Chapter 14: I Became a Swordsman in the Middle Ages

A Suitable Dungeon (4)

The ghosts had grotesque appearances.

One had no legs and floated in midair with torn organs dangling beneath it, while another had half its face blown off and, lacking a mouth, screamed through its eyeballs instead.

A truly horrific sight—one you’d rarely see with your eyes open.

‘So that’s why it’s called the “Tomb of the Skilled.”’

These were the lingering souls of those who, confident in their own abilities, entered the dungeon only to die and be forgotten.

Should one perish here, they would become a gray specter, forever trapped within this mansion.

“Run!”

“Undead!”

The apprentice knights all drew their swords in unison.

While considered novices by Windsor’s standards, by average metrics, they were still well-trained veterans, and their reactions were quick.

“Spread out!”

“I’ll clear the path! Everyone, break through and get to the rooms—!”

But they were still far from ready.

‘They keep breaking the rules.’

[Rule #2: Do not make loud noises! Noise pollution lowers property values in the area!]

The consequences of breaking the rule came immediately.

“Ghk—!”

Those who had shouted suddenly clutched their throats and collapsed.

Cecilia’s eyes sank deep with disappointment.

“Wh-what… is this…?!”

One swung his sword, but of course, physical attacks had no effect on ghost-types. It simply sliced through empty air.

“L-Lady Cecilia…!”

One apprentice, overwhelmed with terror, clung to Cecilia’s ankle.

“Please spare me! Please! I’m done with the test…! I beg you!”

“I’m the youngest of House Heinz! If you let me live, I’ll reward you handsomely!”

All this happened in less than three minutes after the situation began.

Not only had they forgotten the rules entirely, but many were screaming and swinging their weapons wildly into the void.

“Haah…”

Cecilia let out a soft sigh of frustration but still didn’t forget her role.

“I will not interfere. Even if you become wandering ghosts, bound to this place for eternity. Did you not even prepare yourselves for death when entering a dungeon?”

Still, despite her own performance as the “strict but kindhearted pretty instructor,” the results were beyond disappointing.

‘Poor judgment.’

‘Lack of insight.’

‘Insufficient basic skills.’

Their incompetence was sigh-inducing.

Just as Marcus had said, the current group of apprentices were painfully lacking.

‘But at this rate, calling it training is meaningless.’

Any further would cross the line into abuse.

Cecilia didn’t enjoy tormenting helpless, innocent people.

She came to a swift decision.

‘This is as far as it goes.’

Just as she was about to draw her sword and announce the end of training—

“Don’t scream.”

A charging ghost vanished in a burst of light.

Cecilia turned her head to look at the knight beside her. It was Beatrice, the cute girl she had taken note of earlier.

“And it looks like Blessings work. Everyone, coat your swords with a blessing. It’s not the most efficient, but it’s the best option we’ve got.”

Her sword shimmered like fireflies. A rare Blessing of Light.

‘Whoa. That’s rare.’

Cecilia blinked, then calmly sheathed her sword as if she’d never intended to draw it at all.

Beatrice fought valiantly against the ghosts.

But her trembling hands betrayed her. She was scared too—just holding it in and pressing forward.

‘…So brave. And adorable.’

She was worth watching, at least for now.

***

Heeheeheehee!

“Damn it, damn it, damn it.”

At the front of the group, Riharten muttered curses under his breath, trying to shake off his fear.

Come with us! Stay with us!

Those damned ghosts were even talking—voices twisted, warped with a mix of male and female tones.

He felt like ripping his ears off just to shut them out.

‘But I can’t fall back.’

He steadied himself, sensing the silent steps of someone walking behind him.

The top student of this cohort—Beatrice Schwarzfeder.

Even though she was a head shorter than him, the young female knight was pushing forward without hesitation.

It would be pathetic for him, a man, to collapse before her.

Riharten gripped his sword tighter and infused it with a Blessing.

“We’re on the second floor now. Can you cover me, Betty?”

“…Yeah.”

She gave a short reply, then stepped out.

She hid behind the second-floor banister, peeking down the hallway.

Hello~

A ghost politely greeted her.

Its mouth was torn all the way to its ears, and its lower body was missing.

Beatrice nearly screamed.

‘It’s terrifying.’

In truth, she was more afraid than anyone else in the group.

She wanted to run.

But she had a reason she couldn’t.

