I Became a Swordsman in the Middle Ages – Chapter 15

Waking up in the dungeon for the first time was absolutely the worst.

‘I didn’t even get a wink of sleep.’

Beatrice went down the stairs with tired eyes.

The hallway, which was chaotic yesterday, was now eerily quiet as if nothing had happened.

‘Who would’ve thought Cecilia would come into my room?’

I was so shocked when Cecilia suddenly came in.

I was in the middle of changing clothes, so I had no choice but to salute her in my underwear.

The problem was, Cecilia didn’t acknowledge the salute and just kept staring.

Especially at my chest.

‘This is so embarrassing…’

On top of that, Cecilia slept in the same bed.

How could I possibly sleep properly with my superior lying next to me?

As a result, I kept tossing and turning. Meanwhile, Cecilia, who was rubbing her eyes and following me, seemed to have slept just fine.

‘Now that I think about it, it’s weird. Cecilia isn’t a pervert, so why did she stare at my underwear for so long?’

Just in case, Beatrice decided to ask Cecilia.

“Um, Cecilia?”

Cecilia, who seemed to have just woken up, responded in her usual perfect manner.

“Yes.”

“Do you have something to say to me?”

Cecilia just stared at Beatrice without saying a word.

It felt like she was asking why I thought that, so Beatrice answered nervously.

“You kept staring at me yesterday.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Huh?”

“It’s just that having a big chest gets in the way of swinging a sword, so I stopped growing during my childhood. This isn’t fully grown.”

‘Wh-what is she talking about?’

“Is that so…?”

“I have much more potential.”

“O-oh, I see.”

“Beatrice, it would’ve been better if you stopped growing before becoming an adult.”

‘So that’s it. The reason she stared at me like that last night was because she was dissatisfied.’

I finally understood why she kept staring at my chest last night.

Cecilia was scolding me.

As someone who is supposed to become a knight, having a heavy chest is nothing but a hindrance.

“I’m sorry.”

Beatrice immediately bowed her head.

But there was something unfair about it.

Stopping physical growth is something only a ‘Sword Demon’-level knight can do.

Not everyone can stop growing at the age of 14 like Cecilia.

“B-but I couldn’t stop at my level yet. Besides, I was already this size at 13, so even if it were possible… Cecilia?”

Cecilia was starting to fade.

**

When I went down to the mansion, everyone was gathered.

Everyone looked pale. Cecilia, feeling a bit of pity, sat in the corner.

Then she took out a baguette she had brought down earlier and started munching on it.

“I-I think I’m going crazy. I had a nightmare, and even after waking up, I kept waking up in the nightmare again and again. I thought morning would never come.”

A trainee knight said in a terrified voice while pulling his hair.

Cecilia raised her head like a rabbit. Then she looked at Beatrice with subtle anticipation.

‘Did my favorability go up?’

It seems that in this dungeon, if you sleep, you get hit with a status ailment.

Cecilia, who noticed this, had stayed up all night to protect Beatrice. She must have realized it by now.

But…

Swoosh.

Beatrice quickly lowered her eyes. She looked genuinely scared.

…Huh?

“We need to get out of here, fast.”

“I can’t last another day. I’m going to lose my mind.”

Amid the chaos, Riharten suddenly stood up.

“Cecilia.”

Cecilia, chewing on a bread as big as her face, stared at him.

“At least tell us when this hell will end. We’re all at our limit.”

Of course, she had no intention of answering.

In fact, she was starting to get a little annoyed.

Why don’t they understand something so obvious?

“C-Cecilia. I have a request too.”

But at Beatrice’s words, Cecilia generously explained.

“How many rules were there again?”

“There are… four rules. Don’t tell me.”

Cecilia nodded slightly.

Four rules. That means the time limit is four days.

“S-so we have to stay here for three more days?”

‘Why is the conversation going this way?’

Cecilia genuinely didn’t understand.

It was supposed to mean ‘kill the Demon Race within four days.’

“Did everyone sleep well?”

At that moment, Ricardo appeared in the dining hall.

“My, looking at your faces, it seems you had a rough night.”

Some of the knights’ faces turned red with anger. But no one stepped forward.

They had realized how terrifying the consequences of breaking the rules were.

Ricardo licked his lips as he looked at their faces.

“Um, butler.”

“Yes, guest. Is there something you’re curious about?”

“First, I’d like to thank you.”

