I Became a Swordsman in the Middle Ages – Chapter 14

The ghosts had a bizarre appearance.

A legless ghost floated around with torn organs in the air, and a ghost with half its face blown off screamed with its eyeballs instead of a mouth.

A gruesome sight that was hard to look at.

‘So that’s why the dungeon is called the Grave of the Skilled.’

They were the vengeful spirits of those who had been confident in their skills and entered the dungeon, only to meet their end.

If I die here, I’ll become an ashen ghost, forever trapped in this mansion.

“Run away!”

“Undead!”

The apprentice knights all drew their swords.

By Windsor’s standards, they were beginners, but from an average perspective, they were skilled enough to react quickly.

“Spread out!”

“I’ll clear the path! Everyone, break through quickly and enter the rooms—!”

But it was still far.

‘They keep breaking the rules.’

[Two. Do not make loud noises! Noise pollution lowers the surrounding land value!]

The consequences of breaking the rules came immediately.

“Ugh.”

Those who had shouted fell, clutching their throats.

Cecilia’s eyes darkened.

“Wh-what is this…?!”

Someone swung their sword, but physical attacks don’t work on ghost types. It just passed through the air.

“L-Lady Cecilia…!”

A terrified apprentice knight grabbed Cecilia’s ankle.

“P-please save me! Save me! The test is over…! Please!”

“I’m the youngest of the Heinz family! I’ll reward you handsomely if you save me!”

This all happened in less than three minutes since the situation began.

The knights, forgetting the rules, screamed and swung their swords aimlessly at the air.

“Ha.”

Cecilia was slightly annoyed but didn’t forget her duty.

“I will not interfere. Even if you become vengeful spirits wandering here forever. Did you really come to the dungeon without preparing for death?”

But unlike herself, who had mastered the ‘strict yet beautiful instructor’ role, the results were quite disappointing.

‘Lack of judgment.’

‘Lack of insight.’

‘Lack of basic skills.’

Just a sigh-worthy performance.

As Marcus said, this batch of apprentices was hopeless.

‘But this is pointless for training.’

Any further would be abuse, not training.

Cecilia had no interest in tormenting innocent people.

She quickly made a decision.

‘This is far enough.’

She drew her sword to signal the end of the training, but—

“Don’t scream.”

The ghost that had rushed at her vanished in a flash of light.

Cecilia looked at the knight beside her. It was Beatrice, the cute girl she had noticed earlier.

“And blessings seem to work. Everyone, imbue your swords with blessings. Even if it’s less efficient, it’s the best option.”

Her sword glowed like a firefly. A rare ‘light’ blessing.

‘Wow. Rare.’

Cecilia blinked and sheathed her sword as if nothing had happened.

Beatrice bravely fought the ghosts.

But her trembling hands betrayed her. She was scared too, fighting through her fear.

‘…Adorable and brave.’

She seemed worth watching for a while.

**

Kihihihihi!

“Damn it, damn it, damn it.”

At the front, Riharten cursed non-stop, trying to shake off his fear.

Come! Stay with us!

Those damn ghosts even spoke. A bizarre mix of male and female voices.

I wanted to tear my ears off right then.

‘But I can’t back down.’

Riharten calmed his mind, feeling the silent footsteps behind him.

The top of this batch, Beatrice Schwarzwalder.

Even this petite knightess was moving forward without giving up.

As a man, I can’t collapse first.

Riharten gripped his sword tightly and infused it with a blessing.

“Now it’s the second floor. Can you cover me, Betty?”

“…Yeah.”

She answered shortly and stepped forward.

Hiding behind the second-floor railing, she peeked into the hallway.

Hello?

A polite ghost greeting.

Its mouth was torn to its ears, and it had no lower body.

Beatrice almost screamed.

‘I’m scared.’

In truth, she was trembling more than anyone else here.

She wanted to run away.

But there was a reason she couldn’t.

“……”

Beatrice looked back.