“……”

Beatrice glanced behind her.

Standing there with emotionless poise—

Even amidst this chaos, without the slightest tremor of fear—was a Windsor Knight.

The Sword Princess, Cecilia.

The ghosts, for some reason, didn’t attack her.

No, they were huddled in the corner, sobbing with their hands over their heads.

Just because she looked at them.

Shiver—

Goosebumps crawled over her skin. Beatrice turned back and swallowed hard.

‘If I give up now… I won’t be killed by ghosts, but by Lady Cecilia herself.’

It’s easier to give up! So much easier to give up!

‘I… I want to… too…’

If she’d known it would be this brutal, she would’ve never dreamed of becoming a Windsor Knight.

She had only applied because she wanted to climb the ladder and get ahead in life!

She wanted to quit. To throw it all away and run.

But to Beatrice, Cecilia was scarier than the ghosts.

Wanna come with us? Come with us…

A grotesque ghost with arms where its legs should’ve been slowly approached her.

‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I was arrogant to even think I could challenge Windsor. Once this is over, I’ll drop out. I’ll go help my parents on the farm.’

Tears welled up in Beatrice’s eyes as she shouted:

“Sunshine!”

A wave of light burst forth. At the same time, Riharten dashed into the hallway, cutting down three or four ghosts in one swoop.

He took a deep breath, then nodded toward the others. Avoiding any unnecessary running, he moved quickly down the corridor.

Creaaak—!

One by one, the trainees made it into rooms. Then suddenly, the ghosts—momentarily paralyzed by Beatrice’s Sunshine—began moving again.

Cold sweat dripping, Riharten called out in haste.

“Betty, again!”

“I’m already keeping it up… But it’s not working. They feel… stronger.”

“Damn it, it’s the rules. It’s gotta be… looks like the later it gets, the stronger they become.”

Riharten turned back and barked an order.

“Everyone, pick the closest room and get in. Don’t die.”

He charged forward, clearing the way, with several other trainees following close behind.

Meanwhile, Beatrice cautiously peeled off from the group.

‘He said go inside, so… it should be okay now, right?’

Gulp.

For the first time in her life, a doorknob looked sweeter than candy.

Maybe there’d be a bed inside. She was exhausted. She wanted to take off this uncomfortable armor and just fall asleep.

But—

Just as she reached for the doorknob, Cecilia appeared in her peripheral vision.

“Hik!”

Beatrice flinched with a hiccup as her eyes met Cecilia’s.

Step. Step.

Cecilia walked slowly. Gracefully. Calmly.

Meanwhile, the other trainees rushed to open the nearest doors.

Whoosh—!

“Ugh…!”

A trainee who tried to open a door ahead of others collapsed to the floor, groaning in pain.

A sudden gust of wind had blown him away.

Creaaak.

The now-empty door creaked open.

Behind Cecilia, unconscious trainees floated in the air like ghosts themselves, one by one being tossed into the open rooms.

Thud.

Once two trainees were inside a room, the door closed by itself.

Meanwhile, those who had entered rooms prematurely were forcibly ejected.

“Wh-Why?!”

“Fare dodging is a crime.”

Beatrice didn’t know what “fare dodging” meant… but her instincts screamed:

‘She’s the type that makes your life hell if you try to take the easy way…!’

So cruel!

A villainess with no blood or tears!

Beatrice, unable to speak her thoughts aloud, held back tears as she quickly followed behind Riharten .

—Did you know? There’s no such thing as a normal person in the Windsor Knights. Especially the high-ranking—they're all lunatics.

Her fellow trainee’s words echoed in her mind.

Back then, she thought it was just an exaggeration to scare her.

Now, from the bottom of her heart, she sincerely, deeply apologized to Riharten for doubting him.

“There’s only one room left.”

“Let’s all three go in.”

Just then, Beatrice grabbed Riharten’s hand in haste.

“No. Only two people can enter.”

“That’s ridiculous. The room’s big, we could fit five easily—”

“Lady Cecilia’s orders. If more than two try to enter, she breaks their legs with wind.”

“What?!”

Riharten instinctively shouted and immediately clamped his hand over his mouth.

“Kkhhh!”

A not-so-normal-sounding scream (?) rang out as someone was tossed through the air.

“Damn it, she’s as terrifying as she is pretty.”

