I Became a Swordsman in the Middle Ages – Chapter 20

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on January 2, 2025

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“Failing a mission? How utterly incompetent!”

In one word, that summed up the meeting.

Still, our staff was somewhat competent, and based on the data so far, they meticulously explained why Windsor should operate independently.

The noble’s response to that was…

“A knight order with the title of the strongest being allowed to act independently? No nation has such a group!”

“What if those with such superhuman power rebel? What then?”

“For the sake of Her Majesty the Queen, such an illegal group must disappear!”

Well, that’s just hopeless.

Anyway, Cecilia was scolded for about four hours before she was finally let go.

“At least it’s better with the two of you listening.”

“……”

“Don’t look at me like that. If you want to be vice-captain, you have to earn your stripes. Can’t be helped.”

Kairon also seemed a bit sorry this time, as he couldn’t easily meet Cecilia’s eyes.

“This is getting troublesome.”

On the way back in the carriage, Kairon seemed deep in thought.

Cecilia just wanted this situation to end quickly so she could run to Beatrice.

“Cecilia. Tell me your thoughts.”

Of course, Cecilia still had a proper grasp of the situation.

If things continue like this, the Windsor Knight Order will be disbanded.

The nobles are doing this for one reason only. They want to tear the Windsor Knight Order apart and divide it among themselves.

Because a lord with strong knights gains that much power.

That’s a problem.

The Windsor Knight Order must become a sturdy windbreak for future newbies.

“Simply put, we just need to achieve a feat they can’t deny.”

But Cecilia wanted something faster and more certain.

“Even if we achieve something, they won’t acknowledge it.”

“…Surely they wouldn’t go that far.”

“If those in power don’t acknowledge it, it’s as if it never happened. No matter what it is.”

Kairon was momentarily speechless.

Cecilia, who usually seemed like she had flowers in her head, could be sharp like this at times.

“This is really troublesome.”

Kairon’s expression hardened slightly.

“I was planning to order Edward to subjugate a ‘special-class dungeon.’”

‘…Isn’t that just sending him to his death?’

Special-class dungeons.

Dungeons that received an out-of-spec rating were classified as special-class.

Now I realize just how much Kairon dislikes Edward.

To clear that dungeon cleanly, even Cecilia would have to use her ‘ultimate technique.’

‘If I use my real ultimate technique, it’ll probably get noticed.’

She’d inevitably earn a bad nickname. She’d also have to reveal her ‘true name,’ and the risks were high in many ways.

Cecilia desperately shook her head.

“We need to understand the essence of this incident.”

“The essence?”

“Even if the Duke of the Demon Realm is unavoidable, the fact that a high-ranking knight failed the mission and returned is fatal.”

Cecilia spoke firmly.

“We need to make it as if it never happened.”

“…Is that possible?”

“We just need to expose the traitor. Then the dishonor of the mission failure will naturally fall on the traitor.”

Then the nobles will lose their justification.

Instead of simply achieving a feat, if we eliminate the cause itself through investigation, it becomes ambiguous to deny.

Even if they try to deny it, we can just tie them to the Demon Realm and be done with it.

“Brilliant.”

“It’s nothing.”

Cecilia immediately became smug. And that was the worst misjudgment of the year.

“Immediately order the vice-captain to investigate according to this plot…”

“You do it.”

“……”

Cecilia was silent for a moment before speaking.

“The vice-captain’s royal status would be a great help in the investigation, and his actual abilities are also…”

“You do it.”

“……”

Cecilia strongly protested the knight commander who ignored her perfectly reasoned plan.

“Vice-captain Edward is more suitable than me.”

There was no lie.

If Edward’s stats were converted, he’d have Insight A+ and Combat Power A+.

For reference, Kairon had Insight B+ and Combat Power S+.

If Kairon is a power-focused character, Edward is a well-rounded character without any outstanding weaknesses.

Originally, this kind of mission suits a well-rounded character better.

“I strongly object.”

“You do it.”

“……”

But Cecilia’s Power C- was crushed by Kairon’s Power SSS+.

“…Yes.”

Only then did Kairon nod with satisfaction.

Cecilia just resented Kairon.

But since she had received the order, she had to do her best as the perfect Sword Heroine.

