I Became a Swordsman in the Middle Ages.

“A coat might look too cold, but spring colors give an image too warm. Hmm.”

Sisilia gathered clothes on the bed and continued her deliberation.

How should she dress to make a good impression on the newbies?

She couldn’t look too scary, but she also couldn’t appear to have too little presence.

It was a task of finding that perfect middle ground.

“Something this important can’t be decided in just one morning. Let’s coordinate slowly, taking my time.”

Sisilia nodded as she organized the clothes she bought yesterday.

She hung them nicely on hangers and draped a cloak over her shoulders.

“Today’s mood is… performance.”

Finally, selecting a sword would complete her preparation for work.

Knock knock knock-

“My lady. The master says he would like to go together today.”

“Okay. I’ll be out now.”

Pat pat.

Sisilia steeled herself while patting her cheeks a couple times in front of the mirror.

‘Let’s focus.’

The fact that the official opening date was confirmed was enough to refresh her.

What Sisilia needed to do was not destroy the tower she had carefully built up until now.

Today, too, she needed to show the perfect image of a Sword Maiden.

***

“There’s no need to push yourself too hard.”

While absentmindedly staring out the carriage window, thinking, ‘Still don’t want to go to work though,’ Cairon spoke to her.

“Even if we lose the bet, we can just go South together.”

‘I absolutely don’t want that.’

The South was a battlefield.

If she got stuck there, only worn-out old newbies would come.

That absolutely couldn’t happen.
She preferred fresh, fluffy fresh newbies.

Sisilia thought this while looking indifferently at Cairon.

“Are you worried?”

“…Yes.”

Sisilia found it honestly difficult to understand.

She thought Cairon was being overly cautious about Edward.

Though he could be annoying sometimes, it didn’t seem that serious.

“I don’t think the Vice Commander is that bad of a person. You don’t need to worry so much…”

“Sisilia.”

Cairon spoke firmly.

“Don’t you ever date. You have no eye for men.”

“…I don’t have time for that anyway since I have to hunt demons.”

While Cairon felt somewhat better, his worry remained.

“Do you still harbor strong resentment toward demons?”

At Cairon’s serious words, Sisilia lightly recalled.

‘That’s why I made up that setting.’

Since it didn’t seem very plausible for a 6-year-old to take up a sword, she remembered making up an appropriate lie.

Probably something about living in the forest and developing strong hatred for demons after losing her parents who went out to get food.

This setting, cobbled together from the tutorial, was solid and firm, so Cairon had never doubted it.

“They’re my parents’ enemies.”

Cairon gripped his knee a little tighter.

He wanted to fill that emptiness, even if just a little.

How much space did he currently occupy in Sisilia’s heart?

How much room had Sisilia made in her heart?

She was a child who rarely expressed emotions. Even Cairon, who had been through thick and thin, found it difficult to read her.

“But Sisilia, people who hold deep grudges against demons…”

“Die quickly.”

Sisilia spoke without hesitation.

“It’s easy to lose composure, and demons never miss such openings.”

“You know well.”

“I’ve seen enough over the past 10 years.”

Terezia, visible through the window, was remarkably peaceful—well, of course, since the sacred flame was protecting it safely.

But Sisilia knew how hellish the world outside the flame was.

Just look at the Windsor Knights. The survival rate for new Windsor Knights wasn’t even 30%.

‘I’ve rested enough at this point. Should I go farming soon?’

When the official opening starts, work would naturally increase too.

Though she’d like to spend all day just with the newbies, that wasn’t possible.

She should go demon hunting to keep her sword from getting dull.

“We’ve arrived.”

The carriage stopped in front of the Windsor Knights’ headquarters main gate.

Cairon adjusted his clothes. Sisilia suddenly remembered something she had to say. It was an important matter that needed to be addressed.

“Have you decided on your retirement date?”

“I’m thinking about 6 months. The Queen probably won’t allow more than…”

“Please make it a year from now.”

“Postponing it for a year might be difficult…”

“One year.”

“……”

Sisilia’s lips closed stubbornly.

She would hold her sentiment at times like this, even if the sky fell.

And there was always a reason why it had to be that way.

Cairon nodded while looking at the opening carriage door.

“I’ll try.”

**(

“Good morning, Sia.”

Nod nod.

Lude dozing off while greeting was kind of cute.

Sisilia bowed and said.

“Good work.”

“Mmhm. I’m going to get some sleep. Used too much magic power.”

Yaaawn, while yawning, Lude remembered something and patted Sisilia’s head.

“…?”

“It’s a reward. You detected the flame’s fluctuation well, which even I find difficult. As expected, Sia is excellent.”

“Thank you.”

“Good work. If anyone bothers you, wake me up.”

Lude waved and disappeared down the alley.

Sisilia sat demurely on a nearby bench.

Whoosh-.

‘…Now what do I do?’

Sisilia pondered seriously.

She had to stand guard for exactly 24 hours from now.

The problem was that it was too boring.

“Oh, is Sisilia on duty today?”

“Yes.”

Just then, a Windsor knight came to greet her.

“Isn’t it a bit early?”

“Lude was a bit sleepy.”

“Ah… because of the flame. So today you’re guarding the sacred flame?”

The knight Ricart’s red hair made him impossible to mistake.

When Sisilia nodded slightly, he made a pitying expression.

“That must be boring.”

“…Yes.”

“Besides magician Lude, only Sisilia is sensitive to magic power.”

“What about Ricart?”

“I’m in charge of the outer area. Today, I’m going on a somewhat distant expedition.”

“You’re going… demon hunting.”

‘I’m envious.’

Being able to level up while working.

“Well then, good work.”

