Chapter 19: I Became a Swordsman in the Middle Ages

The Enemy Within

When Cecilia left the vice commander’s office, the headquarters was unusually busy.

Some were pestering the finance officers for more budget, others were preparing their gear and setting out for missions.

“Oh, Cecilia. Back from your mission?”

“Heading out on one yourself?”

“Yeah. Now that the emergency alert's been lifted, time to get back to my usual work.”

Just like everyone else, Leoric was carrying a massive backpack.

He had only stopped by for a brief meeting—high-ranking knights had notoriously tight schedules.

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

Leoric ruffled Cecilia’s hair with a grin.

“Take care.”

“Want to come with me?”

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

“I guess things really were unstable here… for you to actually turn down a chance to go demon hunting.”

With a shrug, Leoric walked off.

As usual, three curvaceous women clung to him closely.

Did he say he had nine wives? At this point, no one really kept track.

‘Time to go check on Beatrice.’

Cecilia strode confidently out of the headquarters.

Clear skies. A cool breeze.

Ah, a perfect day for giving tactical advice.

“Cecilia.”

A low, firm voice.

Without even looking, Cecilia quickened her pace.

“Reporting back from a mission? You’re supposed to check in with the commander first.”

Her feet which was moving suddenly left the ground.

Kairon had grabbed her by the back of the neck and lifted her up.

“…”

As distant memories from when she was six years old bubbled up, Kairon gently set her down on the bench next to him.

Cecilia sat with practiced grace.

“My apologies.”

“Didn’t even report when you left.”

“It was on Vice Commander Edward’s orders.”

Kairon sighed.

Cecilia tried her best to avoid eye contact.

“Where were you headed?”

“For a highly classified mission…”

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

“…”

“It’s admirable for a knight to take interest in the growing sprouts. But you have more pressing duties, don’t you?”

Only then did Cecilia cautiously glance at Kairon.

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

The fact that all these administrative officers were gathered outside meant only one thing: Politics.

In short, it was a very, very annoying and very, very much disliked topic by Cecilia, the “Central Nobles’ Council.”

“Anyway, good timing, Cecilia. You’ll be attending the Central Nobles—”

Whoosh—

Cecilia was gone.

Only the pleasant scent of spring breeze remained where she had been.

“So this is the legendary Blessing of Wind! Incredible—who knew it could be used like that?”

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

The officers were somewhat surprised and exchanged chuckles, impressed.

But Kairon, unfazed, reached out to the side—

“Ah.”

“Still running from things you don’t like, I see.”

Cecilia, somehow caught in Kairon’s grip again, slumped like a ragdoll.

Broken tier character, she thought.

Kairon was one of the rare "broken-tier" characters that even Cecilia acknowledged.

He was a swordsman who had reached Spatial Resonance.

And not through innate talent, but through sheer enlightenment.

A late-blooming Blessing, earned through mastery alone.

He had risen to the title of Sword Emperor through pure swordsmanship skill alone.

If Cecilia were to be stripped of her blessings, she would be nothing but a mere novice before him.

“That habit of yours is unbecoming. Fix it.”

“……Yessir.”

Still holding Cecilia in one arm, Kairon headed toward a carriage and promptly stuffed her inside.

“I’m a grown woman now, you know.”

“Before me, you’re still a child.”

He closed the door firmly, and the carriage began to roll.

“So, what’s the issue this time?”

“The Royal Knights Commander made a claim that seems to have sat well with the nobles.”

“About authority over command?”

“Exactly. They’ve taken quite the fancy to Windsor, it seems.”

That reminded Cecilia of what the Queen had said before she left—about needing to earn trust.

She had completely forgotten to pass that message along to Kairon.

“They needed some grand achievement to bolster their position. I was planning to have you take the mission, then Edward snatched it out from under me.”

Flinch.

Kairon was echoing the Queen’s exact words.

Saying anything now would definitely result in a scolding.

Cecilia said cautiously.

“I simply couldn’t defy the vice commander’s orders…”

“Are you hearing yourself right now…? Ugh, forget it.”

Kairon let out a deep sigh.

“You’ve always been like this. Ever since you were young—desperate to help anyone you thought had potential. Edward probably exploited that.”

Cecilia whistled casually as she looked out the window.

Of course, she didn’t actually know how to whistle, so it was just air.

Kairon massaged his temple. A headache was forming.

“Still, that mindset isn’t wrong.”

“Right?”

“That wasn’t praise. Learn to read the room.”

Pout.

Cecilia’s lips jutted out slightly.

“……Even so.”

Kairon’s expression darkened slightly.

“I was actually relieved you didn’t go on that mission. I must be getting old.”

“…Did something happen?”

“One of the high-ranking knights was badly injured.”

“How badly?”

“They say he needs at least 6 months to recover.”

“So just some bruising then.”

“……”

Kairon fell silent and pondered seriously.

Was there something wrong with his home education?

Cecilia’s definition of "serious injury" had always been wildly out of sync with everyone else's.

Her common sense is definitely not normal.

“So are we heading off to get scolded?”

“Yes. Just have to listen to some yelling and come back.”

“I don’t wanna.”

“Neither do I.”

“……”

Cecilia briefly questioned Kairon’s qualifications as a guardian.

“By the way, Jerriway said something strange.”

‘So it was Jerriway who got hurt. Must’ve gotten wrecked trying to fight drunk again.’

Cecilia didn’t think much of it.

“He suspects there’s a mole inside the Windsor Knight Order.”

Cecilia flinched inwardly.

“……Really?”

Kairon beckoned with his hand. It was a signal to come closer.

