I Became a Swordsman in the Middle Ages.

Margrave Aldred, who told Sisillia to follow him, saying he had something to show, abruptly started talking.

"The first I noticed was a knight who returned 5 years ago."

Sisillia just listened silently.

"It was my son."

"..."

"He really acted as if he had come back alive. He even appeared at the central staircase of all places. At first, I thought I was hallucinating."

'...The monster revealed itself?'

Normally, that doesn't make sense.

It was a fact that was not even in Sisillia's 'Must-read Book 17 for Newbies: Monster Encyclopedia'.

Sisillia made up her mind to start writing as soon as she went back.

"But not everyone can make the same choice as me. At first, I tried to somehow identify and kill them, but."

Count Aldred stopped walking.

"It wasn't easy. Above all, I realized it would be meaningless soon."

But Sisillia knew this was the destination even if he didn't stop walking.

The reason for coming all the way here late at night.

"No matter how much you kill them, they come back alive. The monster you killed will probably be back at the apple store by tomorrow."

One person was imprisoned in an underground prison.

A young man who looked somewhat like Aldred.

Wearing shabby clothes, he clung to the iron bars as soon as Aldred came.

"Father—!"

"...Yes. Are you doing alright?"

"How can you do this to me!"

'Indeed, even if you know, you'll fall for this.'

Monsters have little emotional expression.

But the person in the prison had a thick sense of injustice in his voice.

A son who keeps coming back alive even if he dies.

Even knowing that it's a monster, the mental stress that comes every time you kill it would be unbearable for a human.

"Your proposal... I decided to accept it."

"Really, really? Thank you! Father, if you meet Lady Priscilla just once, you will change your mind, too!"

At this point, it seemed like the human had become a monster and returned, rather than just imitating a monster.

"We don't have to fight monsters! They are also beings that can be reasoned with. If we make a peace treaty, no one has to lose their life!"

"Lies."

But still, it's a monster.

It's desperate to not give itself away.

Sisillia instantly grabbed the monster's collar in front of the iron bars. She looked down at it with disgust and said,

"You don't know what peace is. Because you've never felt it or wished for it."

The monster rolled its eyes and looked at Aldred.

"Who is this person?"

"You don't need to worry. It's a newly appointed knight, and it seems they have some prejudice."

Did he say Priscilla of Deception?

Whoever named it, it's a really well-chosen name.

Sisillia let go of its collar and stepped back.

"Do I have to see more of this scene?"

"... There's no need for that."

"Then I will take my leave."

"No, listen to this before you go."

Margrave Aldred opened the iron bar door.

The monster, who had been terrified, came out with a brightly lit face.

"Tomorrow at 2 p.m. Tell them right away. I will accept all proposals, so let's have a conversation."

"Yes! Of course!"

The monster ran away with a bright face. The Margrave stood there for a moment, and then his legs gave out.

Sisillia, who was next to him, supported him.

"Are you alright?"

"... I'm fine. I showed you an unsightly scene. No matter how often I see it, I can't get used to it."

"How many times have you killed it so far?"

"17 times. After passing 10 times, it became difficult. I thought I would get used to it."

'When I return to the capital, I should select a few priests and send them.'

Even after the mission is over, the mental pain of the people in this estate will not end.

**

The morning dawned in the Gartan estate.

They were people living in false hope, but their faces were bright at this moment as if they were real.

But even among them, a few were not bright. One of them was Beatrix.

Sisillia, eating a morning bun, simply said to the 'I'm sorry' that she had heard about 50 times already,

"It's fine."

"B-But... I dared to object to Miss Sisillia's judgment."

"It does fall under the crime of disobedience, but you're still an apprentice."

Beatrix's lips turned blue.

'She must have seen me as a tolerant superior just now.'

Sisillia looked around, satisfied with her own generosity.

"The Margrave has something to say to the people of the estate! Please gather at the square quickly!"

The knights were running around and gathering people. The estate residents gathered at the square as soon as they heard the announcement.

Perhaps because it was a frontier estate, their actions in this regard were quick. If it were the capital, it would have taken half a day just to gather people.

"Beatrix."

"Y-Yes!"

Beatrix, who somehow became disciplined overnight.

Sisillia sat on a suitable wall, swinging her legs, and said,

"The moment my Wind Shear is released, I can precisely slash a single location. The duration is 2 minutes."

'To defeat a high-level monster alone, you need to be at least a "Sword King."'

She needed proper credibility. Sisillia had the duty(?) to absolutely defend her title as Sword Maiden.

"So the moment I release the Wind Shear, focus all your attacks on it. Hold nothing back."

Of course, Sisillia was going to kill the monster. But she needed to have 'barely killed it.'

Sisillia turned her head slightly, wondering if she understood well.

Beatrix asked with a greatly shocked face.

"Why... are you telling me that?"

"It's a high-level monster. It's also an excellent mage who has succeeded in infiltrating an estate of this size. There's a high probability that I will lose."

"B-But you can still win, right?"

"Even if I succeed in killing it, I will be in a near-death state."

"I'll go with you."

Beatrix said urgently.

"If you're slightly lacking in firepower, I can somehow make it work with my buff. Let me into your domain..."

Sisillia pressed Beatrix's lips firmly with her finger.

