Chapter 35: I Became a Swordsman in the Middle Ages

Newbie Gacha (2)

“Beatrice Windsor! Reporting for duty!”

Beatrice saluted Cecilia and shouted in a loud voice.

Seeing her in the official uniform of the Windsor Knights brought a wave of emotion crashing over Cecilia.

‘I thought I wouldn’t see a cute newbie girl for at least another year…’

All the hardships she had endured flashed vividly through her mind.

How much had she squeezed the royal capital’s designers just to get that uniform made?

How many hunger strikes had she staged to get it officially adopted?

‘But…’

Beatrice kept fidgeting with the hem of her skirt, clearly uncomfortable.

With a fluttering heart, Cecilia asked,

“Do you like the uniform?”

“It’s really pretty! It is, but…”

Beatrice glanced at Cecilia and spoke hesitantly.

“I’ve only worn pants for a while, so…”

Of course.

Other than Cecilia, no female knight would ever be caught dead wearing a skirt.

It didn’t even need to be explained how fatal exposed skin could be in combat.

“Hmm.”

Cecilia raised the corner of her mouth just a bit.

Then, without warning, she poked Beatrice on the cheek.

Just as Beatrice’s eyes turned confused, Cecilia suddenly tried to flip up her skirt with lightning speed.

“L-Lady Cecilia?!”

Beatrice frantically grabbed Cecilia’s wrist.

Taking a couple steps back, Cecilia spoke with satisfaction.

“Did you feel the difference in reaction speed?”

“…?”

“When I poked your cheek, you didn’t even flinch. But when I reached down, you reacted instantly.”

Beatrice was dumbfounded.

But Cecilia remained utterly serious.

“You see, wearing a skirt gives you a passive bonus stats: +15 to lower-body reaction speed. The tension from having exposed skin forces you to stay more alert.”

“…!”

Now that she explained it, it… kind of made sense?

Beatrice began to think differently.

“Alright, let me give you an overview of the Windsor Knights. Did you unpack your things yet?”

“Uh, no, not yet…”

“Then let’s get your quarters assigned first. We’ve got a lot to do today.”

Cecilia looked especially cheerful as she said that.

***

“First, let’s go over the most important thing: the rules of the Windsor Knights. In other words, our unique code of chivalry.”

On the way to the barracks, Beatrice quickly pulled out a notepad.

“First: Windsor Knights strictly uphold conventional codes of chivalry. Are you familiar with them?”

“Yes! Of course.”

Anyone aspiring to be a knight would naturally know it.

It was the most fundamental value of knighthood — and for nobles, it was practically common sense.

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

1. Trust and uphold Her Majesty the Queen’s teachings.

2. Protect Her Majesty the Queen.

3. Respect and protect the weak.

4. Love your country.

5. Do not retreat before the enemy.

6. Fight the faithless without pause or mercy.

7. Do not lie—let your oath be worthy of trust.

8. Be merciful and give generously to all.

9. Stand against corruption and evil wherever and whenever, and be a champion of justice and good.

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

“Second, Windsor places the highest priority on Article 6 of the code of chivalry.”

“Third, to uphold Article 2, Article 1 may be disregarded.”

That meant if it was to slay demons, nothing was off-limits.

Not even the Queen’s own orders.

Beatrice had only heard rumors, so she was shocked to learn the Windsor Knights Code actually existed.

“Then, if someone interferes with demon subjugation…”

“The Windsor Knights are the only force with an official license to kill.”

“…!”

“That’s why the entry process is rather strict. If someone with a severely flawed character were to enter this order, it could spell disaster.”

The Windsor Order valued its mission above all else, even more than sheer strength.

No matter how skilled, anyone with unclear origins or even the slightest criminal record was typically rejected.

However, there were exceptions—if the candidate held deep hatred for demons.

Cecilia and Jerriway were prime examples:

Jerriway had a theft record, and Cecilia’s origins were somewhat ambiguous.

“You just barely made the cut, Beatrice.”

“The cut?”

“Yes. You’re the last candidate to join under the current Windsor Code. From here on out, new recruits will follow a different standard.”

The Windsor Knights were about to begin large-scale recruitment.

To prepare for that, they had decided to lower the entry threshold.

Naturally, with lower standards, the absolute authority they once held had to be reduced too.

There were concerns and pushback, but with mass recruitment, there was no way to maintain the same level of scrutiny.

“Oh, Cecilia! Is this the new recruit?”

“Yeah.”

Just then, a knight walking down the hall recognized Cecilia and came over.

Beatrice was about to salute, but Cecilia stopped her.

“You don’t need to salute unless they’re a high-ranking knight.”

“O-oh, okay. Hello!”

“Wow, how long has it been since we had a new recruit? Where are you from?”

“I’m from the western border and the Schwarzfeder estate.”

“Oh? I’m from the south and the House of Marquis Veron.”

“Gasp!”

Beatrice was a baron’s daughter. She immediately moved to show proper respect, but Cecilia stopped her again.

“Inside the Windsor Order, we don’t use outside titles. That’s why you were given the surname ‘Windsor.’”

“Haha! Still in training, huh? Cecilia, would it be alright if I showed her around? You must be busy.”

Cecilia narrowed her eyes into a sharp glare, staring straight at the knight.

He flinched.

With a clearly protective stare, she tried to hide Beatrice behind her.

Of course, since Cecilia was smaller, that didn’t quite work.

“Router, if you’re so free, should I find work for you? I’ve got plenty of spare dungeons lying around.”

“S-sorry! I’ll be on my way!”

