Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World

The grand plan for a large-scale Fehde (legal plunder) is about to commence.

Tomorrow, the unpleasant task of visiting the lord’s domain, repeatedly delivering the harsh ultimatum “pay up or die,” begins—a task so grueling it makes my stomach churn just thinking about it.

But before that, there’s a matter I must address with the Cologne Sect.

It’s already clear that their purpose isn’t to aid Valiere, the Second Princess of Anhalt.

“No matter how much Her Highness is a devoted believer, or how beneficial the Cologne Sect’s salt distribution might be, if we cannot grasp their true intentions, we should refuse to accompany them any further.”

The newly-joined robber knight, Amelia von Berlichingen, sensing our situation, advises that we need to eliminate any uncertainties.

As a powerful consultant for legal plunder and our guide to the imperial capital, her advice is not something to be dismissed lightly.

I summon the acolyte of Polydoro, wondering what to do next. However, there was no need for such concern.

All I needed to do was speak.

“Acolyte of Polydoro. I ask as the Traveling Holy Mother.”

“Yes, faithful Valiere. This acolyte of the Cologne Sect will answer anything.”

The acolyte stands before me with a serene expression, likely to answer honestly.

I glance around, taking in the room—a temporary mansion we’ve rented in town, its attendants gathered here.

Sabine, as usual, has a world-weary expression, while Amelia is present merely to observe and grasp the situation, not intending to interject unless absolutely necessary.

Effectively, I’m still under the scrutiny of Lady Amelia.

After a moment of awkward silence among the four of us, I muster the courage to ask.

“What is the Cologne Sect’s purpose in visiting the imperial capital? If it’s merely as the Traveling Holy Mother, there’s no need to increase your scale this much. I understand you accompany us with some lofty purpose, so as the commander responsible for this journey, I ask you directly.”

It’s truly distressing to voice such questions as a believer.

With a deliberate lack of empathy in my voice, I ask again.

“What is the purpose of the Cologne Sect’s visit to the imperial capital?”

I invite the acolyte to respond by presenting my open hand.

“As a clergyman, I answer you, Princess Valiere.”

She clears her throat with a cough, as if preparing to preach.

“The purpose is to deliver a holy relic to the Cardinal.”

I am taken aback by this unexpected response.

I had considered all possibilities, including insane declarations like:

“Die, violent Pope Julia! The winds of change have arrived!! We, the Cologne Sect, will step over your corpse to establish a new order!!”

Or:

“Set fire to Windbona! The Cologne Sect will bring change to the rotten empire today! Let everyone raise muskets and ring out gunfire in the salvation of the Redeemer Agape!!”

During this time, my stomach was in knots.

The possibility of the Cologne Sect causing severe inconvenience to others in an explosive manner was indeed low, though I had considered it.

I knew the Cologne Sect, always striving to be holy clerics, cherished the love of the Redeemer and held neighborly love as a principle sometimes even surpassing justice.

…While as a noble, I wouldn’t say mere piety is sufficient.

That is the realm of those who pray, and I’d rather not delve into it.

But anyway, nothing strange was said.

It’s just the transportation of a holy relic.

Yes.

If the Cologne Sect were transporting any holy relic—a saint’s remains or objects of veneration—it wouldn’t be a problem, I concluded.

Just as I was about to end the conversation…

Amelia von Berlichingen eyed me sharply.

You’re not planning to end the conversation with that, are you?

That’s the look in her eyes.

I understand.

I get it, really.

Even if it’s just the transportation of a holy relic, the Cologne Sect’s actions in heading to the imperial capital in force don’t add up.

There must be something more perilous going on behind the scenes.

“Please allow me to continue questioning. What exactly is this holy relic?”

The acolyte removed a long-handled war club from her side.

Grasping it with both hands, she held it reverently and presented it to me.

Surely, this couldn’t be the holy relic…

“This is the sacred war club of Saint Georgius, the great saint of the Cologne Sect.”

Saint Georgius isn’t even a saint of the Cologne Sect.

What nonsense are you spouting? I almost retorted as if scolding Sabine, but I restrained myself.

I must listen quietly as the clergy speaks.

It’s like the “Lectio” (reading) stage in scholasticism, and I would not interject with my doubts.

“As you well know, Princess Valiere, Saint Georgius used this club to slay a dragon. Before the converted masses of the Cologne Sect, he used this sacred war club to beat the dragon to death.”

What I knew was that Saint Georgius led a dragon to convert heathens to his faith, which, upon reflection, seems rather dubious.