"The people in my Wind Shear are both dead and alive. That result is determined the moment the domain is released. It's too dangerous for you."

...To be precise, that was the setting, but anyway.

'...A beautiful sword maiden's ultimate skill is perfect for something like Excalibur.'

It was the only blemish in Sisillia's life.

Sisillia's 'real' ultimate skill cannot control its power. So she was going to create a fake ultimate skill at an appropriate time and boast about it.

One day, she discovered a monster of a level that Windsor's forces could not handle.

Sisillia, who could not give up the title of Sword Maiden even if she died soon, created a 'barrier' on the spot and wiped it out.

The barrier she created at that time was misunderstood as an 'ultimate skill' and has been passed down as a sad legend until now...

"I'll kill the monsters."

"...?"

"That's why Deception is strong, right? If we reduce the number of servants, Miss Sisillia will win."

Beatrix shed tears and emitted a thick killing intent to the point where it was insufficient to describe it as intense.

'Huh?'

Sisillia blinked.

Why is she suddenly acting like this?

"Leave that to the Margrave. Beatrix, please focus on the battle."

-Father!

'Is it starting now?'

Sisillia put the remaining bread in her mouth and mumbled as she looked at the square.

Aldred stood on the platform, gathering people in the square.

A man ran hurriedly toward it. It was Aldred's son.

He eagerly explained something to Aldred. Sisillia could hear his voice, but she deliberately blocked the sound.

She didn't want to hear the voice of a monster. Personally, she liked monsters the most when they kept silent.

Aldred nodded once and started a speech to the people.

"You have suffered a lot. Because of your incompetent lord, you have endured hardships you shouldn't have."

Aldred paused for a moment and closed his eyes. And then he opened his eyes again and said,

"Have your dreams been happy so far?

"To some, they would be a child, a parent, or a sibling. They are heroes who were sacrificed for the better lives of the people here. But..."

Aldred spoke in a somewhat choked voice.

"Now, I want to wake up from the dream."

Creak-!

Aldred drew his sword and slashed his son right next to him.

The son had a face of disbelief until he died. Aldred stared at his son without looking away.

"Leave the ties of the past there. We must move forward. I... will end this long nightmare today."

The estate residents quietly shed tears.

The rope in the hands of the guard approached with a pitiful face.

Some smiled awkwardly at the child looking at them.

Some received the rope and tied it themselves.

They were moved by the lord's sincere speech.

"It's okay, Mom."

Surprisingly, there were no resisting monsters.

Sisillia suddenly thought.

What is the criterion for distinguishing between humans and monsters?

If it is a deceased person who shares the same memories and looks exactly the same, is it a monster or a human?

Sisillia would answer without hesitation that it was a monster, but at least to them, wasn't it real?

'What choice would I have made?'

She absolutely hates monsters.

If it were Sisillia, she would have killed them on sight. Until the slaughter became sufficiently familiar to the estate residents.

But...

She kind of understood Gartan Margrave's thoughts.

Perhaps the Margrave was just endlessly sorry.

For waking the estate residents from their sweet dreams.

Even though it must have been a dream, he couldn't dream of it himself.

**

Before ordering the sortie, Margrave Aldred came to find Sisillia.

"Knight Sisillia."

"Yes."

"All preparations are complete."

"I am the same."

"Do you want me to hand over the command? I will give it if you wish."

Sisillia shook her head.

"They will want to hear Your Excellency's orders rather than mine."

"...I understand."

Margrave Aldred looked at Sisillia with firm belief.

"I will definitely create the situation. Even if my body and soul are shattered, definitely."

If judged based on common sense, it would be difficult to trust Sisillia.

Sisillia, the Sword Maiden.

A knight of the Sword Demon level cannot deal with a high-level monster, no matter what.

There is a slight possibility with her domain, but at best, it goes from 0% to 10%.

Yet he fully believed in that small possibility.

"I will finish off Priscilla of Deception. Because that's my mission."

"The Windsor Knights with a mission at stake are scarier than monsters."

Margrave Gartan laughed. But that laughter disappeared as soon as he turned his back.

Walking among the soldiers, he drew his sword at the forefront and raised it to the sky.

"Listen, everyone."

"Now we end this terrible nightmare."

"Yes!"

"We lack forces. In addition to the high-level monster, there are thousands of magical beasts. So-"

Kiiik-

The castle gate opened.

Seeing the magical beasts visible through the gap, the soldiers strengthened their resolute will.

"Glory to the Kingdom!"

Waaaaaah-!

With countless cheers, Margrave Gartan's army charged all at once.

The knights deployed led by the Margrave on horseback were well-organized. They were unhindered as if they had been waiting for this moment.

Sisillia watched them from the top of the castle wall.

"Miss Sisillia."

"Yes."

"If I slay all those monsters, will it be of any help to Miss Sisillia?"

Beatrix was stepping precariously on the castle wall.

A cool breeze blew, and her blonde hair fluttered.

Sisillia spoke a little unpleasantly.

"Well, it would."

"Then I'll do my best. So..."

Beatrix's body gradually leaned forward.

"You have to praise me when it's over."

Watching Beatrix running, Sisillia blinked.

She's admirable, but why is she so tragic...?

By the way,

'...Praise. What should I say?'

Sisillia pondered on important things.