Beatrice looked nervous. Cecilia watched her with an intrigued gaze.

“Last night, you allowed us to stay in this mansion when we were lost.”

“Ohh-”

Ricardo clapped once, looking touched.

Then he bowed his head in an exaggerated manner.

“It’s an honor that you noticed.”

“But now that morning has come-”

Gulp, Beatrice swallowed.

“…we should be on our way. It would be rude to stay any longer.”

Ricardo had called them ‘guests.’ Also, if you look closely, the ‘rules’ were only things that could reasonably be asked of guests.

So, as guests, wouldn’t it make sense to leave now?

‘Smart.’

It’s a great approach. There are two ways to ‘clear’ a dungeon.

Logic destruction and head destruction. Cecilia calls them ‘logic break’ and ‘head break’ for short.

“You’re truly a polite person.”

Ricardo pretended to wipe tears with his glasses. But no tears were seen.

After all, demons don’t know how to cry.

“Yes.”

“…!”

The knights’ eyes widened in shock.

“Personally, I wish the guests who came after so long would stay a bit more, but if you insist, I can’t stop you.”

“R-really? Y-you’re just going to let us go like that?”

Ricardo smiled brightly.

“Of course. Haha, this is awkward. It’s not like I forced you to stay… Didn’t you all walk here yourselves?”

“T-then we’ll leave right now.”

“Yes, farewell.”

The knights exchanged glances.

‘Really? Are we really allowed to leave like this?’

Even Beatrice, who came up with the idea, felt a bit awkward.

“However.”

Of course, clearing a dungeon with ‘logic break’ isn’t that simple.

“You must pay the ‘price.'”

“…Price?”

“Of course. This is a rather expensive mansion. And didn’t the guests receive quite a precious treatment yesterday?”

Ricardo’s eyes twisted with disgust.

“You can’t enjoy something like that without paying a price. Rights always come with responsibilities.”

“Th-that’s ridiculous…”

The knight who tried to shout lowered his voice.

“What do you mean by ‘treatment’?”

“Treatment. Or are you perhaps ignoring the loyal servants of this mansion?”

Ricardo’s voice was somewhat chilling.

The flustered knight waved his hands.

“That’s not it, but…”

“If you pay the price, you’re free to leave.”

“Then, what is this ‘price’?”

Riharten asked somewhat calmly.

Ricardo smiled quietly as he looked at Riharten.

“Of course, it’s the lodging fee. You stayed for one day, so you just need to pay that much.”

“I’ll pay whatever it costs.”

Riharten took out a pouch of gold from his pocket. The others did the same.

Quite a few pouches were placed on the table.

“Good. Then, I’ll take the lodging fee and return the rest.”

Ricardo approached the table leisurely. He took one pouch and looked inside.

“Hmm.”

“…Is it not enough?”

“Hahaha!”

Ricardo laughed briefly. It was almost like he was teasing them.

“What meaning does human money have to me that you’re paying with this?”

An excited knight was about to shout, but Riharten stopped him.

“…We don’t have demon money. Is there no other way?”

“Of course there is. If you don’t have money, you can give something of equal value, right?”

Ricardo spun around happily.

“Fortunately, everyone here has something I want.”

Ricardo’s smile grew increasingly cruel.

“Hearts.”

“…!”

“For one day’s lodging fee, just one heart will suffice to let everyone go.”

Essentially, he was asking for one sacrifice.

Everyone froze.

Countless conflicts were visible on their faces.

Though the conflict on Beatrice’s face seemed to be of a slightly different kind.

‘It would be interesting to see the cute newbie’s answer.’

What answer will Beatrice give?

I’m very curious and excited.

‘If it ends there, it’s just barely surviving.’

Cecilia’s lips curled slightly.

Actually, that would be enough.

For a ‘true newbie.’

‘The qualifications of a knight order that surpasses limits must be more than that.’

It seems like it’s time to give a hint.

“Then.”

Cecilia dropped the bread she was eating and spoke in a calm tone.

Feeling everyone’s eyes on her, she looked at the bewildered Ricardo and said.

“Your heart will do.”

Ricardo’s eyes instantly filled with fear.

Meanwhile, hope sparked in the knights.

Cecilia immediately crushed that hope.

“Just kidding.”

‘Hmm. Did I give too much of a hint?’

Cecilia went back to eating her bread.

This was almost like showing the answer key.

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