I Became a Swordsman in the Middle Ages – Chapter 21

“The investigator’s evidence collection is a legitimate procedure.”

Cecilia recited it indifferently.

Edward raised his eyebrows in annoyance and sheathed his sword.

However, the tip of his sword was still pointed at Cecilia.

“You always doubt me.”

Edward circled around Cecilia, keeping her in the center.

Cecilia didn’t turn her head, only her eyes followed him.

“Is this the Captain’s order? To investigate me?”

“The Captain didn’t particularly suspect the Vice-Captain. This is my judgment.”

“Judgment. Fine. Then what judgment will you make this time?”

Thud.

Edward stopped walking. He was now in Cecilia’s blind spot. If he attacked from there, it would be tricky to block. It was as if he was asking, “Will you trust me and turn your back to me?”

The answer was simple. Cecilia turned her head. Immediately, a sword strike flew toward her.

Clang—!

It was a rather strong blow. Cecilia realized Edward had just swung his sword with the intent to kill her.

“Wrong answer, Cecilia.”

“……I don’t think so.”

Edward’s sword was wrapped in flames. Cecilia’s arm trembled slightly.

It was because of the heat. Cecilia slightly increased the output of her Wind Blessing. That felt better.

“I’ve always wondered. Your wind and my flames, which is better?”

“The stronger one wins, right?”

“I’m asking about talent. Aren’t you and I the only ones in the Knight Order with the four major attributes?”

‘The four attributes are trash, though.’

Fire, water, earth, and wind are collectively called the four major attributes.

They’re not bad, but they’re not great either. There are plenty of overpowered blessings out there. The most notable ones are ‘time,’ ‘space,’ ‘light,’ and ‘darkness.’

Cecilia wanted to argue but decided to hold back.

“You look dissatisfied. Shall I tell you the answer? Your wind isn’t bad, but my fire is better. Fire consumes everything.”

Whoosh—

As the blessings on their swords clashed, the shockwaves spread through the surrounding air.

The flames flickered, casting a red glow on Cecilia’s silver hair.

“Wind cannot be consumed by anything.”

But Cecilia’s wind neutralized the flames. The raging fire that seemed ready to engulf everything gradually subsided under the fierce wind.

Edward’s mouth stretched to his ears.

“Shall we test it?”

The flames roared fiercely, spreading in all directions. Cecilia was using her wind to protect the building, but there was a limit.

Cecilia made a decision she couldn’t avoid.

“Wind—”

But Cecilia couldn’t finish her incantation. Edward swung his sword violently, and the flames that seemed ready to consume everything disappeared.

“Let’s stop here.”

“…….”

“I didn’t expect you to use Wind Shear. Were you planning to kill me?”

“Yes. Are you scared?”

Cecilia spoke without hesitation.

“……I won’t refuse if you want to go again, but I recommend stopping.”

Edward stood in front of Cecilia.

With a strange smile, he placed his hand on her cheek.

Cecilia looked at his hand with a cold expression. Her long eyelashes were half-closed.

“I love this Knight Order more than you think.”

If a battle broke out here, the headquarters would be destroyed.

Edward tilted Cecilia’s face upward. There was quite a height difference, so her neck hurt.

“My neck hurts.”

“Join me, Cecilia.”

“…….”

“Then I’ll forgive your earlier rudeness.”

Cecilia answered by biting Edward’s finger.

“Ugh.”

Edward grimaced and stepped back.

“If you don’t let go, I’ll bite.”

“You already bit me……!”

Edward was in quite a bit of pain. Cecilia felt secretly proud.

‘No, this isn’t the time.’

Cecilia pointed her sword.

“Please comply with the arrest, Vice-Captain. Otherwise, I’ll have to use force.”

“……It’s not me.”

Edward irritably pulled a potion from the drawer and spoke. He had a bit of a cleanliness obsession. Having someone else’s saliva on him was unbearable.

‘Wow, a 200-gold potion.’

Cecilia swallowed hard. Royalty really must have a lot of money.

‘If I confiscate it, it’s all mine.’

Cecilia decided to go through with the arrest.

“It’s already too late. The documents in my hand are perfect evidence…….”

“Evidence?”

Edward finished disinfecting and returned to his usual composure.

He wiped his hands with a white cloth and shook his head.

“Check it.”

“What…….”

Cecilia looked at the documents in her pocket.

They were blank.

The ink had been neatly blown away.

‘That earlier strike was aimed at this. I got played.’

“It’s no use. The ruins haven’t been cleared yet. You can just go there and prove it yourself.”

“Do you think I wouldn’t have taken such measures? But if you’re looking for a traitor, you’ve come to the wrong place.”

Cecilia tilted her head.

“I told you. I love this Knight Order quite a bit. I don’t know what you’ve been thinking of me all this time.”

Edward neatly organized his things and put them in the drawer, then pulled out a document and threw it at Cecilia.

Cecilia used her blessing to pick up the document that had fallen to the floor.

‘This is what’s cool.’

As she admired her own perfect posture, Edward spoke.

“It’s a document I separately investigated about the traitor. I’m certain there’s a traitor among those four.”

“Why this?”

