I Became a Swordsman in the Middle Ages.

Peace returned to the Gartan territory.

As Aldred wished, the territory's residents awakened from their long nightmare.

The servants hidden within the territory were sublimated when their master, 'Deception,' died.

However, the disappearance of the demon called Deception didn't solve all problems.

After all, the psychological damage suffered by the residents was immeasurable.

Duke Aldred first held a memorial service.

"Beloved residents, today we stand here to commemorate our heroes."

The atmosphere at the memorial was solemn.

Sisillia and Beatrix also attended.

Even the heavily injured Windsor knight participated, so other injured soldiers had no choice but to attend on crutches.

Sisillia felt somewhat sorry, but she couldn't not attend.

This was the minimum courtesy.

It was respect for the honorable people who overcame great fear and risked their lives against the demon with the sole determination to protect their territory.

On the platform, Duke Aldred read the eulogy without any hope or despair.

"They had the right to live ordinary lives.

To laugh in the warm embrace of family,

To end their days in modest happiness.

But they put all that behind them,

And took up swords to fight for us.

Without their sacrifice,

We who stand here today would not exist.

Because their blood and sweat soaked this land,

We were able to reclaim our freedom.

Their names will be whispered in the wind,

Their souls remembered eternally with this land.

Their courage and sacrifice will be carved in our hearts,

Becoming songs passed down through generations.

We are indebted to them.

But there is only one way to repay that debt.

To keep this land they left behind more peaceful and warm.

To realize the future they dreamed of.

We pray their souls find eternal rest in God's embrace.

Now, we move forward, remembering them.

On this path we walk, their shining footsteps will remain.

May the Goddess's blessing be with all who have departed."

As the speech ended, people laid flowers one by one.

Some quietly shed tears, others wailed.

Aldred quietly stroked the headstone where his son was buried.

Sisillia stayed still for a moment, then began what she always did.

-Whoosh.

A warm wind blew.

That wind brushed past people as if comforting them, then gathered one by one the petals of the offered lilies in the center.

When Sisillia reached her hand into the air, the wind became a faint whirlwind and rose upward.

It was both beautiful and sorrowful.

"Lady Sisillia... this is…"

"Remember this too, Beatrix. As a Windsor knight, you should have your own way of paying respects."

Sisillia's expression as she said this looked so sad. It provoked many thoughts.

How many lives had she sent off until now?

Suddenly, Beatrix remembered that the survival rate of Windsor Knights' newcomers was only about 30%.

She deeply engraved Sisillia's words in her heart.

After the memorial service,

While most people returned home, some still remained.

Duke Aldred was one of them.

Sisillia stood beside him with quiet steps.

Aldred's gaze remained fixed on the headstone.

"Finally, I can pray for my son's peace."

Aldred looked at Sisillia.

"I'm truly grateful, Sisillia Windsor. If it weren't for you, I would still be agonizing every night about whether I needed to kill my son once more."

Sisillia silently bowed her head.

Aldred looked at the sky.

The sight Sisillia had created earlier still lingered.

"This peace won't last long."

The Gartan territory sat on the western front.

Befitting the frontline, minor monsters never ceased, and invasions by fairly strong demons occurred about once every 10 years.

This peace would not last long.

The damage from this Deception incident wasn't just psychological.

Those who committed suicide, unable to choose between demon and family.

Countless artifacts and potions were used, and capable knights who left feeling this territory had no hope.

It would take a long time to recover from that. They might need to borrow Windsor's power again.

But,

"For at least tonight, the city can sleep soundly."

***

Morning came, and Sisillia finished preparing to leave.

"Hmm... not a good outfit choice."

She wore a modest dress with a cute straw hat on her head.

The knight uniform dirtied by the Halloween costume was neatly packed in her travel bag.

Not bringing a spare uniform was intentional, to show off her charm in being in a casual outfit.

'They said it was war... I got baited.'

Urgent war situation.

A miraculous appearance of a beautiful young girl like rain on dry land.

Proudly declaring, 'I've come to end this war!' and instantly resolving the situation.

Then, at the next day's celebration, the sword maiden appears shyly in a modest dress, different from yesterday.

Everyone fainting at the surprising gap!

That's what she aimed for with this outfit... but Gartan territory wasn't quite the atmosphere for that.

"Beatrix."

"Gasp..."

When she appeared before Beatrix, who was waiting at the door, she covered her mouth.

'She must think I'm cute.'

Hehe. Sisillia proudly put her hands on her hips.

The reality wasn't far off. Beatrix did think Sisillia was incredibly cute.

But would the iron-blooded Sisillia wear such clothes without any thought?

Isn't it too strange? Wearing picnic attire after handling such a major incident yesterday.

Sisillia was a strategist who placed great meaning in small actions.

The sharp Beatrix came up with her own answer and immediately saluted.

"I'm sorry! I only just realized your intentions, Lady Sisillia!"

"...?"

What intentions?

Sisillia tilted her head.

"I'll quickly change and come back! Since I was heading home anyway, I have a similar outfit!"

"...Why."

Through this incident, Beatrix developed a very deep respect for Sisillia.

Now Beatrix truly wanted to join the Windsor Knights and become Sisillia's subordinate.

She was originally outstanding enough to be the top trainee of the Windsor Knights, the most competitive position in the Kingdom of Lianen.

"You're going straight into a secret mission, right? I understood this as a disguise for that! I'll be right back! Please wait just 20 seconds!"

And Beatrix disappeared into her room.

'...Huh.'

There wasn't even time to be surprised.

"Changed completed!"

Beatrix appeared with a "ta-da!" at an amazing changing speed.

