I Became a Swordsman in the Middle Ages.

Aldred felt a little surprised but soon gave a hollow laugh.

"You said you'll solve it within 3 days?"

"Yes."

"Why? Are you going to gather the residents in one place and kill the monsters?"

The Windsor Knights. The undisputed experts in monster hunting.

However, Aldred knew too well that the hidden meaning behind it was 'by any means necessary.'

He had already painfully experienced it.

"Do you think my knights fought and gave their lives for that?"

"I don't really understand what you're saying."

"I'm asking if you think they will accept their families being killed for the reason of being monsters without any explanation."

"If you go in emotionally, it's an endless problem. If we don't cut it out now, it will multiply."

Aldred looked at Sisillia, who genuinely didn't understand, and rubbed his face.

"You have no human heart."

Aldred felt frustrated and took another cigarette.

"You seem to think you're suitable for this mission but guess what. You're the person who should never take on this mission in the world."

"It would be troublesome if you don't cooperate."

"There's no cooperation. Wait until there's a full-scale battle. I forbid any other action."

"I object. This type of monster will not reveal itself until the city is completely occupied. By then, it will be too late."

"Let me ask you one thing. Sisillia Windsor."

Aldred spoke coldly.

"Do you think everything will end if you kill the monsters that have infiltrated?"

"..."

Sisillia kept her mouth shut tightly.

Aldred completely turned his back and looked out the window, smoking.

After a while, an answer came.

"I accept your command."

The sound of clothes rubbing was heard. She must have saluted. And without hesitation, Sisillia left the room.

'What command?'

Even withdrawing obediently was merely acknowledging that she didn't properly grasp the situation.

If she hadn't acknowledged it, she would have immediately gone to the village and started a slaughter with her sword.

That's the Windsor-like attitude that prioritizes the mission the most.

"Damn Windsor."

Margrave Aldred put out his cigarette roughly.

***

"Miss Sisillia... Will it be okay?"

Nom nom.

Sisillia was eating pork cutlet deliciously by putting it in her mouth with a fork.

There was also a delicious apple pie in front of Beatrix, but she was restless.

Sisillia, who was driven out by Aldred's order to leave.

She found a nearby inn with a face without any worries or concerns, saying, 'Let's eat first.'

"The Margrave issued a standby order."

"That's true, but..."

"You can't become a Margrave without any ability. It's the only title in this kingdom that cannot be inherited."

Sisillia focused her eyes and sliced hard with the knife.

This pseudo pork cutlet was very difficult to slice because the fascia was not removed.

"The Margrave will have his own plan. It's a pity he doesn't share it, but it can't be helped."

'You're clumsy at eating.'

Beatrix swallowed. She cut the monster's neck so cleanly but couldn't slice the pork cutlet neatly.

"...Then do we just have to wait?"

"Waiting for the other side to move first is a bad idea, but it's okay. In the case of this mission, that might be the better choice."

'But seriously, why won't it slice?'

Sisillia was at war with the pork cutlet. Is she lacking strength? But if she puts more strength here, the plate might break.

Beatrix, who couldn't stand it anymore, said,

"Um... Give it to me. I'll slice it for you."

Sisillia lifted her head like a rabbit.

After looking around for a moment, she timidly handed over the plate.

Beatrix skillfully sliced the pork cutlet into a good size for eating. Sisillia's eyes sparkled.

It's a quality of a great adjutant.

"Thank you."

Now, Sisillia was eating the pork cutlet comfortably. Beatrix, lost in thought for a moment at the sight that looked very happy, came to her senses.

"But will the battle really happen? At this rate..."

"It will happen."

Even in modern times, where science has developed as much as it can, in the end, it is the infantry walking on two legs that ultimately occupy.

Monsters are the same. No matter how much they fly or crawl, in the end, they have to lead the magical beasts and conquer this castle.

'If the Margrave is not a fool, he will not let the monsters increase any more than this.'

"If the number of monsters doesn't increase any more than this, the choice the monsters will make will eventually be an invasion."

"Ah... I didn't think of that. You're definitely right."

But there was one thing that bothered her.

'What did the vice-captain do here? And... there's something I didn't figure out?'

She was planning to ask about Edward after the mission was over. They probably won't tell her now anyway.

What bothered Sisillia was the latter. But she didn't feel like moving hastily. If she gives them a worse impression than this, it will be difficult.

It is always best to take time when dealing with things related to monsters. Sisillia decided to observe for the time being.

While training Beatrix and taking late morning naps, she couldn't do it in the capital.

'Hmm. Not bad.'

Sisillia ate the pork cutlet with a faint smile. It seemed to taste even better than before.

However, incidents always happen at times like this.

-Son...! Where have you been, and why are you only coming back now?

"...The presence of a monster."

"Ah."

