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

The morning after Faust-sama had bathed to cleanse himself of the grime from traveling and had a restful sleep, early the next day, I, Martina, and Faust-sama walked together along the road.

“Where are we headed?”

“Well, first to the church.”

The church belonged to the Cologne sect, which some disliked as if it were a black cat. Speaking of which, Faust-sama’s beloved cat, Marianne, is a black cat. She was found by the former lord, Lady Marianne, while she was passing through the town on military duty. It seems she discovered Marianne, who had been cruelly beaten and left on the ground by a spiteful person, and pitied her enough to take her to the Polydoro domain. Perhaps she was a cat lover? After all, she named the cat after herself.

Although black cats are often seen as symbols of bad luck, in some regions, they are considered harbingers of good fortune. In the Polydoro domain, it is definitely the latter. According to Faust-sama, a cat, whether black or white, is equally adorable.

However, we couldn’t talk about Faust-sama and his cat forever. The village wasn’t large, and we easily reached the church, which was quite substantial, not just a small chapel.

“When was this church built?”

“It seems to have been here since the ancestors of the Polydoro domain settled this land. Of course, it has been expanded over time.”

The windows were not made of stained glass like those in the royal capital’s churches, but were wooden shutters instead. The church itself was constructed of wood, not stone, which, while large, appeared quite simple. This was probably not so much a preference of the Cologne sect but more likely due to the abundance of wood as a building material in this area. I’ve heard there are no stone masons in this domain.

“It seems that when the first Lord Polydoro was integrated as a knight into the Anhalt Kingdom, the Cologne sect was already in charge of the festivities here.”

“Ah,” I responded, somewhat confused by his explanation.

“What do you mean by ‘integrated’?”

“Just as it sounds. Long ago, the Polydoro family, already living in this land, got caught up in a minor war between Anhalt and Virendorf. Reluctantly, the first Lord Polydoro led his people to side with Anhalt. After Anhalt won the war, they officially recognized him as a feudal lord.”

I see. The leader of a pioneering group here simply became a knight. Many feudal lords claim their lands have been in their families for generations, but this is often not true. Of course, since it happened centuries ago, it might be excusable to claim it as ancestral land.

In the end, it’s about kings granting lands as “fiefs” in exchange for military service, with the feudal lords appropriating them as their own. Originally, the land was owned by the king or the church, not truly ancestral land. At least, the old Boesel domain I used to live in was granted by the Anhalt royal family long ago and has now returned to royal ownership.

“It’s a rare case, then. Truly ancestral land.”

“Seems so. Though it means nothing as we’re not related by blood to the royal family. This family line has mostly kept out of royal affairs, except for military duties.”

Indeed. Though it sounds impressive to serve the Anhalt royal family from generation to generation, in truth, this family has little connection to the royal family or other nobility. The previous Lady Marianne, kind to cats and Faust-sama, was treated like a madwoman by the surrounding nobility, and any weak ties with other feudal lords were completely severed.

“Well, the Anhalt royal family is of no concern to us. Welcome back, Faust-sama,” said a middle-aged woman dressed in the usual cassock of the Cologne sect, who appeared slowly. I recognize her face well since she never misses a weekly service. As Faust-sama’s apprentice knight, I have also completed my conversion to the Cologne sect.

“Lord Faust, you may already be aware, but I’ve heard that in the royal capital, Lady Sabine, the captain of the Second Princess’s personal guards, has joined the Cologne sect.”

“I heard it directly from Lady Sabine herself when leaving the capital. She said she plans to convert all her personal guards and newly hired servants as well. Is she serious about this?”

Lady Sabine has indeed converted.

It reminded me of something.

I really dislike the salty taste of the Cologne sect’s communion bread that we receive weekly.

“If she is serious, it would be delightful. After all, the number of followers represents power. Of course, I understand what Lady Sabine expects in return.”

“Muskets, right?”

The Virgin Mother, Lord Faust, and I in the center of the church, looking at the musket displayed there.

…Does the Cologne faction distribute muskets even to remote areas like the Polydoro domain?

Why do they place so much faith in firepower?

There are about three things I want to ask the Cologne sect.

“Excuse my abruptness, but Virgin Mother, I have three questions.”

“Go ahead, follower Martina. What would you like to know?”

The first question.

It had been on my mind earlier.

“Why is the Cologne sect’s communion bread so salty?”

“Because it’s easy to sweat on the battlefield.”

“…”

The Cologne sect’s communion bread is salty because it’s intended as battle rations.

I see, the answer was straightforward.

The Cologne sect is insane; that’s the common phrase among sensible people.

“Are you satisfied with the answer?”

“I am satisfied.”

End of the first question.

The second question.

It’s something that bothers me every morning.

“Why does the Cologne sect have a tradition of emitting strange, monkey-like shrieks while furiously bashing a large tree with a mace?”

“Are you referring to our deacon?”

“Yes.”

Every morning, just as the mist has not yet cleared, monkey-like shrieks can be heard from somewhere.

Shouts like “Kieee” or “Ura-lara” are also mixed in.

While it resembled a monkey, it was definitely a human voice.

Honestly, as a 9-year-old, it was frightening, but I was curious and went to see.