The knight ran off in a hurry.

Cecilia carefully scanned her surroundings, on high alert. She was even prepared to unleash Wind Shear at a moment’s notice.

The reason she went to such lengths was simple.

‘Mine. Only I get to dote on her.’

Cecilia wanted to keep Beatrice entirely to herself.

***

Beatrice couldn’t stop thinking about what had just happened.

‘I always thought she only spoke formally… but I guess not.’

When she looked to her side, Cecilia was walking silently. Ever since that knight left, she had seemed deep in thought, like she was deliberating some important matter right now.

‘I… I want to be closer to her too.’

It was Cecilia who had ultimately inspired her to join the order, even after she had half given up.

She had been deeply moved by Cecilia’s achievements in the Gartane territory.

She wanted to stand beside her, even a little. To become someone like her.

So the moment she returned, she had thrown herself into sword training like a madwoman—and soon, she was able to pass the apprentice trial.

“Um…”

“Yes?”

“I, well…”

But actually saying it aloud was more embarrassing than she’d expected.

Beatrice plucked up her courage and said.

“If… if you’d like, you can speak casually with me too…”

Cecilia’s eyes widened, and she took three steps back.

She was flustered. Her face was burning red.

Looking at Beatrice, she muttered softly:

“…Okay.”

‘She’s… so cute!’

Beatrice found herself thinking something borderline sacrilegious.

Cecilia might’ve been her superior by far, but at least in this moment, she looked utterly adorable.

“This will be your room from now on.”

Cecilia, just before opening the door, asked hesitantly:

“And um… can I ask one favor? Would it be okay if I called you by a nickname?”

A bundle of pure cuteness!

The epitome of loveliness!

Cecilia spoke so shyly that the terrifying images in the past was nowhere to be found.

No wonder she was the Windsor Order’s mascot.

Happiness tingled through every neuron in Beatrice’s brain.

It was only her first day on the job, but the job satisfaction already went through the roof.

“Of course! Wanna give it a try?”

“Be… Betty.”

“Yes!”

“Betty.”

“Yes!”

Beatrice beamed with delight. Cecilia, heart full, opened the door.

“I knew it was a good idea to prepare in advance.”

‘She even prepared a gift? For me?’

Oh my god, how could someone be so thoughtful?

Beatrice barely managed to stop herself from hugging Cecilia tightly on the spot as she peeked into the room.

“…?”

But she couldn’t see anything.

Only a massive pile of books blocked her view.

‘What is all this…?’

“These are the 172 must-read guid—oops, essential reading volumes for newb—oops, beginner knights. But since Betty’s exceptional, this’ll be no problem, right?”

“…Sorry?”

“I’ll give you a month. Though I’m sure someone as brilliant as Betty will finish even faster.”

Beatrice’s mentality crumbled into pieces.

***

“You want to include Beatrice in your unit?”

“Yes.”

Cecilia wiped away her tears with a handkerchief embroidered with a little bunny, having just received the news of her appointment as Chief Recruitment Coordinator.

They say spring follows hardship—and indeed, lately, she’d been receiving nothing but good news.

“It’s true that you’ll need people to work under you if you’re going to lead a mass recruitment. But are you sure? She’s still a rookie, not yet fully adjusted.”

“I believe she’s more than qualified.”

“…For you to say that much, she must’ve really won your favor.”

“She has.”

Cecilia answered proudly.

Her first direct subordinate.

She was planning to give her dear Betty the highest level of personal attention.

She’d even start writing a special training manual for Beatrice as soon as she got off work tonight.

“Forming a unit is a privilege granted to high-ranking knights. Not even the Knight Commander can interfere with that. Still, one person isn’t enough. You’ll need to recruit more. How do you plan to handle that mountain of paperwork alone?”

“Betty can manage it.”

“…I’ll lend you a few people from my line. Use them.”

“Okay.”

Kairon let out a sigh.

The fact that she hadn’t insisted on doing it solo meant she was at least planning to choose her members carefully.

‘Still, being too cautious isn’t always a good thing.’

He had less than a year left before retirement.

While he could still support Cecilia now, once he stepped down, a retired knight’s influence within the order would drop significantly.

He needed to help her establish a stronger support base.

But she didn’t seem all that interested in that herself, which made him uneasy.

‘Still, the adjutant was right. Those recruited under Cecilia’s leadership won’t be able to oppose her easily.’

“Commander.”

“You have something to say?”

“Is my authority limited to recruitment?”

“What else are you planning?”

Kairon asked seriously. Without hesitation, Cecilia responded:

“I want to make a few structural changes.”

“Submit a report. If you push for it yourself, there’ll be backlash. I’ll use my authority to implement it.”

“Understood.”

“Anything else?”

“No.”

“Then get moving. This is something that must proceed without delay.”

“Yes, sir.”

Cecilia bowed her head and exited the commander’s office.

And, just as Kairon said, she immediately got to work.

The first step: posting the recruitment notices all across the kingdom.

“Sir Leoric, is this real? The Windsor Knights are actually opening their tightly sealed gates?”

While in the middle of a mission in the South, Leoric read the announcement at the Count’s words.

[If you wish to become a Windsor Knight, come to Theresia immediately.]

That was all the large notice said.

“…Still, what an arrogant posting. As if the name ‘Windsor Knights’ alone were enough to convey honor.”

No flowery language. No explanation.

And yet, it exuded confidence, as if that one line were all that was needed.

“I think I know who wrote this. The royal capital’s going to be overflowing soon.”

Leoric gave a wry smile.

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