reached out his hands towards a knight.

"Siesta."

He spoke her name, in a tone so cold it sent a chill down the spine of those around him.

"Wha.."

As if there were a magnetic force, the sword held by the nearby knight flew into his hand. Brandishing the blade in the air, he bent his knees and shot forward.

Siesta closed her eyes in atonement to what was to come but.. instead, a strong impact resounded. The gust of wind generated caused her hair to flutter.

"PROTECT THE PRINCESS!!" Siesta's elder sister, Alytia shouted in command.

"Haha, I'm glad you're alive and well Alytia," Jiwon said and kicked Alytia in the stomach, "It's been two years?"

Aytia staggered a few steps.

"Huuhh.. Let me get this straight. I'm an irregular, I've come from the first world which had been dominated by the demon monarch."

"W-what?"

-- Why.. what exactly is this? Why is he aiming at me? Did I do something I shouldn't have? He mentioned the first world which meant perhaps it was one of those records where the heroes had gone through a simulation of life before. How does it relate to me then?!

"Demon.. Monarch?"

"First world?"

"Please accept my sympathy. Though you may have faced many trials that remain unseen, I ask of you to stand down, a discussion cannot be done unless both sides come into compromise," Alytia commanded in a powerful voice, all other knights lowered their stance in preparation.

He thought through her words for a few seconds, "Sure. In exchange, let me talk to Siesta for a bit, privately," he gazed at the lousy sword he held in his hand disinterestedly.

"I will not allow that."

"No deal?"

"Another condition. Promise me you will spare her life. Though I may not understand what she did during your first life, my current sister has nothing to do with her."

"I swear by the name of the God of Law-- Thermis, that I will not kill Her highness Siesta.. for now at least," Jiwon sneered.

"Don't let him meet her, she's going to die at this rate," Commander Peter whiphered to Alytia.

"I know however, what choice do we have.." She grit her teeth.

"No.. I agree to it," Siesta said, shivering.

"Sorry, I've been rash to kill you just now, had a nut screw in my head when I realized that you're not the bitch I know. That said.. you do get what I'm trying to get at right?"

-- This asshole, who does he think he is?!

"I- I understand. I will comply with your command.."

"Good. If anyone moves from this spot before she or I return, I will kill Her Highness, got it? Then, let's go."

"Huh?"

Even faster than she could voice her stupor, he had swept her up into his arms and made a dash towards the forest.

"SIESTA!!"

"Don't!"

Alytia's wanted to chase after them but Commander Peter held her back.

Slowly, their figures faded behind the dense forest of trees.