There was the deacon, shrieking wildly while furiously striking a large tree with a mace.

She wore a nun’s attire, but she is likely to serve as the future replacement for the Virgin Mother in front of me.

“That’s not a tradition of the Cologne faction. She aspires to be like the heroes in Lord Faust’s heroic songs and wishes to join him on the battlefield someday. It’s a manifestation of her longing.”

“I want to sleep peacefully in the mornings, so please ask her to stop immediately.”

“I will see to it.”

Glancing sideways at Lord Faust, his expression indeed showed discomfort.

Even the kind-hearted Lord Faust can’t possibly attend to everything in the Polydoro domain.

However, he seemed to have something on his mind as he began to speak.

“If my childhood memories serve me correctly, I believe the Virgin Mother also had a habit of striking large trees with a mace when she was young, and I recall she was scolded by my mother for it.”

“During that time, Lady Marianne was in a difficult position, pushing her frail body to serve in the military. Wondering if I could contribute at all, I resorted to striking a tree with a mace.”

Do your job as a clergy.

Why try to prove your worth on the battlefield?

Are you seriously insane?

These thoughts crossed my mind, but seeing the sad look in Lord Faust’s eyes, I decided to refrain from saying anything.

Everyone in the Cologne sect is insane.

This was well known not only in the Anhalt capital but also throughout the domains of the feudal lords, like the former Bose territory.

“May I proceed with the third question?”

“Please do.”

As a 9-year-old, I really want to gently take Lord Faust’s hand and urge him to return to the mansion, but I must ask the third question that intrigues me the most.

“The great sword that Lord Faust uses, I heard that it was once a magical artifact displayed in the church.”

“Yes, that’s correct. Where the musket is now displayed was originally where Lord Faust’s great sword was showcased.”

The musket displayed at the church’s central altar.

The Cologne sect, with its emphasis on firepower.

This firearm symbolizes their motto: “To save allies, kill as many enemies as possible.”

Somewhat disheartened, I express my doubt straightforwardly.

“Why was there a magical item there? It must have been expensive.”

Lord Faust’s favorite greatsword.

It’s a weapon that supports his heroic tales, capable of slicing through chainmail as if it were butter.

It’s a heirloom of the Polydoro family, said to have been displayed in the church since the first Lord Polydoro.

The details of how Lord Faust came to possess it are unclear.

“To put it bluntly, it wasn’t expensive. In fact, it was free.”

“Free?”

“Shall I explain from the beginning? Originally, it was owned by a knight of Virendorf, whom the first Lord Polydoro defeated. You remember the story Lord Faust mentioned earlier, don’t you?”

I remember.

When a minor war broke out between Anhalt and Virendorf, the first Lord Polydoro sided with Anhalt, and in return, he was granted knighthood and governance over the Polydoro domain.

In short, that means…

“Did the first Lord Polydoro take it from the enemy during that battle?”

“That would be correct. The records don’t state how she defeated a knight who likely possessed superhuman abilities with a magical greatsword.”

Perhaps Lord Faust’s ancestor defeated him in a duel.

But it’s too ancient; it’s doubtful even Virendorf has records of it.

While looking at me, the Virgin Mother continues.

“So, she took it, but it turned out that the first Lord Polydoro couldn’t handle it, and thus it was displayed in the church. It has been centuries since then. No one within our domain could wield that great sword at all. It’s difficult to handle. Though it sounds impressive as a magical item, Follower Martina, do you think you could swing that great sword beautifully, even imagining yourself as an adult?”

“It’s impossible.”

I answered plainly.

Though it’s referred to as a greatsword, it would be more accurate to call it a Zweihänder, a type of large sword used by the imperial mercenaries directly under the Holy Gusten Empress.

It’s also just for parade or display purposes, hardly practical in terms of size and weight.

Even with both hands, it would be challenging, let alone wielding it effortlessly with one hand like Lord Faust.

If I, a mere knight apprentice, were to comment, just witnessing that abnormal scene would cause anyone to lose their will to fight.

Anyone who dares to stand before Lord Faust with courage should be recognized as a hero at that moment.

“However, finally, a superhuman like Lord Faust appeared. At 15, during his first battle, he visited the church and said, ‘It’s a waste to keep it just for decoration in the church. After all, it originally belonged to the Polydoro family, and I will take it back.'”

During that first battle, Lord Faust reportedly killed 20 out of 30 enemy bandits by himself.

I’ve heard that during his first battle, Lord Faust was prepared to die, but that must be a lie.

It was a one-sided slaughter so severe that you’d feel sorry for the bandits.

The scene of people being split in two with a single strike surely threw any unprepared bandits into a state of panic immediately.

Lord Faust, easily slaughtering panicked bandits, and the Polydoro domain’s people following him.

Lord Faust is completely unreliable as a narrator when it comes to his own stories.

It’s just awful.

—Though I bear no grudge against Lord Faust, I wonder what mindset mother Caroline had faced him with.

No, it’s not good to think about such things.

“Well, anyway, that’s how Lord Faust is now using that great sword.”

As if to cut off the slight distress that crossed my mind, I shake my head vigorously.

Anyway, that’s it.