The design was really similar, just in a different color.

But there was one overwhelming difference between Sisillia and Beatrix.

Sisillia looked down with blank eyes.

It's a bit protruding but doesn't particularly obstruct her view.

"..."

Then looked at Beatrix again.

Sisillia's straw hat fell to the ground with a thud.

"Are you alright? Perhaps yesterday's wounds still..."

For the first time, Sisillia disliked Beatrix.

**

But the supreme sword maiden of heaven and earth doesn't get depressed just because she lost in meaningless things.

'It's okay. I have plenty of appeal too.'

The debate between dipping and pouring wasn't about better or worse.

It was a matter of preference. Humanity has an obligation to respect individual preferences.

If someone denies that, it's a simple matter of settling it with PK.

"You're leaving now? I haven't been able to repay even a fraction of the grace you've shown."

When she expressed her intention to return to the capital, Aldred decided to see her off.

Guards in silver plate mail lined up on both sides.

Between them stood the territory's residents. Though still gaunt, they looked better than when Sisillia first arrived.

"I only did my duty, as you did yours, Margrave."

"Though your duty was far heavier than mine."

Aldred smiled and led the way.

"Let's go. I, too, must fulfill my remaining duty."

The nobles of the Kingdom of Lianen had the authority to request support from the Windsor Knights when faced with insurmountable situations.

There was no compensation. Windsor knights moved solely on their sense of mission.

It was tradition to see off such honorable knights with utmost gratitude when their mission ended.

Sisillia and Beatrix walked slowly through the path they made, receiving countless cheers and thanks.

While Beatrix was overwhelmed and tearful at experiencing this for the first time, it was a familiar sight to Sisillia.

But she felt the same sense of fulfillment.

Though she still hated long-term missions.

"This is far enough."

"I was planning to go to the station."

"The Margrave's steps are too slow."

"Hahaha! Cut me some slack. I'm just an ordinary commander. Not a superhuman who's surpassed human limits like you all."

Sisillia decided to ask now what she'd been meaning to ask since first arriving here.

She'd wanted to ask yesterday but didn't want to disturb Aldred as he mourned his son.

"There's one thing I'd like to ask."

"Ask anything."

"It's about a previous Windsor. No, about Deputy Commander Edward. Do you know him?"

When Edward's name came up, Aldred's expression hardened.

"Of course I do. I probably won't forget until the moment I die."

"...What happened?"

Aldred closed his eyes for a moment, then spoke.

"Before Deception, this territory was under another demon's influence.

"A demon called Misfortune. True to its name, it brought misfortune.

"All sorts of bad things happened. Naturally, impossible things happened in battle too. Swords suddenly breaking, getting hurt by allies' sword energy."

In short, it seemed to be a demon related to luck.

Sisillia listened calmly to the story.

"Edward Windsor came up with a way to counter that demon. It was..."

Aldred's face contorted. The memory came back to him.

"Putting powerless soldiers and people at the front. Because misfortune weakens when shared.

"He even committed the atrocity of watching them get slaughtered, claiming he needed to accurately understand the demon's patterns.

"Of course, it was effective. My knights and the Windsor Knights suffered no casualties. But most of those who couldn't handle divine protection died. Most of the victims from demons hiding in the village were from then too."

Aldred's fist clenched tight.

"When I questioned his responsibility afterward, he said there would have been even greater casualties if he hadn't done this. Is that what a knight should say? How can someone who treats sacrifice as natural face demons?"

Sisillia clearly understood what had happened.

'So that's why their eyes weren't friendly.'

She understood the uncooperative attitude from the beginning.

"Thank you for your testimony."

"Tell that garbage this: If you use the same methods as demons to kill demons, you're no different from demons."

Sisillia, who was about to bow and leave, hardened her expression at Aldred's words.

Edward's methods might indeed not be right.

Even if there truly was no other way,

There were certainly major ethical issues.

However,

"As I am also a Windsor Knight."

Sisillia drew her sword without hesitation and pointed it at Aldred.

Though at some distance, it was close enough to feel threatened.

"I don't appreciate insults to my superior."

Aldred wore a bewildered expression.

"No matter how evil the Deputy Commander may seem, one thing remains unchanged.

"He sincerely wishes for demons to disappear from this world and stands on humanity's side.

"You need not endure such insults. Please retract your statement."

A guard drew his sword and pointed it at Sisillia's neck.

"What are you doing!"

Sisillia didn't waver.

Rather, she stared intently at Aldred as if demanding an answer.

"I'll cut you down if you don't lower it right now!"

"Sir Ultan. Lower your sword."

"Your Grace. But..."

When Aldred spoke firmly, Ultan lowered his sword and stepped back. Aldred bowed with a serious face.

"I sincerely apologize."

For a noble to bow their head meant putting aside all pride.

"Excuse my rudeness. Then–"

Sisillia apologized briefly and withdrew her sword. She grabbed the dazed Beatrix's wrist and pulled her along.

'Deputy Commander Edward. Whatever you're thinking, I'll pretend not to see it.'

Though she got angry just now, it wasn't because she liked Edward.

After a mission ends, the lord writes a report and evaluation.

She preemptively eliminated the possibility of creating opposition with Edward over this incident.

In any case, when Cairon retires, Edward will be Commander, and if he interferes seriously, it would greatly disrupt future plans.

However,

'Just don't touch the newbies.'

If such an unfortunate incident occurred... Sisillia had no intention of holding back.

Translator's Corner

Dipping and pouring- Age old debate if you should dip your food into sauce or pour it on top. I go dip 90% of the time, but seeing cheese drip makes me feel some sort of way…

-Ruminas