With a reluctant expression, Cecilia leaned in.

Kairon reached out and tugged her soft cheek. Hard.

“You knew.”

“Ah wudn't (I didn’t)!”

“You did.”

“Ah’m innothemmmt (I’m innocent)!”

Kairon let go of Cecilia.

She straightened her uniform and sat at perfect attention once more, though her cheeks were still flushed a faint pink.

“Are you suspecting the Vice Commander?”

“Hard to say. Based on the circumstances, Edward is the most likely, but that’s not instinct speaking.”

Kairon’s gaze sharpened.

“That guy wouldn’t make a move this obvious.”

‘Yeah, I don’t think it’s the Vice Commander either,’ Cecilia thought.

To her, Edward was a good superior who genuinely cared for his subordinates.

Wasn’t he the one who introduced her to that fine, suitable dungeon and entrusted her with the training of such adorable trainee knights?

He even gladly approved the mission budget.

A boss who kept work and personal feelings separate. A true role model.

“Cecilia. I’ll give you a homework assignment.”

“Yes.”

“Find the mole. I’ll be investigating as well.”

“Understood.”

Kairon looked at her with a hint of concern.

“You need to improve your judgment of people. You're too kind, unable to recognize malice in others.”

“I’m confident in my abilities.”

“Confident? This coming from the kid who kept getting kidnapped?”

“…….”

Cecilia’s face turned red.

That… was one of her darkest history.

“You just followed a stranger because he said he had sweets. I can’t tell you how dumbfounded I was when I heard that. What if you hadn’t been strong?”

“Th-that was a long time ago…”

‘Still, it was a charming medieval experience…’

Even while tied up in some creepy guy’s wagon, Cecilia had giggled like an idiot.

It was a kidnapping event! Wasn’t that a classic trope full of romantic adventure?

“And five months ago, you got scammed out of all your money. That was the 8th time. I’ve half given up on you. And you still locked yourself in your room for days, crying…”

“A-Alright, alright! Please stop…”

Her neck flushed red now.

"Cough."

Even the coachman chuckled under his breath.

Cecilia seriously considered leaping out the carriage window.

‘But… he said it was a once-in-a-decade sale, how can I resist…’

— Miss, you won’t find this deal again anytime soon! Miss this chance, and it’s gone for 10 whole years! Not just in this kingdom—this is the cheapest price across the entire continent!

She still couldn’t forget the warm smile of that "kind uncle." At the time, she genuinely thought he was an angel.

Then she found out the artifact she bought cost 10 times its real value. She nearly passed out.

‘Hm? What’s that?’

Lost in her bitter memories with a broken heart, Cecilia spotted something in the distance.

It was the training grounds.

She pressed her face to the carriage window, hoping to see some familiar faces.

“The orphanage again?”

Kairon assumed it was one of her usual charity stops and shook his head.

“Let’s pass on it for now. We’ll visit them on the way back.”

“No, these are the trainees I went on the mission with.”

Only then did Kairon look out as well.

The place was indeed a knight training ground, and trainees were hard at work.

‘I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to stop for a moment.’

“Halt the carriage.”

“Yes, sir.”

Hiiiiing—!

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

“Use the door next time,”

Kairon grumbled as he stepped down from the carriage.

Cecilia was already observing the field from afar, hands clasped behind her back, heading over with a steady gait.

“S-Sir! What brings you here... I’ll notify the instructor immediately!”

“No need. I’ll just watch quietly and be on my way.”

Kairon patted the nervous guard’s shoulder, brushing past him with ease.

The trainees were in the middle of practice. The sound of wooden swords clashing echoed through the training field, joined by the sharp crackle of colliding blessings.

‘I’d heard this cohort wasn’t particularly impressive…’

They were still rough, but Kairon saw potential. What caught his eye most was the look in their eyes—burning with the desire to grow stronger.

“They’re not bad.”

“Their specs are decent. But they’re still a long way off.”

“What’s missing?”

“They lack proper sword control. Just now—if that one had gone for a thrust instead of a slash, he would’ve won. But he overextended, lost his balance.”

In this era where blessings often mattered more than swordsmanship, Cecilia stood out.

Perhaps within the entire Windsor Knight Order, she was the only one who still saw with that kind of clarity.

Kairon spoke with a hint of amusement.

“Most think you’re only where you are because of your absurd blessing talent.”

“They’re not entirely wrong. I am confident in it.”

“No. Even without your blessing, you would’ve made it. Cecilia, you were born for the sword.”

As their carriage stood waiting nearby, urgent footsteps approached—it sounded like his aide.

‘Looks like it’s time to go.’

Kairon turned to call Cecilia—

Only to find her already looking toward something far off, at a higher elevation than he expected.

“Look over there. That trio… they’re trying so hard. You can feel their hunger to grow stronger from all the way over here.”

This little girl who once barely reached his waist… now stood beside him, nearly eye-to-eye, seeing the world from the same height as him.

‘She’s grown so much already.’

Of course, she still had a petite frame that didn't even reach his shoulder—still too small to leave unattended. But still…

“Especially that blonde one, she’s the one I’m most excited about. I bet she’ll pass the test.”

Seeing Cecilia’s sparkling eyes made the corners of Kairon’s own eyes crease with the faintest smile.

“Sir?”

“Let’s be a little late.”

“But… those nobles are practically foaming at the mouth waiting to tear into us.”

Kairon quietly shook his head. Gently, he brushed a strand of hair from Cecilia’s face.

“Cecilia will always say something interesting during moments like this.”

A faint, weathered smile tugged at his lips.

“The protagonist always arrives late.”

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