“I expected it, but I didn’t think the Captain would suspect even me.”

‘So he thought he’d be the one to handle it.’

Cecilia blinked.

So, to summarize……

Edward is innocent?

No, but he’s clearly the mastermind.

“I demand an explanation. Then why did the Vice-Captain want the mission to fail?”

Edward chuckled.

“Everyone has one or two secrets they want to hide.”

Edward’s next words made Cecilia’s expression turn serious.

“Just like how you’re hiding your strength.”

**

Cecilia left the Vice-Captain’s office with a dazed look.

A soulless smile was also drawn on her lips.

The best tip for doing well at work is to pretend not to know even if you do, and to pretend to know even if you don’t.

“Yeah. I don’t know anything.”

“What do you mean you don’t know anything?”

“……!”

When Hiter suddenly appeared, Cecilia, startled, flipped him over.

“Gahk!”

Hiter, who had been brushing his teeth when this misfortune befell him, clutched his waist in pain.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

“Th-the criminal…!”

Cecilia, who had been thinking, “So is Edward the criminal?” blurted it out in her panic.

“What? W-wait, no!”

Hiter jumped up and denied it outright.

“Me, a spy for the Demon Race? That’s ridiculous……!”

Just then, some knights passing by the flowerbed whispered. Did you hear that? Hiter’s the traitor? No wonder, it makes sense.

“Hey! Who just said that?!”

The knights quickly disappeared, sweating. Cecilia covered her mouth.

“Hiter was the traitor……”

“No, I’m not!”

“Strong denial is strong affirmation……”

Hiter was so wronged he was on the verge of tears.

Cecilia decided to stop teasing Hiter at this point.

.

.

.

But it’s fun, so let’s do a little more.

“I’ll interrogate you. If you’re the criminal, please commit suicide.”

“…….”

Hiter, who had suddenly been accused of being a traitor while brushing his teeth, tightly shut his mouth.

‘Right. I gave him the documents.’

The pressure of having his identity exposed, the fear of having to bear a rotten title—he had forgotten for a moment.

“Listen carefully. When I was on the mission with Jerryway………”

Cecilia focused on the documents, momentarily forgetting Hiter was in front of her.

[ Investigation Record on Internal Information Leak ]

[ Hiter, Cecilia, Rude…… and 6 others have no suspicion. Jerryway has some suspicion, but if he were the traitor, there would have been a more fatal method. In other words, there is likely no traitor among the high-ranking knights. However, Jerryway cannot be ruled out.]

[ The suspects and their points of suspicion are listed below. ]

“……Are you even listening to me?”

“Yes. Please continue.”

Cecilia listened to Hiter with one ear while flipping through the documents.

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

A. Jerryway (Sword Emperor)

-As the team leader, he took the lead in moving, setting the dungeon entry and retreat routes.

Testimony: “Really? I didn’t drink this time. What? I smell like alcohol…? Well, I had a little medicinal wine. I’m a patient, after all.”

B. Marcus (Instructor)

-After the ‘Grave of the Skilled’ mission, he compiled a report on the testimonies of the trainee knights and requested 10 years of Sword Heroine Cecilia’s training records.

Testimony: “The trainee knights’ skills improved too rapidly, so I was curious.”

C. Elena (Support Mage)

-Excessive mana consumption was observed during the exploration, and there was suspicion of using specific magic (like sending coordinates to the Demon Race).

Testimony: “……I was just scared and spammed magic.”

D. Ridel (Knight)

-During the retreat, he acted independently and changed the route.

Testimony: “I felt the Demon Race chasing us.”

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

“Uh, Cecilia? Are you really listening?”

‘The criminal is obvious.’

Cecilia finally looked up from the documents.

“Can I go now……?”

“Just as I expected.”

“Huh? Wait! Wait, think about it again! I have a solid alibi!”

“The more perfect the alibi, the higher the chance of being the criminal. Humans aren’t perfect, after all. Except for me.”

“Why are you excluding yourself?!”

Cecilia made a slightly troubled expression.

She had deduced it, but there was something slightly off.

Something felt just out of reach…… It was so frustrating that she decided to wear a ponytail tomorrow.

“No, seriously! I was in a meeting with Count Eloise at the time! I wanted to find a new sponsor, so I brought Ridel and even showed them a sparring match! Why won’t you believe me?”

“……!”

Cecilia’s eyes widened.

What Hiter just said was a real kicker.

All the tangled information in her head connected into one thread.

An incredibly clear feeling. It was like finding a lost AirPod after a month—that level of relief.

‘It was so obvious, I forgot. The lost item is always in your hand.’

Cecilia quickly put on the monocle she had hanging on her chest.

“The mystery is completely solved.”

“……?”

“Hiter, please gather all the knights. This is an order from the investigator.”

“Huh? Uh…… If you say so. You’re the investigator, after all.”

Cecilia felt proud. An investigator—the word itself sounded cool.

“I will definitely catch the criminal.”

But now wasn’t the time for jokes. Cecilia’s eyes sparkled as she flared her cape. She had been waiting for this moment.

“For my grandfather’s honor!”

Hiter hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Wait, did you even have a grandfather?”

Cecilia’s monocle fell off.

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