I Became a Swordsman in the Middle Ages – Chapter 19

When I stepped out of the vice-captain’s office, the headquarters was buzzing with activity.

Some were pestering the finance officer for more budget (Cecilia flashed a victorious smile), while most were packing up and preparing for their missions.

“Oh, Cecilia. You’re back from your mission.”

“Are you heading out on a mission?”

“Since the emergency has been lifted, I’ll just go back to what I was doing before.”

Leoric, too, was carrying a large backpack.

He had only stopped by briefly for the regular meeting; a high-ranking knight’s schedule is always tight.

“It’s a shame to leave such a cute little sister behind, though.”

Leoric chuckled as he patted Cecilia’s head.

“Take care on your mission.”

“Want to come along?”

“No, I’ll stay in the capital for a while.”

“The capital must’ve been pretty unstable… You even hesitated to kill demons.”

Leoric shrugged and walked away, waving as he disappeared, flanked by three well-built women.

Did he say he had nine wives? With so many women around, I can’t even remember anymore.

‘Let’s hurry and go see Beatrice.’

Cecilia strode confidently out of the headquarters. The clear sky, the cool breeze—ah, perfect weather for some training.

“Cecilia.”

A low, firm voice. Cecilia didn’t even look back, quickening her pace.

“When you return from a mission, it’s proper to report to the captain first.”

Her legs moved through the air. Kairon had grabbed the back of her neck and lifted her up.

“……”

Memories of when she was six years old began to surface, but Kairon promptly placed her on a nearby bench. Cecilia sat down obediently.

“My apologies.”

“You didn’t even report when you left.”

“It was Vice-Captain Edward’s orders.”

Kairon sighed. Cecilia avoided looking at him.

“Where were you headed?”

“To carry out an important mission…”

“You were going to see the kids, weren’t you?”

“……”

“It’s admirable for a knight to take an interest in the younger generation, but don’t you have more important duties?”

Finally, Cecilia cautiously glanced at Kairon.

Beside him stood his adjutant and a stern-looking intelligence officer.

The fact that all the Windsor Knight Order’s officers were outside meant there was a political issue at hand.

In short, it was a procession heading to the ‘Central Noble Council,’ something Cecilia absolutely loathed.

“Anyway, good timing, Cecilia. The Central Noble Council…”

Whoosh—

Cecilia vanished. All that remained in her place was the sweet scent of spring breeze.

“So this is the legendary Blessing of the Wind! Impressive, I didn’t know it could be used like this.”

“Wow, first time seeing it with my own eyes. She really disappeared like the wind… Hahaha.”

The officers exchanged surprised jokes. But Kairon, without batting an eye, reached out to the side.

“Ah.”

“Still running away when you don’t like something, huh?”

Cecilia, now caught in Kairon’s grip, slumped.

‘Cheater.’

Kairon was one of the few cheaters Cecilia acknowledged.

He was a swordsman who could touch space itself.

Even more impressive, his ‘acquired blessing’ was not innate but earned through enlightenment.

He had risen to the rank of Sword Monarch purely through his swordsmanship. Without her blessing, Cecilia would be nothing but an ordinary person in front of him.

“That habit of yours isn’t good. Fix it.”

“…Yes.”

Kairon carried Cecilia toward the carriage and stuffed her inside.

“I’m all grown up now.”

“Not in front of me, you’re not.”

Kairon firmly closed the carriage door, and it began to move.

“What’s the agenda this time?”

“It seems the royal knights’ proposal has caught the nobles’ fancy.”

“Is it about command authority?”

“Yes. They seem quite enamored with Windsor.”

Come to think of it, before the mission, the Queen had mentioned the need to gain trust.

I completely forgot to relay that to Kairon.

“We needed a plausible achievement. I was going to assign that task to you, but you ended up playing into Edward’s hands.”

Gulp.

Kairon was saying the same thing as the Queen. If I mention it now, I’ll definitely get scolded.

Cecilia cautiously spoke up.

“I couldn’t refuse the vice-captain’s orders.”

“You’re only saying that now… Fine.”

Kairon let out a deep sigh.

“You’ve always been like that. Desperate to help those with potential. Edward must’ve seen that.”

Cecilia whistled while looking out the window. Of course, she didn’t know how to whistle, so only air came out.

Kairon held his forehead. Suddenly, he had a headache.

“But that mindset is correct.”

“Right?”

“I’m not praising you. You need to learn to read the room better.”

Pout.

Cecilia’s lips jutted out slightly.

“…Still.”

Kairon’s expression turned slightly bitter.

“I’m glad you didn’t go on that mission. It seems it’s really time for me to retire.”

“…What happened?”

“A high-ranking knight was seriously injured.”

“How bad?”

“They said he’ll need six months to recover.”

“Just bruises then.”

“……”

Kairon pondered seriously.

Was there something wrong with her upbringing?

Cecilia’s common sense always strayed far from the norm.

“So, are we going to get scolded?”

“Yes. Just need to listen to some yelling.”

“I don’t want to go.”

“Me neither.”

“……”

Cecilia briefly doubted Kairon’s qualifications as a guardian.

“By the way, Jerryway said something strange.”

‘So it was Jerryway who got hurt. Probably got caught while drunk again.’