With an emotionless demeanor—

The Windsor knight who showed no emotional disturbance amidst this chaos.

The Sword Heroine, Cecilia.

For some reason, the ghosts didn’t attack her.

No, they were even cowering in the corner, holding their heads.

Just because they made eye contact.

Shivers ran down Beatrice’s spine. She swallowed hard, looking straight ahead.

‘If I give up here, I’ll be annihilated by Lady Cecilia, not the ghosts.’

Give up! It’s easier to give up!

‘I want to too…!’

If I had known it would be this harsh, I wouldn’t have dreamed of becoming a Windsor knight.

I just wanted to succeed!

I want to give up. Throw everything away and run.

But Beatrice was more afraid of Cecilia than the ghosts.

Want to come with us? Want to come with us?

A bizarre ghost with arms where its legs should be approached.

‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for daring to challenge Windsor. I’ll quit after this. I’ll help my parents with farming.’

Beatrice, holding back tears, shouted.

“Sunshine!”

A wave of light erupted. Immediately, Riharten stepped into the hallway and took out several ghosts at once.

He took a deep breath and nodded. Walking as fast as possible without running, he headed down the hallway.

Creak—!

One by one, they entered the rooms. Then, the ghosts that should have been stopped by Beatrice’s Sunshine started moving again.

Sweating cold sweat, Riharten quickly said.

“Betty, one more time.”

“I’m already doing it… It’s not working. They seem stronger now.”

“Damn, it must be the rules. They seem to get stronger as time passes.”

Riharten quickly turned around and said.

“Everyone, open the nearest room and go in. Don’t die.”

Riharten urgently stepped forward to clear the path. A few apprentice knights followed him.

Beatrice quietly slipped to the side.

‘He said to go in, so it should be fine now, right?’

Gulp.

The doorknob had never looked so sweet.

Is there a bed inside? I’m tired. I want to take off this uncomfortable armor and sleep.

But—

As Beatrice reached for the doorknob, Cecilia came into view.

“Hic.”

Beatrice twitched her shoulders and hiccuped. She made eye contact with her.

Thud—.

Very slowly, and leisurely, Cecilia walked over.

And the knights, hurriedly trying to open the nearest doors and enter.

Whoosh—!

“Ugh……”

The knight who tried to open the door first rolled on the floor, unable to suppress his groans.

A sudden gust of wind had blown him away.

Creak—.

A door opened in the empty space.

The unconscious apprentice knights floating behind Cecilia were thrown into the rooms one by one.

Thud—.

When two people entered a room, the door closed by itself.

Meanwhile, the knights who had already entered were all thrown out.

“Wh-why…!”

“Freeloading is a crime.”

Beatrice, who didn’t know what ‘freeloading’ meant, quickly caught on.

‘If I try to take the easy way out, she’ll make my life very difficult from now on…!’

Cruel!

A heartless villainess!

Beatrice, unable to voice her thoughts, held back tears and quickly followed Riharten.

-You know what? They say there are no sane people in the Windsor Knight Order. Especially the executives, every single one of them is crazy.

Suddenly, a fellow knight’s words came to mind.

I thought they were just trying to scare me.

Beatrice sincerely, deeply apologized for doubting Riharten’s sanity.

“Now there’s only one room left.”

“All three of us should go in.”

Then, Beatrice quickly grabbed Riharten’s hand.

“No. Only two can go in.”

“That can’t be. The room is big enough. Five could fit…”

“Lady Cecilia’s orders. If it’s not two, she’ll break our legs with wind.”

“What?!”

Riharten quickly covered his mouth as a loud sound came out.

“Ugh!”

Clearly, an unusual scream(?) was heard as someone flew around.

“Damn, as beautiful as she is, her personality is twice as nasty.”

Riharten said with a face that wasn’t quite a smile.

“You two go in. I’ll break through to the third floor alone.”

Drusen frowned.