Riharten muttered with a twisted grin.

“You two go in. I’ll break through to the third floor alone.”

Dessen frowned.

“Why you? Let me—”

“Let me play the hero just once, okay?”

Dessen gave a small chuckle and nodded.

“Come on, Betty. Sorry you’ll have to sleep next to a guy.”

“O-Okay…”

In a life-or-death situation, who cared about that?

Beatrice was just grateful to escape this hellish moment.

“...Sorry, Riharten.”

Click.

The door closed.

Unlike the chaos outside, the inside of the room was eerily quiet.

But that relief was short-lived.

Beatrice remembered it—Cecilia’s cold stare before she entered the room.

‘Why… why did she look at me like that?’

Clang—

A clash echoed just outside the room. Riharten must have been struggling.

The ghosts must have caught up.

Then it hit her.

‘I still have some mana left… but Dessen and Riharten probably don’t.’

They were the ones clearing the path at the front. She was near the front too, but only in a supporting role.

Still… would Cecilia really know how much mana they had left?

She’d never heard of such a skill, but—

‘Of course she would!’

Beatrice’s lips trembled.

At this rate?

She might end up battered and dead, tossed around by Cecilia’s wind like a rag doll.

“I know what you’re thinking, but don’t. Riharten’s already resolved himself to—”

But Beatrice had already opened the door.

“What are you—?!”

“Shh.”

Grabbing the back of Riharten’s neck, she tossed him into the room and stepped outside.

“Hmm.”

Right in front of her stood Cecilia. Beatrice nearly collapsed on the spot.

Cecilia was silently chewing on her bottom lip, as if evaluating something. Her long lashes slowly descended over her eyes.

Nod.

“……!”

Thankfully, her gamble had paid off. If she had been even a second later, she’d likely be airborne by now.

But then—

Like fish swarming around bait, a mass of ghosts surged toward her.

She left the room! She left the room! She broke the rule! She must be punished! She must be punished!

“Eek…”

Beatrice’s hand trembled, and the Blessing of Light on her sword flickered.

The grotesque wailing of the ghosts echoed around her ears, and she reflexively shut her eyes.

‘I should’ve just stayed in the room…!’

Regret came too late. Her face turned pale, and her limbs began to shake.

A few tears welled up, pushed out by sheer, overwhelming fear.

Instinctively, Beatrice glanced to her side. It was like a reflex—a desperate search for a powerful ally when one knows they’re completely outmatched.

“……”

Chill—

Cecilia’s expression was as cold as ice.

D-Don’t hit me...

I’m sorry! I’m sorry!

We’re all gonna die… we’re all gonna die…

Even the ghosts trembled under the faint murderous aura exuding from her.

But Beatrice no longer paid them any mind.

Those frigid, glinting eyes of Cecilia’s—

They seemed to ask, “You came to challenge the Windsor Knights with this little resolve?”

‘I’d rather be killed by the ghosts. If I mess up with her, she’ll wipe out my bloodline for three generations.’

Terrified beyond all measure, Beatrice swung her sword with all her might.

“Lumen Strike!”

“Holy Radiant Slash!”

“Roar of Light—!”

Every skill she knew, and even some she didn’t, were unleashed all at once.

Half out of her mind, she charged toward the third floor.

Thanks to her radiant swordsmanship, the dark hallway was filled with light.

So scary! So scary!

What is this?! What is this?!

It’s weird! It’s already midnight! I hear the bell! Aaaah!

Luck was on her side.

The ghosts seemed afraid of the light. If only she had realized it sooner.

“Hah… hah—”

Ding—

With the final chime of the bell, Beatrice made it into the room.

She collapsed the moment she stepped inside.

“I… I did it.”

***

Courage in the face of fear.

Boldness in leading from the front.

Compassion for her companions despite her own weakness.

And most of all, perseverance that never gave up.

Even a cheeky little glance now and then toward the supervisor, hoping for praise.

‘Pass.’

Cecilia was thoroughly pleased.

Though she did release a little bloodlust at the end to stall the ghosts—

It was only because Beatrice didn’t give up that she made it to the third floor.

But most importantly…

“So indecent.”

The way the soft, squishy newbie moved was way too lewd.

‘A cute, strong, and sweet newbie…’

Slurp. Cecilia wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth with her sleeve.

Before the official launch, she’d gained an unexpected treasure.

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