Cecilia didn’t think much of it.

“He said there might be a traitor within the Windsor Knight Order.”

Cecilia’s heart skipped a beat.

“…Really?”

Kairon gestured for her to come closer.

Reluctantly, Cecilia approached. Kairon pinched her soft cheek and stretched it.

“You knew, didn’t you?”

“Noh (No).”

“You knew.”

“I’m innoshent (I’m innocent).”

Kairon let go of Cecilia.

Cecilia straightened her clothes and looked at Kairon with perfect posture.

Of course, her cheek was slightly red.

“Do you suspect the vice-captain?”

“Well, based on the situation, Edward seems the most likely, but my gut says no.”

Kairon’s eyes narrowed.

“That guy wouldn’t be so blatant about it.”

‘I don’t think it’s the vice-captain either.’

To Cecilia, Edward was a kind boss who cared for his subordinates.

This time, he even introduced her to a decent dungeon and let her train the cute apprentice knights.

He even generously approved the budget.

Truly, a man who strictly separates work and personal life…

“Cecilia, I’ll give you a task.”

“Yes.”

“Find the traitor. I’ll look into it personally too.”

“Okay.”

Kairon spoke to Cecilia with a worried tone.

“You need to improve your judgment of people. You’re too kind, and that’s the problem—you don’t see the evil in others.”

“I’m confident.”

“Confident? The same confident kid who got kidnapped so easily back then?”

“……”

Cecilia’s face turned red.

That was her dark history.

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard you followed some guy because he promised you something tasty. What if you had been weaker?”

“Th-that was when I was young.”

‘But it was an exciting medieval life.’

Even when tied up in the back of a strange man’s cart, Cecilia had giggled.

A kidnapping event? Now that’s what I call romance.

“Five months ago, you got scammed out of all your savings. That was the eighth time, so I’ve half given up. You cried in your room for days…”

“Ah, okay. Please stop…”

Cecilia’s face was red all the way to her neck.

“Tch.”

Even the coachman snickered.

Cecilia seriously considered jumping out of the carriage.

‘But he said it’s a once-in-a-decale sale. How could I resist?’

-“Oh, opportunities like this don’t come every day! If you miss this, you won’t get another chance for ten years! Forget the kingdom, this is the cheapest price in the entire world!”

She still couldn’t forget that kind old man’s face. She thought he was an angel back then.

Only later did she realize the artifact she bought was ten times the market price. Her heart sank.

‘Huh? What’s that?’

As she reminisced about her past sorrows, she spotted the training grounds in the distance.

She’d probably see some familiar faces. Cecilia pressed her face against the window.

“Another orphanage?”

Assuming it was the usual orphanage visit, Kairon shook his head.

“Hold on this time. We’ll stop by on the way back.”

“No, it’s the apprentices I went on the mission with.”

Only then did Kairon glance out the window. That was where the apprentice knights trained.

‘Guess it’s fine to take a quick look.’

“Stop the carriage.”

“Yes.”

Neigh—!

As soon as the carriage stopped, Cecilia leaped out the window.

“Use the door, use the door.”

Kairon scolded as he stepped out of the carriage.

Cecilia watched from a distance, hands behind her back, as she walked over.

“Sir! What brings you here… I’ll inform the instructor immediately.”

“No, I’ll just watch quietly.”

Kairon patted the nervous guard’s shoulder.

The apprentice knights were deep in training. The clashing of wooden swords echoed across the training grounds, along with the sound of blessings colliding.

‘I heard this batch wasn’t anything special.’

But they still had plenty of room to grow.

Especially their eyes—they were filled with determination. Their desire to grow stronger struck a chord in Kairon’s heart.

“Not bad.”

“Their specs are decent. But… they still have a long way to go.”

“In what way?”

“They’re still clumsy with their swords. If they had thrust just now, they would’ve won, but they went for a slash and lost their balance.”

In a world where blessings were valued more than swordsmanship, Cecilia’s perspective was unique.

Kairon felt a slight joy as he spoke.

“Others think you’re only in your position because of your overwhelming blessing talent.”

“That’s not entirely wrong. Personally, I’m confident in it.”

“No, you would’ve reached that position even without a blessing. Cecilia, you have a natural talent for the sword.”

The sound of hurried footsteps approached as the carriage stopped. The adjutant was likely coming over.

‘Guess it’s time to go.’

Kairon looked down to tell Cecilia it was time to leave.

But Cecilia was higher up than he expected.

“Look over there. Those three are working really hard, aren’t they? You can feel their desperation to grow stronger.”

The child who once only reached his waist was now looking at the world from almost the same eye level.

‘Has she grown this much already?’

Of course, her petite frame still didn’t reach his shoulders, making it hard to leave her alone.

“Especially that blonde knight. I have high hopes for her. She’ll definitely pass the test.”

Seeing Cecilia’s sparkling eyes, wrinkles formed at the corners of Kairon’s eyes.

“Uh, Captain?”

“Let’s stay a little longer.”

“But… they’re already itching to get their hands on us.”

Kairon quietly shook his head and brushed a strand of hair from Cecilia’s mouth.

“Cecilia always says this.”

He gave a faint smile.

“The protagonist always arrives late.”

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