Sisilia waved cheerfully.
After he disappeared, she sighed.

‘I want to ask to switch shifts even now… but the Commander would get angry. Saying I am abandoning my duty. He might even ban my allowance again.’

Just as she was kicking her legs somewhat dejectedly-

“Waaah! It’s big sister Sword Maiden-!”

A bright-eyed young child came running toward Sisilia.

“Kyaa!”

Sisilia gently hugged her.

“Hello.”

“Hehe! Thank you for saving the cat last time!”

‘Ah, that child from then.’

She remembered the child who was crying while looking at a cat stranded in a tree while she was shopping.

She happened to be passing by and remembered helping to save it.

“Big sister! Here!”

“…Is this for me?”

“Yes! It suits you well!”

The child placed a beautifully woven flower crown on Sisilia’s head.

“Oh my, Rena! Don’t bother Sisilia.”

A gentle-looking woman came behind. She spoke with an apologetic face.

“I’m sorry, Lady Sisilia. You must be busy with work.”

“It’s fine.”

Sisilia handed the squirming Rena to her.

“I love big sister so much! Marry me!”

“Okay. But you have to listen to your mother well.”

“Oh my, hohoho.”

After the mother and daughter disappeared happily together, Sisilia carefully removed and examined the flower crown.

‘… It’s pretty.’

Sisilia smiled quietly.

It was a flower crown that perfectly suited her taste.

And there were more—

“Haha! Having our sword maiden protecting us is reassuring! It’s not much, but have this while you work.”

The bread shop owner’s kindness.

“Thank you for the other day, too. Goodness, who would have thought such a normal-looking person was a demon. But I feel safe with you here, knight. You’ll find them right away again, won’t you? Ohoho.”

The chatty market lady’s kindness.

“U-um, th-that… the flower crown suits you well.”

Even from a shy little child.

All sorts of warm support poured in.

Before she knew it, the bench where Sisilia sat was filled with people’s gifts.

‘I’m… so full.’

Though Sisilia had dutifully eaten everything given to her.

“Still.”

Sisilia muttered while watching the flame.

“Time went by faster than I thought.”

Night had fallen before she knew it.

All those people had gone home, and the capital’s lights went out one by one.

However, one corner of Sisilia’s heart remained brightly lit.

‘Time to start patrol. The hunting party should be returning soon too.’

It was Sisilia’s duty to help those people sleep peacefully.

“Lady Sisilia!”

In the distance, four or five Windsor knights came running, panting.

The cute puppy insignia they were wearing caught her eye.

‘Lude’s division, huh.’

The Windsor Knights were inevitable bureaucrats after all.

There were clearly factions, and high-ranking knights had the authority to form “teams.”

Though Sisilia, being the solo, mysterious, supremely independent Sword Maiden she was, didn’t deal with such things.

“L-Lude, huff—”

“Here’s some wine.”

“Th-thank you.”

The panting knight gulped down the wine. Sisilia could only lick her lips. As a minor, alcohol was strictly forbidden for Sisilia.

“Phew-! This tastes good! Where’s it from?”

“The Wind’s Rest Inn.”

“The inn where Lady Sisilia stays? Uhaha… sorry.”

“Anyway, a message from Lude?”

“Yes! Lude asked us to get your opinion. Has there been any change in the sacred flame since then?”

“There isn’t… but I’ll check again just in case.”

“Thank you!”

Sisilia lazily got up and headed toward the flame.

Actually, though it looked like she was just spacing out, she had been constantly monitoring it, so she knew there weren’t any special changes-

But to look competent, one needs to act like they’re working hard.

“Lady Sisilia is truly amazing. Even I, a magician, can’t see any fluctuation.”

“If you look carefully inside, you can see it.”

Sisilia kindly pointed out the fluctuating spot with her hand.

“Hmm, I still can’t see it well. How are you more sensitive to magic power than most magicians, Lady Sisilia?”

‘…I just see it.’

This was a difficult question for Sisilia.

It was like asking, ‘How do you move your right arm?’

But just answering that she could see it would be too socially inept.

She should answer while appropriately maintaining her image.

“I guess it’s my training.”

“I-I see.”

The knight’s shoulders, which had been full of expectation for a hint about growth, slumped.

Meanwhile, Sisilia felt a strange feeling.

‘Maybe I’ve been looking at it too long.’

The flame was quiet as usual, but somehow she couldn’t feel at ease.

‘Must be my imagination.’

After observing for a moment, Sisilia said.

“For now, there’s no major change.”

“This is so strange. We dealt with the demon that caused it, but the flame still fluctuates. Yet there’s no big problem.”

That was something Sisilia was curious about, too.

The weakening of the goddess’s power was merely providence, but what was the demon’s identity that invaded at such a coincidental timing?

“Haha, what if the Demon King appears at this rate?”

Though she wanted to sigh at the unfunny joke, she decided to play along this time.

“Yes. That makes sense. If a Demon King extremely suppressed their presence, such a phenomenon could occur.”

Well, it was fun to see the scared face of the knight.

Shudder, the knight beside her creaked as they turned their head.

“Y-you’re joking, right?”

“Does it… look like a joke?”

“Eek.”

But let’s stop here since they might write a complaint letter.

If the year-end evaluation came back negative, her salary might get cut.

“It’s a joke. No matter how much they suppress it, it won’t work. The sacred flame is invincible and divine.”

“R-right? We learned at the academy. As long as the flame is white, we can rest… huh?”

A heavy silence fell between Sisilia and the knight.

Neither could continue speaking for a while.

Just now, the flame’s color had changed.

Not white, but a dark crimson.

At that moment—

Whoosh!

The flame shook violently as if screaming.