Ah, yes.

Just like me, bringing the mightiest robber knight, Amelia, to threaten the lord to pay up.

From my conscience, it would seem an act so terrible I couldn’t complain even if someone thrust a spear through my heart.

But I have to do it anyway.

“In addition, as you are aware, Your Highness Valiere, this holy cudgel was given to a consort who converted to the Cologne Sect. It is said that it was thrown to her with the command to strike down the pagan queen. That same story has been passed down.”

As far as I know, there was no such episode in the legends of Saint Georgius. I mean, it must be something that’s become accepted within the Cologne Sect.

Lady Amelia frowned, her expression clearly saying, ‘What lunacy is this woman spouting?’ This reaction likely stems from a lack of understanding of the Cologne Sect. However, I have come to understand it somewhat recently.

It’s not unusual for nobles to “discover” ancestral genealogies or ancient documents of land and vassal contracts, so I can’t really take a strong stance against the madness of the Cologne Sect.

“Our goal—along with that of our Holy Mother collective—is to deliver this to Her Eminence, the Cardinal.”

I gazed into the eyes of the deacon with a touch of sadness, reflecting on how the world often doesn’t go as one wishes. The deacon met my gaze directly. Well, she understands. The deacon, and the sisters of the Cologne Sect who are with her, undoubtedly believe that this is a relic of Saint Georgius, the “holy cudgel.”

I felt a headache coming on.

Sabine eyed the relic with deep suspicion, while Lady Amelia asked with her eyes if the Cologne Sect was truly sane. The madness of the world is the sanity of the Cologne Sect. In that sense, the Cologne Sect was certainly sane.

“I understand.”

I almost blurted out, ‘Did cudgels of that design even exist in Saint Georgius’s time?’ but I managed to hold back. If the Cologne Sect insists on it, then as a believer, it’s not my place to object.

“The Cologne Sect has been gathering people for the purpose of transporting this relic.”

“Indeed. It’s not uncommon for relics to be stolen from elsewhere.”

That’s not a relic; nobody would steal that. I barely managed to hold back my natural inclination to point out the absurdity.

“After all, there are even bands of thieves specializing in relics. If anyone can understand this, it would be Your Highness Valiere. There’s also a chance that other sects might try to steal this ‘Holy Cudgel of Saint Georgius.'”

If there are professional thieves and sects, they would surely realize it’s a fake. Only the Cologne Sect could believe this to be a genuine relic.

“It is said that relics choose their owner. If robbery is an inexcusable act, then the relic would have resisted. Hence, the success of the robbery can be seen as dissatisfaction with the Cologne Sect’s handling of the relic, implying that the relocation by robbery was in accordance with the will of the relic.”

I considered this. Does the Cologne Sect really think nothing of it? Their purpose is indeed the transportation of relics, and if they are stolen, it would tarnish the reputation of the Cologne Sect, so everyone is united in cooperation. Therefore, the journey to the imperial capital is being taken with extreme caution.

“The priest in Anhalt told me that this journey of the believer Valiere to the imperial capital is a good opportunity. She commanded me to deliver this to the Cardinal.”

I was conflicted. The logic was sound. And undoubtedly, the deacon in front of me was speaking sincerely. Any further questioning (interrogation) would be futile.

“I appreciate the thought and purpose. I will cooperate.”

As a believer, there was nothing else I could say. I took the deacon’s hand, agreeing to allow her to accompany us from now on.

“I thought you would say that, Your Highness.”

The deacon clasped my hand, clearly pleased with the response. With that, the matter was concluded. Everything was resolved. The deacon nodded firmly as a member of the clergy and left the room.

Left behind were I, Sabine, and Lady Amelia. The moment it was clear the deacon had completely left…

“It’s absolutely a lie. Well, the deacon herself was speaking her truth.”

Sabine judged it to be a falsehood. It wasn’t that the deacon had lied, but rather that the intentions of the Cologne Sect itself were clearly different.

“Probably. The deacon might not know anything, but there is likely a true motive hidden within the Cologne Sect.”

Lady Amelia also determined it to be false, based on her experiential judgment as a knight, similar to Sabine’s opinion.

“But what can we do about it? We don’t know the upper echelons’ intentions of the Cologne Sect here, and since there’s a legitimate pretext, we have no choice but to take them along.”

As a commander and a believer, there was no longer any justification to refuse the company of the Cologne Sect.

It was as if the spear of Saint Georgius, a paragon of our knights, had pierced my abdomen. I felt a clear pain in my stomach now.