“Why you? I’d rather…”

“Let me show off a bit.”

Drusen chuckled and nodded.

“Let’s go, Betty. I know you don’t want to sleep with a guy, but forgive me.”

“Y-yeah…”

In a life-or-death situation, what does that matter?

Beatrice was just glad to get out of this situation.

“……Sorry, Riharten.”

Click.

The door closed.

Unlike the chaos outside, the room was quiet.

But the joy was short-lived.

Beatrice saw it. Cecilia’s cold gaze before entering the room.

‘Why, why?’

Clang—.

The sound of fighting was heard right outside the door. Probably Riharten struggling.

The ghosts seemed to have gathered. Then, a sudden realization.

‘I still have some mana left… but Drusen and Riharten probably don’t have much.’

They were at the front, clearing the path. I was relatively at the front too, but only in a supporting role.

But could Cecilia really know our remaining mana? I’ve never heard of such an ability…

‘Of course she knows!’

Beatrice’s lips trembled. If this continues?

I might be blown around by Cecilia’s wind and die from the impact.

“I know what you’re thinking, but restrain yourself. Riharten has already prepared to sacrifice…”

Beatrice immediately opened the door.

“What are you doing…!”

“Shh.”

Grabbing Riharten by the back of his neck, she threw him into the room and stepped out.

“Hmm.”

Cecilia was right in front of her. Beatrice almost collapsed.

She was touching her lips as if evaluating. Her long eyelashes slowly covered her eyes.

Nod.

“……!”

Fortunately, her judgment was correct. If she had been even a little late, she might have been flying through the air.

But.

Like fish drawn to bait, the ghosts swarmed.

She came out of the room! She came out of the room! She came out of the room!

She broke the rules! We must retaliate! We must retaliate!

“Eek…”

Beatrice’s hand trembled, and the light blessing on her sword flickered.

The ghosts’ eerie cries echoed in her ears, and she reflexively closed her eyes.

‘I should have just stayed in the room…!’

Regret came too late. Her face turned pale, and her hands and feet shook.

Tears welled up from the overwhelming fear.

Beatrice trembled and looked to the side. It was instinct. In a situation beyond her control, the human instinct to seek a stronger ally.

“……”

Cold—.

Cecilia’s expression was icy.

D-don’t hit me…

I was wrong! I was wrong!

We’re all going to die… we’re all going to die…

The faint aura of killing intent made even the ghosts tremble.

But Beatrice wasn’t concerned about the ghosts.

Cecilia’s cold, flickering pupils—

As if asking, ‘Did you really challenge the Windsor Knight Order with just this much resolve?’

‘I’d rather die to the ghosts. If I mess with her, my family will be wiped out for three generations.’

Terrified even more, Beatrice swung her sword.

“Lumen Strike!”

“Holy Radiant Slash!”

“Roar of Light—!”

She unleashed every skill she had, in and out of consciousness.

She ascended to the third floor in a half-trance state.

The dark hallway brightened from Beatrice’s light swordsmanship.

Scary! Scary! Scary!

What is this? What is this?

It’s weird! It’s midnight! The bell is ringing! Ahh!

She was lucky.

The ghosts seemed to fear light. If only she had realized earlier.

“Pant, pant—”

Ding—.

As the final bell rang, Beatrice managed to enter the room.

She collapsed as soon as she entered.

“I… I did it.”

**

Overcoming fear and showing boldness at the front.

Weak yet caring for others.

Perseverance to never give up.

Even the leisure to flirt with the supervisor for compliments.

‘Pass.’

Cecilia was satisfied.

Although she had to limit the ghosts’ movements by exuding killing intent at the end—

The fact that they reached the third floor was because Beatrice didn’t give up.

Above all.

“She’s wild.”

The newbie’s movements were too wild.

‘A cute, strong, and kind newbie…’

Sigh. Cecilia wiped her drool with her sleeve.

She gained an unexpected treasure before the official opening.

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