'I'm not Conan.'

Sisillia got up, staggering. Beatrix also followed her with a tense look.

"Thank goodness you came back alive. Thank goodness you're alive."

A middle-aged man was sobbing and hugging a boy who looked about 14 years old.

The boy seemed to have no emotions but stared intently at Sisillia as if he felt something.

Sisillia's pupils sank low.

"How much I missed you. How much I prayed to meet you, even in my dreams. The goddess finally heard my prayers."

The boy's pupils turn back to the man.

The corners of the mouth of the boy, who seemed to have no emotions, gently rise.

"Sorry I'm late. Father."

"Yes...! Now, don't go anywhere."

"I'm back."

"Heuuk."

The man sobbed while hugging the boy's head.

People shed tears at the sight.

Someone held the clasped hands of a young child even tighter. As if they would never let go again.

"Th-this is."

"Now I understand. How things work."

The monsters did not infiltrate this village by 'killing people.'

They came in by pretending to be 'dead people.'

'It's not a simple doppelganger.'

The presence of the monster was distinct.

However, it was seen gradually decreasing.

The monster was imitating. Also, it was learning quickly.

From the other person's memories, the 'precious person' at the moment they most desire.

Eventually, even Sisillia will have difficulty detecting it.

It will change as if it is a truly living human.

Well, that's...

'Unpleasant.'

Sling.

Sisillia drew her sword and made her way through the crowd.

"Oh, no!"

The crying man blocked Sisillia's way.

"Please step aside. That is not your son."

"I know that much too!"

Determination was felt.

Determination to protect it even if it means his own death.

It is a firm belief that someone who has lost something precious can show.

"Do you know? The time I shed tears in the room of my son who didn't come back every day, the feelings of a parent who lost a child!"

"Still, it's a monster. If not now, it will be even harder to cut off."

The man who heard Sisillia's words flinched.

He lowered his head. His lips trembled.

"But it doesn't matter. You won't know. How envious I was when the dead of those around me came back."

'This is troublesome.'

There are levels of monsters. This was one of the most dangerous types that 'move emotions.'

Monsters that know what the most vulnerable point of humans is.

It might be even harder to deal with than the Demon King.

In this case, what needs to be dealt with is humans.

"Even if that happiness is fake, I don't care. Anyway, the moment I lost my son, I was as good as dead. So, please... Please... Leave it like this. I'll beg you like this."

The man knelt down.

"Even if you must kill him, kill me first."

Sisillia quietly raised her sword.

Losing a loved one is an immeasurable sorrow.

Even understanding is arrogance, and it is too hasty to give comfort.

They will probably resent you to death. But that's okay. That's natural.

But Sisillia shouldn't.

She knew.

The moment she succumbs to emotions and spares that monster here, countless people like this man will be born.

This sorrow must be cut to exclude other sorrows.

"Si-Sisillia!"

The moment she swung her sword, Beatrix intervened.

"I think it's better to stop."

"We'll regret it if I don't kill it now."

"But."

Beatrix hesitated, holding Sisillia's collar.

Sisillia sighed and tried to push her away.

However, she had to stop her action at Beatrix's next words.

"You look too pained, Miss Sisillia."

**

"You came back sooner than I thought."

Count Aldred was drinking wine in his office under the dim moonlight.

"I thought it would take at least 3 days. Today must have been 'that day.'"

"...You were aware of it."

"There's a cycle. Once a week, the dead come back to life."

Sisillia revealed herself in the darkness.

She didn't say a word. But Aldred answered.

"I judged that seeing it directly would be faster."

"Your original plan must have been to kill the caster. In the end, if the main body is in danger, they will retrieve the monsters in the territory. But that must have been impossible."

"If they can create subordinates, they are at least a high-level monster."

"That's why you wanted a Sword King."

"Indeed, I judged that if there was one Sword King level, somehow it would work out by combining the forces I have."

"Do you know the enemy's location and information?"

"Priscilla of Deception. That's what we call her."

Aldred, who had already emptied a glass, tilted the wine bottle.

"Cooperate."

"..."

"I apologize for the earlier insult. You are definitely different from the Windsor back then."

He gave a bitter smile.

"I'm rarely wrong in my judgment, but when I actually am... I'm glad."

Sisillia looked at the floor.

In fact, if it weren't for Beatrix, she would have killed it.

But thanks to her stopping her, her thoughts reached this point.

'I should thank Beatrix.'

She could handle it forcefully, but then it would be tiring for Sisillia.

Emotional exhaustion is the biggest enemy of long-term missions.

If there is a better way, it is right to choose that.

"My ultimate skill is area-type."

Aldred's eyes widened.

"Somehow create a situation where Deception and I are alone. Then, I will surely kill her."

She made up her mind to take this mission seriously.