Cecilia took out an artifact she had prepared just in case such a situation arose.

“Detective Cecilia, deploying.”

“I don’t know what a detective is, but that monocle doesn’t suit you.”

Cecilia was deeply shocked.

**

But Cecilia was a righteous knight who didn’t yield to external pressure.

“Cecilia. Just asking, but what’s with that monocle…?”

“Call me Detective Cecilia.”

“Damn, she’s hooked on something weird again.”

It wasn’t an awkward sight for Jerryway. He’d seen such absurd behavior once or twice a year. Of course, playing along at times like this was an unspoken rule within the Windsor Knight Order. Even Jerryway, a gambling addict, followed that rule.

-‘What, Cecilia, you don’t know that? Dragons are dead.’

He had almost made Cecilia cry when she was 7, and Kairon had nearly beaten him to death for it.

“It was a ruin-type dungeon. Shaped like an ancient city.”

Jerryway began the story. Cecilia listened intently.

“We were going to map it out from a distance where we wouldn’t be detected. But… we were ambushed. They were blatantly lying in wait.”

“Hmm.”

“I judged that further progress was impossible and ordered a retreat. I decided to buy time.”

“So that’s why you thought there was a traitor.”

“Yeah. Even after returning, I thought about it, and I couldn’t find any mistakes I made.”

Jerryway was an alcoholic, a gambling addict, and a generally hopeless person, but he was the Sword Emperor.

Moreover, his class was Thief. An expert in exploring ruins. Even if ambushed, it was strange for someone like him to be caught off guard.

“Was the opponent a named enemy?”

“No, not a named one. But… they seemed to know our movements. It was as if they knew our retreat path in advance. I got a bit injured trying to stop them.”

‘There must be a culprit among those who participated in this dungeon raid.’

Of course, Jerryway was also among the suspects.

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

Cecilia bowed her head without showing any signs. As she was about to leave, Jerryway spoke.

“…Cecilia.”

“Yes.”

“This is really, really just my personal opinion.”

“Go ahead.”

“First, know that among the ten who went, there’s definitely a traitor.”

Jerryway hesitated before speaking.

Honestly, if the investigator wasn’t Cecilia but someone else, he might have hesitated to say this.

But with Cecilia, even if he voiced his opinion, she wouldn’t be biased.

“Vice-captain Edward said something to me before we left.”

“What?”

“He said, ‘If a dangerous situation arises, abandon the others.’ At first, I was upset. Did he not trust my skills? But after this situation, I thought about it…”

Jerryway’s pupils shook slightly. He looked up at Cecilia with a face that said he hoped it wasn’t true.

“Why did Edward say that to me?”

Cecilia’s eyes turned cold.

**

“I hope it’s not true.”

Cecilia sat on the rooftop of the headquarters, watching Edward leave for the day.

Her silver eyes shone brightly under the moonlight.

‘I have no ill feelings toward the vice-captain.’

Edward, as usual, greeted everyone brightly and got into the carriage.

The carriage departed, and after sitting for a while, Cecilia stood up and walked away.

‘But if—’

Actually, after hearing Jerryway’s words, one possibility came to mind.

The royal knight commander who objected as if he had prepared for it.

And the tangled interests of the nobles, along with the mission that conveniently failed.

The mission Cecilia had taken on was also one that would have failed if it weren’t for her.

‘If you’re using the Windsor Knight Order for political purposes.’

Those two dungeons. Coincidentally, the first discoverer was the same person. Edward Windsor.

Yet, there was no reason to suspect Edward—because there was no reason to.

After all, Edward was the next in line to be captain. Why would he go out of his way to harm the Windsor Knight Order?

But then it suddenly hit her.

What if Edward Windsor—no, Prince Edward—had infiltrated the Windsor Knight Order from the beginning to disband it in the future if it became a hindrance?

What if he deliberately leaked information to the demons for that purpose?

‘If you’re that foolish.’

Cecilia opened the drawer in Edward’s office.

‘I’ll be disappointed.’

[Top Secret — Dungeon Management Record]

Cecilia scanned the file and stopped at one point.

====================

[Grave of the Skilled]

Rank: Moderate

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[Ancient Ruins of the Old King]

Rank: Very Difficult